Challenge # 10: The House of JC Le Roux

| The Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge |

- a student's quest to visit every restaurant in Stellenbosch, 

before her final graduation - 

The House of JC Le Roux lies at the end of the Devon Valley Road, just outside Stellenbosch and is a celebration of "le good life". The picturesque views, classic interior, stylish cellar and quality restaurant all combine to deliver an unique experience in the heart of the winelands. 

The history of JC Le Roux dates back to 1704 when a French Huguenot, Jean le Roux who planted vines in Stellenbosch. This tradition was continued by his descendants. In 1983 the first Sauvignon Blanc sparkling wine was made and soon became so popular a Pinot Noir Methode Cap Classique  followed in 1985. They now produce a wide variety of Methode Cap Classique and sparkling wines and have also added a non-alcoholic range. 

This unique venue has so much to offer, so make sure that you have enough time to spend here. Firstly, as the first cellar in South Africa dedicated entirely to making sparkling wines, you visit will not be complete without a cellar tour. These are offered for free and you are guided by informative videos mounted on the walls which describes the art of making Methode Cap Classiques and sparkling wine. 

Thereafter you have to treat yourself to a tasting, where you have five options available: 

• The mixed tasting is a variety of 5 pre-selected sparkling wines (R 40). 
• The MCC tasting offers a selection of 5 MCC's which are also preselected (R 50). 
• Bubbly & M&M's is a tasting of 5 different sparkling wines, paired with marshmallows and meringues at R 65. 
• The Bubbly & Nougat is what I would recommend. It consists of 5 different sparkling wines, paired with a variety of nougat and turkish delight (R 85). 
• They also have a non-alcoholic and fudge tasting, with two types of non-alcoholic sparkling wines, paired with various types of fudge (R 50).

Photo Credit: Spice4Life

Your tasting will be hosted by the JC Le Roux staff who are well informed and provide great service. 

For all of these tastings, booking is essential. There is also a gift shop on the premises where the whole range of JC Le Roux products is available as well as other souvenirs.

The last time I visited JC Le Roux we were part of big group of students for a breakfast organised by the Law Faculty with the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela as the guest speaker. 

Le Venue is the restaurant at the House of JC Le Roux and they will ensure that your visit to JC Le Roux ends on a high note. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch and you will be treated to a stunning view on the mountains as you enjoy your food.

Interior of Le Venue

Photo Credit: JC Le Roux

During our visit, we had breakfast platters for the table and after which a full, hot breakfast followed. 

Their breakfast menu includes amongst others omelets with bacon, avo, brie, caramelised red pepper & pesto (R 70), Salmon stack with lemon zest scrambled eggs and salmon roses on toasted cranberry and nut bread with chive cream cheese and rocket (R 95) or Eggs Benedict  - toasted rye with candied prosciutto, poached eggs and spinach, topped with a hollandaise sauce (R 85). 

For lunch they offer plenty decadent options. What stood out for me was the MCC Prawn and Shrimp Risotto  (R105), Ostrich Burger served with bacon, roasted peppers, rustic ciabatta and hand cut chips (R98), Chargrilled Sirloin Steak with Cafe du Paris sauce, gratinated potato and mediterranean vegetables (R 135). They also have a oyster and MCC pairing, which should be exquisite.

Their menu changes on a two-weekly basis so you will never get tired of the same old options. They also offer a selection of desserts such as a red velvet cheesecake with pod creme anglaise and berry compot (R55), cheeseboard (R135) and a deconstructed banoffee pie (R55). 

Le Venue really has a fresh take on food and is clearly distinguishable from many other run of the mill restaurants. Their service is sharp and friendly and it definitely contributes to the general atmosphere at the House of JC le Roux. 

 Breakfast at Le Venue

Thuli Madonsela, Ms Beryl Botman and students at Le Venue

The House of JC Le Roux also host private functions - from bachelorettes to weddings and year end functions and have a variety of different locations on the premises. 

The House of JC Le Roux is truly a treat and an an uplifting experience.

I don't know if it's the bubbly, but leaving this venue you will feel refreshed and revived.

Time spent at JC Le Roux is never time wasted. 

