South African Holiday Cape Winelands : Cheese, Wine and Olives page 3

Cheese, Wine and Olives. Around the Cape Winelands on a South African holiday
Copyright Struik Publications
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When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, you’re most likely to be happily singing along at La Masseria, the family-run Italian restaurant that’s now moved to Ruitersvlei farm on the Suid-Agter Paarl Road – there’s another one in Eversdal Cellars in Durbanville. Mother-and-daughter team Salomie and Delia Pacifico will make sure you fill up on a mouth-watering buffet of antipasto or home-made pastas from the menu, but do remember to save space for the cheese made by dad Donato at the cheese factory in Stellenbosch, which is also worth a visit, at Delvera Farm off the R44. Actor Anthony Kampf (you’ll recognise his face from stage and screen) is on the guitar and working magic between the tables, so by the end of the evening, after rousing choruses of ‘That’s Amore’, ‘Buona Sera’ and ‘Volare’, the entire restaurant departs as new best friends. Cheeses range from hard pecorino and monte, through feta to sweetmilk taleggio, pepper and chilli caseggios, award-winning mozzarella filone with heavenly dessert cheeses to finish. You must try the duetto dolce – mascarpone with preserved figs and walnuts. Be sure to book a table while on your South African holiday. La Masseria to Waterfront – 35min Turn right out of Ruitersvlei onto Suid-Agter Paarl Road. T-junction left R44 Stellenbosch. At 6.5km turn right to N1 Cape Town. Follow N1 into city, then follow Waterfront signs. Still want more? These are either open-to-the-public operations that are off this route, or are working farms that are not really geared for visitors, but you can visit by appointment (give them a day or two’s warning): Dalewood Fromage, for heavenly white mould cheeses Foxenburg Estate, for cheese, olives, olive oils and organically grown, fresh mushrooms Cape Olive Trust, which sells the Buffet olive range Drakenstein Olives, for your olives, olive oils and green tapenade Take the kids to... Butterfly World – you can walk through a cloud of butterflies in the largest tropical butterfly park in Africa. Take Exit 47 and turn right Drakenstein Lion Farm – see the real thing in a sanctuary for rescued lions. Pass Butterfly World, then turn left and drive 5km AnimalZone – all sorts of exotic and local creatures such as llamas, monkeys, ostriches, emus and snakes. Also farm animals including birds, rabbits and goats. Take Exit 47 and turn left Le Bonheur crocodile farm – see crocs from hatchlings to retirement age. Look for signs off the R45 Contact Information Anura Wine & Cheese 021 875 5360, Mon–Fri 9:30–16:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–16:00, www.foresthillcheese.co.za Bovlei 021 873 1567, Mon–Fri 8:30–12:30, 13:30–17:00, Sat 8:30–12:30, www.bovlei.co.za Choco-Deli De Oude Paarl Boutique Hotel, 32 Main Street, Paarl, 021 872 1002, Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00 Cotage Fromage On Vrede En Lust 021 874 3991, daily 9:00–18:00 Fairview 021 863 2450, Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00, Sat 8:30–13:00 Hildenbrand Wine and Olive Estate On Klein Rhebokskloof off Blouvlei Road (the horseshoe road) Wellington, 021 873 4115, tastings daily 10:00–16:00, restaurant daily except Tues for lunches, open for dinner if there are bookings: 083 384 0249 La Masseria Ruitersvlei, off the Suid–Agter Paarl Road, 021 863 3637, open for all meals, closed Mon and Sun nights Rhebokskloof 021 869 8386, daily 9:00–17:00 Still want more? Cape Olive Trust turn off the Swawelstert Road, Daljosafat, 021 868 3120 Dalewood Fromage off the Franschhoek Simondium Road, 021 875 5725 Drakenstein Olives De Hoop Farm, Swawelstert Road, Daljosafat, 021 868 3185 Foxenburg Estate Agter Groenberg Farm, Wellington, 021 873 5617 Wellmont Interlude Farm, Blouvlei, Wellington, 021 864 1181 Paarl Vinters 021 872 3605 For the kids Animalzone 021 875 5063, daily 9:00–17:00 Butterfly World 021 875 5628, daily 9:00–17:00 Drakenstein Lion Farm 021 863 3290, daily 9:30–17:00, feeding time Mon, Wed, Fri at 16:00 Le Bonheur Croc Farm 021 863 1142, daily 9:00–17:00 Tygerberg Zoo 021 884 4494, daily 9:00–17:00 Regional Tourism Bureaus Paarl Tourism 021 872 3829 Wellington Tourism 021 873 4604 By Adélle Horler.