We only had one night in Franschhoek and it was at the top place for a million miles around. LA RESIDENCE (www.laresidence.co.za) opened just over 1-1/2 years ago and hosted Elton John on opening night in a marble mounted platform bed suite overlooking the mountains and a pond with imported black swans. One of our group was in this suite, but I was in a more subdued elegant space much less "in your face" and just as luxurious and ostentatious.
Should you wish to dine at LA RESIDENCE, you must stay at the property (dinner is not included and prices run just about $1000.night)and you would want to book through me to get our special rates. We could probably arrange a dinner for you here also as my client if you are booking a South Africa trip and decide to stay somewhere else in town a bit less pricey.The hotel has only 11 suites and is considered most private.
Earlier in the day we visited another property which was a simple villa with 6 rooms, but it was nowhere near as nice, even though Prince Edward and Jude Law had stayed there!
The dinner was served in the main hall with a multi-thousand piece 1/4 ton crystal chandelier above us which had been brought from India (some maharaja's palace or such). The fire roared, the setting was pure elegance and Evan (who doubles as butler/server/bellman and more) was the best waiter anyone could ask for anywhere. Our host was Edward, the General Manager, who regaled us with stories of the owners, their journeys and how the place came to be. They own three similar "homes" and we will stay in another and visit the third (more on that later).
Having eaten so much I started with the BEETROOT and CHEVIN (local goat cheese) Salad with Orange Reduction which was just right and served with a CHENIN BLANC 2009 VREDE EN LUST from the neighborhood. Vrede en Lust translates and happiness and lust, and we were all in that mood--very happy and lusting after a lifestyle like this. CAULIFLOWER and Fairview BLUE CHEESE Soup made use of the local cheese which is milder blue and simply superb, the soup was rich and thick and made with no cream at all--GREAT!
My main was the ROASTED Rack of KAROO (also local and highly regarded) wit ONION Mash, Steamed Broccoli and Rosemary Jus. It was four perfectly just past rare chops and served with a 2007 MERLOT from GLENWOOD, also right nearby in the valley. This is like Napa twenty or more years ago before it got crowded!
Dessert was a divine LAVENDER PANNA COTTA with GOOSEBERRY Compote which was also just right. For those of you who know the FRESH gooseberry that we or Europeans call the Cape Gooseberry (in French, "L'amour en cage" because it is in a cage of leaves) to have it fresh here as fruit for breakfast on the buffet or in many desserts is a real treat.
We finished off with a bottle of PELETIER ICE WINE from Niagara Canada which I had brought as treat for our voyagers and we all ran off to our suites to revel in them.
