Journey Through the Cape – inspired food and wine pairing menu delights diners at Azure Restaurant.
Cape Town, May 2019 – Besides its location in Camps Bay, with awe-inspiring Atlantic views and sunsets, there’s a new reason to visit The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa’s Azure Restaurant.
Recognised as one of Cape Town’s top dining establishments, the Azure Restaurants Head Chef, Christo Pretorius has curated one of the most delightful menus yet – the Journey Through the Cape – a five-course food and wine pairing designed to bring the very best of the Western Cape to the Azure diner’s plate.
“The quality of the fresh produce is exceptional,” says Chef Christo. “And we’ve simply presented it in a way that allows it to speak for itself. From the Hemel & Aarde valley to the Cederberg, Stellenbosch, Karoo and Elgin… we’ve chosen the very best each region has to offer.”
Head Sommelier and Bouchard Finlayson Ambassador, Gregory Mutambe has partnered each dish with an emphasis on provenance. “Once I knew what regions and produce Chef Christo had selected, I simply looked for wines that expressed the essence of each region and displayed its typical attributes. Wines were also chosen on their ability to complement the food on the plate perfectly”
Before heading off to experience Azures’ Journey Through the Cape menu, our media retinue gathered in The Café Grill for introductions and to sample one of Chef Sarawut Sukkowplang’s new signature starter sushi dishes; Spicy miso tuna with deep-fried vegetarian dashi ponzu and Norwegian salmon roll.
This 24-hour al fresco styled eaterie even has a 4-course sushi dinner & movie combo served at the in-house cinema, accompanied by popcorn, a milkshake or soft drink and sweet snacks.
Azure’s Journey Through the Cape Menu
From the Hemel & Aarde region, Sommelier Gregory has chosen a 2018 Bouchard Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc Reserve to perfectly pair with Chef Christo’s Cape Atlantic Fruit de Mer amuse bouche.
Celebrating the Cederberg region, a Rooibos Smoked Ostrich starter teams up with a Cederberg Sustainable Rose 2018.
From the Stellenbosch Region, a Kaapzicht Skuinsberg Cinsaut 2017 (which Sommelier Gregory describes as “an elegant wine with rounded tannins, leaving a silky, smooth feeling on the tongue”) accompanies the Joostenberg Duck mains dish.
Of course, a ‘best of the Western Cape’ menu would not be complete without including the Karoo Region. The Moroccan Lamb Loin is paired with a 2015 Mount Sutherland Syrah from Super Single Vineyards. Gregory explains that this particular Syrah perfectly exhibits the extremes of temperature in the area, thus producing a deep concentration of flavours.
The 5-course menus’ grand finale aims the sweet spot in the Elgin Region, with a decadent dessert duo of Apple Caramel Cheesecake and a Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2017.
Overall, this innovative menu is sure to inspire diners to take a Journey Through the Cape of their own….to experience the Western Cape first hand.
The price of the tasting menu is R825 per person, with wine pairing priced at R1,300 per person. For bookings visit the website at 12apostleshotel.com