Location | Devon Valley Road, Stellenbosch (travel for 6km's  until you reach the end of the road)

Telephone | Tasting Room 021 865 8200 ; Le Venue Restaurant 021 865 8222

E-mail | info@jcleroux.co.za ; levenue@hsvhospitality.co.za

Website | www.jcleroux.co.za

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/HouseofJCLeRoux?fref=ts

Twitter | +LeGoodLife 

Challenge # 9: De Stomme Jonge

| The Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge |

- a student's quest to visit every restaurant in Stellenbosch, 

before her final graduation - 

De Stomme Jonge is a quaint eatery in Ryneveld Street. It covers a small shop space and can easily be overlooked between the host of restaurants surrounding it. Roosterkoeke serves as the star of the show at De Stomme Jonge. Before you retrace memories of camp fires, blikbekers and the disappointment of biting into your roosterkoek just to find that it is overwhelmingly undercooked, you should pay them a visit. They have managed to make something extraordinary from the ordinary. 

De Stomme Jonge is the brain child of Simon Matthysen and it was by accident that the menu panned out the way it did. Simon signed the lease and realised that the kitchen at the back was too small to run a full restaurant menu from - so he decided on traditional no fuss menu with the roosterkoeke made on a gas braai on the front stoep.

Do not limit your thoughts to roosterkoeke with appelkooskonfyt or a slither of cheese to make it exotic. The menu is brimming with creative combinations. The Paul Kruger roosterkoek is served with chicken, cream cheese, sweet chilli sauce, salted butter and rocket (R 55). Another option is the Jacob Zuma which is described on the menu as "sag gemoerde beesvleis met geroosterde tamaties, kaas en augurk en gesmeer met frikkadelbroodjie mayonaise, gesoute botter en roket slaai"  (R 75). 

They also have platters, which is what we shared on a girls night out. We had the Eva platter, which consisted of brie, salami and cheddar, figs and rocket (R55) as an accompaniment to some wine and ciders. Others platters such as the Simon, include blue cheese, cheddar, "regte egte" biltong, salami, basil pesto , roasted tomatoes and rocket (R70).You can also design your own platter. 

Wine is sold by the glass and per bottle and covers a selection of wineries from the area.They also have beer on tap and by the bottle as well as most ciders. If you're part of the banting craze and don't fancy carbs as much, there are also a few salads to choose from. 

This is truly a no-fuss eatery at its core. They do not do any yeast free, gluten free or wholewheat options and firmly stick to their traditional recipe. Seating is limited in the small restaurant so booking is essential, otherwise you have to come early. This is however the place that you can spend a whole night, so here the campfire memories are definitely coming back.

I am fond of De Stomme Jonge for their no-nonsense approach and the honest food that they serve, with the friendliest service. They also host local musicians and music nights so as the weather warms up, this is a great spot for a sophisticated camp fire feel. Just don't expect to be leaving any time soon. 

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Photo credit: De Stomme Jonge

Address | 3 Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch

Telephone | 082 054 0125

Email | destommejonge@gmail.com

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/stommejonge?fref=ts

The Market at Val de Vie Polo Village

Grab a calendar and diarise this event. It is once again time for the Summer Sunday Markets held at Val de Vie Polo Village. If you are looking for a new market experience, this one is a very promising candidate. 

Val de Vie is a polo estate and is located on the Wemmershoek road (R 301), between Paarl and Franschhoek.

Photo Credit: Val de Vie

The market showcases some local produce, crafts, wines, gourmet food and treats. Additionally there will also be clothing stalls and jewellery. Chocolate and Pongracz pairings will also be available.

The true highlight however is that it is located on the Polo Pavilion and polo matches start at 10 am. If you have never seen a polo match before, this is a great opportunity combined with a promising market and live entertainment. 

Entry to the market is free :-)

The dates for the Summer Sunday Markets are:

• 5 October 2014
• 16 November 2014
• 7 December 2014
• 25 January 2014
• 29 March 2014

Photo Credit: Val de Vie

This will definitely be an unique market experience and with five market dates this summer, there should be one that fits in with your schedule.

