Bike trip...starting in CT and ending in JHB

So.....another bike trip...and this time...we would start our trip in CT and drive all the way up to JHB...of course not the straight route up...but rather a scenic route including the Garden Route...but ill explain....this time we had my dad as well as friends, a couple from Germany, with us...so 5 of us road-tripping...our journey started Friday the 14th Feb, yes, Valentine's day, in CT, Kim and i had just flown in while the rest of them had already spent 2 days in CT. Today the plan was to drive via Stellenbosh to Franshhoek....it was a beautiful day in CT....no clouds over tablemountain...and for anyone that knows a little but about CT that is quite an achievement....i didnt get the best pics....but maybe still worthwhile to share one....

Taking a pic of Tablemountain while driving the Harley

i wanted to make a stop at my favourite coffee place in Stellenbosh...De Companje located in die oude bank....a beautiful bakery in the middle of Stellenbosh...i just love the whole decoration...and thus i wanted to show them...and of course stop for a good old macchiato...and yes...it was yummie..and Diane's ice tea came in a glas bottle....so cool....have a look at some pics...

Macchiato
Ice tea...somehow cinammon flavoured
De Companje

After that, time to make our way to our guesthouse called La Fonteine in Franshhoek...Kim and I have been there before and it is so central and we loved it, also so friendly and private that we decided to go there again...guesthouse was beautiful...here is just a pic from right outside our room...

Outside our room in Franshhoek

Evening...the plan for Valentine's was to go to Haute Cabriere.....and have one of the three tasting menus....we had a choice whether we wanted to have wine pairing or not...we chose that spot cause it has a beautiful cellar in which the restaurant is situated and also it is a vineyard with amazing wines....so....first off let me share some pics of the estate....

Haute Cabriere
Inside Haute Cabriere cellar restaurant

Now..let me tell you about the foodies.....there were three tasting menus...vintage, vegetarian or journey (chef recommendation) and as mentioned, you could do with or without wine tasting. First off was a glas of Pierrw Jourdin bubbly as a welcome..the rose one....with an amuse bouche...beetroot soup shot and a platter of fresh bread and dips...absoloutely divine...

Beetroot amuse bouche
Fresh bread and dips (Diana in the background)

After that...we had a 6 course dinner with another amuse bouche as a second dessert....we were all speechless at the food..its presentation, taste....it was just WOW....it was like a molecular cuisine...Thomas said that this was definitely Michelin standard...let me share a few more pics....

Tomato consomme with mozzarella...divine
Mussles with fennel and onion crisps
Deconstructed carrot cake

I have many more pics...but i thought id share just a few with you...amazing....the price very very fair....next day was sepnt wine tasting at La Motte....a beautiful estate....

La Motte

Followed by a lunch at Chamonix wine estate....what a beautiful setting and again...the food delicious....really worth going to....

Chamonix
Trout plate at Chamonix
And of course....the afternoon...a stroll around the beautiful Franshhoek with a stop at a pub for a Savannah and cigar for the boys....there are some beautiful shops in Franshhoek definitely worth popping in to...we also found the local market and kim found a hand-made biltong knife and of course some biltong.....
Typical Cape Dutch House in Franshhoek
Franshhoek market
Kim and the giant teddy bear

I just find Franshhoek so peacful and beautiful....unfortunately we did not do any more wine tatsing...the heat was just getting to us....at night we tried the Grillroom..and i dont think i should write about it....well maybe i should warn you.....it was terrible...starters were ok...mains shocking....we all ordered springbok and all were well overcooked....really dry...i decided to actually send mine back, then it came undercooked but i dealt with it...dessert we wanted to give Thomas and Diana a taste of SA...Malva pudding....and it came so hard and burnt....shocking....i mean we all know Malva Pudding is supposed to be gooyey and soft....so...definitely do not go there...we wanted to go to Reuben..but it was already fully booked...and kim and i have been to Grillroom before and it was nice....but this time too many things went wrong...not again....but let me end this blog on a positive note...Franshhoek is beautiful...wine tasting was great, dinner at Haute Cabriere and lunch at Chamonix, fab and guesthouse so friendly...tomorrow we will be on our way to Cape Agulhas...so cheers from me....

 

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