Our wine tastings today brought us to the magnificent Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch with gorgeous art, scenery, wine and food in the most beautiful of Relais et Chateaux settings. We had a super VIP wine tasting with winemaker Morné Very and then a superb lunch at Indochine. Some of chose mains, some a couple of starters instead and we were thrilled to see Sam had his own huge vegetarian menu. He chose the most beautifully presented ever Spring Rolls, but they were not super exciting on the palate. His Grilled Miso Eggplant with Smoked Aubergine Puree and Sesame was just as beautiful and tasted much better as well.
Here Papadams came in the form of beetroot, chickpea and rice and there were four sauces: a fermented chilli with large "fat cook" fried dough balls in them, chimichurri, carrot puree and a spectacular spinach humus. I enjoyed a small glass of the Delaire Graff Sunrise Brut MCC (methode Cap Classique, the term used for sparkling wine from the region) which was delightful and then a glass of the superb Swartland Chenin Blanc (which we purchased to bring home).
The Edamame and Shitake Potstickers were a big hit as well. Laksa of Brisket Soup with langoustine dumpling, housemade curry noodles, cured egg and pickled mustard greens got an OK from Will, but the two mains were excellent. Beef Rendang was tender brisket with lemongrass, coconut & cinnamon curry, pickled tapioca, cucumber salad, coconut rice and raita while my Red Cutty of Prawns with linefish dumpling, pumpkin seed pesto, pickled red cabbage and red curry cracker resting on top(think thinnest lavash) was divine. One small error did occur when our server asked about allergies and we said we had one with shellfish, yet the Octopus came with a side salad with shellfish sauce. He tasted the salad and rejected it instantly, luckily nothing bad ensued and the winery just called to make sure he was okay, so A+ on the follow up, but not good on the listening in house.
Dinner tonight is at the famed La Petit Colombe....getting hungry thinking about it now.
