Food & Wine Travel

La Petite Ferme, Picture Perfect All Year Round

It’s a familiar space as I walk to the reception desk a few steps from towering trees and the famous Franschhoek pass.

It’s no secret I possibly know the best places to venture anytime of the year in Franschhoek, on any budget for all types of travelers. It’s in my blood.

However, there’s a little farm, a bed a hill that currently rains almost burnt and bronzed vines. Rolling cloud coated mountain ranges, as if they were strands of spun sugar coating a skewer and they are just there, in the almost touchable distance.

It can be no colder than 23°c out there. The light that ladles the revamped restaurant is warm and the air crisp like the 2016 La Petite Ferme Sauvignon Blanc that has just swirled in my glass.

We’ve just been seated at our table, the boastful belverde restaurant makes choosing a seat almost as trying as that million dollar question on Who Want’s To Be a Millionaire.

One is almost fearful you may just miss something.

There’s a hand painted Mervin Gers piece of crockery gingerly resting on old oak tables that remind me of home, an old wooden table in the kitchen that we both cook and gather around to enjoy family fare. When everyone’s in Franschhoek.

Speaking of , La Petite Ferme, my home for the evening is boldly brushed in black onto these hand spun pieces of crockery mentioned above and momentarily will be whisked away and usurped with Salmon Tartare for me and Cured ham coated camembert for the beautiful boy seated beside me.

It took time to decide what to devour, with the tempting selections from Rabbit to The Signature whole Trout from a pond down the way and the attention seeking views, constantly tugging at your tee like a toddler. Look, look, LOOOK!

The unsurpassed view out the restaurant window was almost as distracting as the one beside me, is there anything better than good food, well made wine opened at just the right date and shared with incomparable company but that’s a tale for another day.

It was hard to focus.

We go through the ebbs and flow of fine food that flurries out the kitchen. Attentive staff, friendly and knowledgeable but not too much to kick up a fuss. A lot has evovled from quaint family farm days but La Petit Ferme is still serviced by Chef Neethling Du Toit whose been here since inception, there’s a comfort that comes with history, with consistency.

Each dish is balanced and simplistic, what more could a boy want.

We’ve tossed with terms to define the style of cuisine but have come up short. Perhaps the easiest to say, is come try it for yourself.

There’s an offering for everyone and the wine selection is great with both on erf reds and whites boldly taking centre stage. Tastings are offered in an accommodating lounge, come bar just adjacent from the conservatory styled bistro balcony.

It’s in this room where I’m introduced to my conceirge, possibly hours later and ushered to my suite-Well I’m not quite sure if one can be ushered via Golf Cart. So knowing me, I possibly was carted off to bed .

A cobbled stone walk a little to the left of the dining room, my suite is housed in whats deemed The Manor House an old-world, once home that now encases three spacious Suites.

Perfect for weddings was my immediate thought.

There’s a fabric corseting the new scatters that have caught my eye, then my eye wanders. Barely listening to the gently spoken gentleman I’m exploring the city bowl apartment sized bathroom and beg to bath. Sadly, that wouldn’t be kind considering out cities state of water affairs.

We’re again offered a bottle of wine and with the tucked away terrace and slightly too cold pool calling we head to the lawns and lounge.

We linger, reading the local paper poolside and wait for the sun to meander from mountain to mountain. Colours kaleidoscope baby blue to cotton candy pink the sun shys away in the background​. Still the weather is fine and yet I crave the chills so as to have an excuse to light a fire and lay on the woven wicker sprawled on the patio and slowly sip jasmine tea.

Who am I kidding!?

It’s been, just over an hour now, my plus one has eloped and I lay listening to the sounds of an indie folk artist with backing vocals of rustling trees, a rare owl whoot and a sharp crackle from the fire. My tea beside me, tea bag still in of course and my soul?

At peace.

This is serenity, anytime of the year on any budget for all types of travelers. Trust  me, it’s in my blood!


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Join La Petite Ferme for one of their Food & Wine Experiences,

there are only a few spots left.



Each Dinner is distinctly different from the others and will be hosted by the La Petite Ferme’s talented winemaker Wikus Pretorius, who draws on his experience of local and international wines.

During the course of each evening, Pretorius will begin with a showcase tasting of four wines – one from La Petite Ferme; two from other local Cape winelands terroirs; and, one international.

All the wines on the evening will be the same cultivar, providing a rare opportunity to compare different expressions and the effect of terroirs and techniques.

DATES:

The dinner of 6 July is dedicated to what many consider the king of reds – Cabernet Sauvignon. Famous as a full-bodied wine, it is nonetheless capable of delicacy and elegance in skilled hands.

The curtain call then on 3 August belongs to Cape and red blends. The dinner features La Petite Ferme’s own Verdict, a champion wine that performs outstandingly with or without food.

The tasting will be followed by a three-course food-and-wine spectacular, with dishes inspired by Pretorius’ most sumptuous taste experiences which he gleaned from his world travels.

DETAILS:

The tasting dinners get underway at 18:30.

The cost is only R750pp, which includes the tasting of four wines and the three-course, wine-paired dinner.

To reserve your table for a La Petite Wine & Food Experience send an e-mail to pr@lapetiteferme.co.za or contact Ruan Olivier at Tel: +27 (0)21 876 3016.

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  • Douyon
    May 27, 2017 at 6:00 am

    Great story, I love that your “reviews” are never typical blogger write ups. I feel like we could have been there with you. Nice!

  • Jessie <3
    May 27, 2017 at 11:34 pm

    Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after looking at a few of the posts I realized it’s pretty new to me.
    Anyhu, I’m certainly happy I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back regularly! Your Posts are amazing!
    xxJ

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