Challenge #8: Oppie Dorp

| The Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge |

- a student's quest to visit every restaurant in town, 

before her final graduation - 

For a recent date night, my boyfriend and I wanted to try something new. We have previously stumbled upon Oppie Dorp, but due to their popularity they could not accommodate us as walk-ins. This time around, we made sure to book in advance and were set for a culinary highlight. 

Neither of us have dined there yet and we completely underestimated the restaurant. We were expecting a laid-back dining spot. Oppie Dorp was everything but, they distinguish themselves from many other restaurants in the area and lean towards a fine dining menu, whilst being affordable. 

 Firstly, I have to mention that their service is impeccable. Our waiter was prompt and the manager visited our table a couple of times. You really get the feeling that you are an esteemed customer, instead of feeling that the restaurant want you to be in and out as fast as possible so that they can fill the table again.

What definitely contributed to our fantastic experience at Oppie Dorp, was that it was accompanied by a great choice of wine. We had a bottle of 2009 Vintage Rust and Vrede which we were saving for a special event and this was it! We were expecting a heavy corkage fee, but were surprised to find out that Oppie Dorp does not charge a corkage fee on your first bottle of wine.
The staff at Oppie Dorp are not sommeliers, but they could have been. They know their wines well and my boyfriend doing his thesis on different cultivars of grapes and production systems was quite impressed. 

Our date night was a gourmet safari, so we already had starters at another spot in town. We therefore opted for mains.  The menu contains a number of mouthwatering options but I would really recommend trying one of their specialities, which the manager will embroid on. 

In my opinion, Oppie Dorp's flexibility really gives them an edge over competitors - besides the items on the menu you can transform any starter into a main, select your cut, portion size and side servings to suit your preferences. 

I had the duck, which was listed under their specialities. Being quite fond of duck, I had high expectations for this dish and I can honestly say that this is the best duck that I have ever tasted. They had two varieties from which I could choose from: the first being a spicy, thai infusion. I however had the duck with a port and berry reduction, topped with orange vinaigrette and served with caramelised onions, cranberries and orange segments (R117). The meat was cooked perfectly, moist and juicy and the citrus is a fantastic combination. I was in food heaven and almost did not want to share even a small bite with my boyfriend. 

He had a 300g portion of matured Chalmar sirloin with an unique mushroom and biltong sauce, served with roasted baby potatoes and grilled root vegetables (R 130). His meat was an excellent cut and was really tender. I am really relieved that he enjoyed his food as much, seeing as would not have liked to share my duck! 

Succulent duck with a port and berry reduction and citrus vinaigrette 

- The highlight of my evening! 

Matured Sirloin served with grilled

 root vegetables and oven roasted potatoes

Other meal options include: Starters - springbok carpaccio (R62), pork belly (R55) and smoked norwegian salmon (R58), Mains - Fresh fish of the day, venison (R150), beef fillet medallions (R185) and deboned chicken breast (R105).

All main meals are accompanied by vegetables for the table, consisting of a generous portion of butternut slices and creamed spinach.

For dessert, Oppie Dorp only has four options: Chocolate Brownies, Cherry Flambe, Malva Pudding and a speciality of the day, which in our case was Creme Brulee (all R45). My dining experience at Oppie Dorp ended on a high note with the chocolate brownie, where my boyfriend had the creme brulee. The desserts are served with a ball of ice cream in a phyllo pastry casing, with a spun sugar topping.

Chocolate brownie, with a fudge base, ice cream and spun sugar

Usually on date night, it is the company and quality time that we spend together that matters more than the choice of restaurant. However, Oppie Dorp managed to place a strong emphasis on our gourmet experience and largely contributed to the success of the evening. For that, we can really commend them.

Happy diners!

Interior of Oppie Dorp 

* If you are planning to visit Oppie Dorp, ensure that you have a booking. They are quite popular and have limited seating available, therefore they cannot readily accommodate walk-ins. 

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Address | 137 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch

Telephone | 021 883 3889

Website | www.oppiedorp.co.za (under construction)

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/OppieDorp

Challenge # 7: M Patisserie

| The Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge |

- a student's quest to visit every restaurant in Stellenbosch, 

before her final graduation - 

Patisserie | A type of French or Belgian Bakery, that specialises in pastries and sweets. 
M Patisserie | A small patisserie, owned by Martjie Malan in the heart of Stellenbosch. "Our culinary  repertoire includes treats for all occassions: bright-eyed breakfasts to scrumptious lunches, decadent desserts to perfect pastries." 

