Where to Eat
Ryan's Kitchen - I could write an Opera about the dumplings, the flavour
explosion in my mouth was just magical.
The restaurant has moved premises and it's now in a prime location on the main
road with beautiful glass windows that show passersby what they are missing.
The kitchen is still open and there is still a Parisian decor theme throughout.
The menu now focuses on small plates because the idea is to bring food back
to a sharing space; going with a partner, it is suggested that you get 3 plates
each and share. I'm warning you though, the food may come on a slightly smaller
piece of crockery but the flavours are gigantic. I was full after the first
plate. That's a first for me.
The merge of flavours - African, Eastern - are perfectly balanced and in
each dish there is a beautiful symphony of salt, sweet and acidity. Each
element in each dish is designed to complement and enhance the other into a
glorious crescendo of flavor that lingers on way after you've left the
establishment.
Head to Franschhoek and eat at Ryan's Kitchen. Then you can thank me later.
What to Drink
Invited to a tasting of Stellenzicht's Flagship wines I was quite annoyed
with cellar master Guy Webber for making such amazing wines that I struggled to
stick with just one glass.
Stellenzicht has a stellar track record for making age-worthy red wines that
might even outlive me. The vineyards can be found in the Golden Triangle area
of Stellenbosch, so-called because it produces excellent grapes. The Golden
Triangle is also a range under Stellenzicht and it houses the 2014 Sauvignon
Blanc which might be my wine of the month. It's not green but it's not flabby
either. It has a lovely lingering finish and really fills the mouth. It's
gorgeous with food and so moreish.
Go and visit the tasting room to see for yourself what the fuss is
about.
What to Do
The new Franschhoek Cellars tasting room is a completely modernized church
to all things wine. Inside this easily recognized building along the main road
in Franschhoek, live 4 very different rooms dedicated to DGB-owned wines
Bellingham, Franschhoek Cellar Wines and Brampton. The revamp is impressive and
no expense has been spared to bring in industrial and classic elements to
emphasize the very different characters of each wine brand.
The Brampton Wine Studio is the big sister of their wine bar in
Stellenbosch; chalk board tables, walls and bright colours feature here.
The Bellingham Bernard Series finds its home in an elegant lounge area
that's sectioned off from the other rooms.
Two other rooms, partitioned by large glass sliding doors, house the
Franschhoek Cellars and entry-level Bellingham wines and long windows and plush
seating keep you for hours.
The staff are lovely and a clever tasting idea is a blind tasting that sees
you trying to guess 6 wines - if you get it right, you win a bottle - a fun
activity for a group of you.