Our trip in April was between two long weekends – perhaps this explains why we only had 28 on this coach trip to what I call a ‘Hidden Gem in the Western Cape’!!
Bartholomeusklip Farmhouse is just more than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, near Hermon and is such a very special place to spend a fabulous day out. It is not normally open as a restaurant, and has to be planned beforehand! On arrival at just 11h00 we were ushered into the warmth of the Farmhouse. Originally we were scheduled to enjoy our day at the Deck House on the side of their dam. Inclement weather with light drizzle decided that the Farmhouse would be more comfortable!
We were treated to a delicious cup of coffee or tea before our site inspection. Top marks to Sharon who did the tour of the rooms in the group I was in. What a lovely informal, yet very personal tour she gave us! The exquisite 4 rooms in the farmhouse plus their ‘honeymoon suite’ had us all wishing we could stay for the night.
Sharon gave our group such a personal insight into why most of the staff have been so loyal to this gem of a guest house. Some staff have worked here for many years and families have continued their work very happily. Their children go to the local school in Hermon and then later go as weekly boarders to Wellington.
We then all assembled in their dining room at 12h30. It is a elegant room with a ‘glass’ ceiling which allows natural light into the room, overlooking a pond outside. How absolutely cozy to be with everyone, allowing their staff to pamper us with a decadent lunch in fabulous surroundings!
Bartholomeusklip is managed by Leslie and Louise Gillett, twin sisters. Leslie has been working in front-of-house since 2000 with Louise joining her six months later as their head chef. Over the years Louise has brought the farmhouse kitchen to international standards, which seems to be the magic secret as to why so many international guests return year after year.
Together with Struik Lifestyle they have put together their tried-and-tested recipes in a wonderful coffee table book – “Life on a Cape Farm”. This book recently won a Gourmand World Cookbook award. Leslie came into the dining room and gave us a brief introduction to the book which had a few ladies immediately bagging their copy to take home. Laura said “A wonderful gift for my daughter in the USA”. Autographed copies will hold a special place in a good few homes!
Lunch commenced with delicious hot bread rolls with farm butter, straight from the oven . We then enjoyed slow cooked oxtail ragout on homemade pappardelle with parsley cream and micro herbs. We had a panic session on the coach going to Bartholomeusklip when five of the ladies announced that they did not eat oxtail! Louise came up with an alternate at very short notice – a pasta served with tomato and basil. (However 2 of the 5 afterwards said that had they known the oxtail was ‘off-the-bone’ and served so elegantly, they would have eaten this after all).
Our dessert arrived on a lovely wooden board and was a Pannacotta with buffalo milk yoghurt and stewed winter fruit. This was a very special way to end our meal and many people were very complimentary of this special dessert. Delicious coffee ended the meal and by 14h30 we were boarded the coach. A good few ladies lingered on the outside verandah not quite ready to leave this magical place.
One of the nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. ~
Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story