When my boyfriend wanted to take a quick study break, I was immediately ready with a location. I have often driven past M Patisserie but have not given it much thought. However, since I have started my Stellenbosch Culinary Challenge I have been looking at eateries in the area with new eyes and M Patisserie was next on my list. Therefore when the opportunity presented itself, I opted in whole heartedly. 

Being Stellenbosch, we parked a couple of blocks away but with the delightful weather this week we did  not mind the short walk to M Patisserie. The first thing that caught my attention was how well they have arranged their shop space in such a small area. The decor is minimalistic without giving a clinical feel and the open kitchen at the back draws you in and it almost feels as if you have stepped into a baker's home.

M Patisserie is the brainchild of Martjie, who left the teaching industry to fuel her love for beauty and baking, as developed by her mother. The idea behind the patisserie was to create a home for her baked goods and in that she has definitely succeeded. Not only did she create a home for her delectable treats, but as a customer you immediately feel at home when stepping into M Patisserie. 

The owner, Martjie at work 

The love for cooking and baking is evident at M Patisserie. 

This quote is displayed on their stained glass door 

as you enter the restaurant

Seeing as all the tables outside were already taken we sat at the long table in the centre of the restaurant. From here you have a direct view on the kitchen and food preparation as well as all the pastries and treats on display. If you are hungry this is not a good place to be seated - temptation will soon overcome you. 

As it was still morning, I opted for the the Cream Tea ( R 45) which consists of a pot of tea / coffee of you choice and two scones served with cream and raspberry jam (which I exchanged for cheese). My boyfriend is a croissant enthusiast and had scrambled eggs and slow roasted cherry tomatoes on a croissant (R 40). 

The scones were really exquisite. Usually I don't prefer scones seeing as it almost always end up leaving an overwhelming taste of baking powder on your palate. The same could not be said of these scones, they were sligthly sweet and albeit having a finer texture, they bear a strong resemblance to shortbread. Paired with some cream, I was a very happy patron. 

I could only finish one of the scones and took the other as a take away. At home I reheated the scone and added some mature cheddar - the slightly sweet and savoury combination with the lingering taste of the matured cheddar, was quite a success. 

All the meals are prepared by hand and on request. Therefore you will find no mass production or ready made meals at M Patisserie.At the end of our meal, we received two complementary vanilla macaroons - this is reason enough to return. 

The service was a tad slow, but seeing as they had a birthday party at the same time, it was understandable. 

Scrambled eggs and slow roasted cherry tomatoes served on fresh croissants

Scones with fresh cream and cheese  

Earl Grey tea and vanilla macaroons

M Patisserie serves breakfasts, lunch and solace for every sweet tooth in town. They also serve a high tea for R 125, where you receive a selection of their scrumptious pastries and treats. They offer all types of croissants (R 16- R 18) and then add eggs, hickory ham and preserves to present a satisfying breakfast (R36-38). For breakfast they also serve buttermilk crumpets (R 35), honey roasted granola (R30) and a croissant croque monsieur (R50). 

If you do not have a sweet tooth, they also offer an array of savoury items, such as quiche and sandwiches.

They also bake cakes and other treats on requests, so be sure to give them a call if you are interested in something special. 

After our meal, the tables outside have opened up and we took our tea outside. We savoured the first of the beautiful Spring days and left feeling satisfied and with the knowledge that there's a small kitchen in Andringa street that feels like home and will ensure our return.

Some of the quiches, eclairs and scones on display

Birthday cake baked on request

Photo Credit: M Patisserie

Trading hours | Monday - Friday 08:00 - 17:00, Saturday 09:00 - 15:00
Address | 3 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch
Email | m@mpatisserie.co.za
Telephone | 021 886 5020
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/MPatisserieSTELLENBOSCH/timeline

Alternatively view their review and full photo shoot on the Pretty Blog at http://www.theprettyblog.com/style-and-home/m-patisserie/