Cape Town Autumn/Winter Restaurant Specials 2013

20-somethings are always on the hunt for a good deal and dining out in Winter in Cape Town is such a pleasure as many top-notch restaurants put on winter menu specials, tasting menus and bargains like 2 for 1’s or meals that include wine. So get cosy and comfortable, book a seat by the fireplace and check out some of these incredible foodie deals from restaurants that I regularly visit and love:

Go Gourmet on a Budget:

Terroir

Terroir Restaurant (Winelands, Stellenbosch)
The Winter Special includes a choice of starters, mains and dessert with dishes changing according to seasonal availability of ingredients. The winter menu offers excellent value for money as two courses costs only R225 and three courses costs R255. Both deals include a complimentary glass of award-winning Kleine Zalze wine to set the mood.
Regulars and newcomers to this award-winning restaurant can take advantage of Terroir’s Winter Special menu featuring the likes of gratin of pink fir potato, brie, figs, rocket and mustard or butternut soup with brown butter ice cream and mushroom toasts for Starters.  Main courses include a catch of the day with crushed potatoes, spinach, seared lemon squid and winter ratatouille or classic aged sirloin with Asian BBQ, crispy potato and roasted onion petals. Vegetarians are always catered for with a sublime tomato tart with braised baby vegetable condiment, goat cheese and olives.  Dessert options include a warm soaked Savarin with catalan cream and poached pears, caramel and grated hazelnut.

La Mouette

*Offered from Monday to Saturday at lunch and dinner, the Winter Special is available from 2 May 2013 until the end of September 2013.
021 880-8167 or email restaurant@kleinezalze.co.za

La Mouette (Sea Point, Cape Town)
Autumn Menu, 6 courses for R185 per person, with wines, R295.
1. Sweet potato soup tomato harissa, yoghurt, truffle and cheese croquettes
2. Butternut and fontina raviolis butternut purée, pickled apple, sage noisette
3. Pan fried line fish fricassee of gnocchi, carrot emulsion, capers, aubergine puree, braised beef
Or Beetroot tartare smoked goats cheese, hazelnuts, toast
4. Roasted chicken caramelised onions, wilted spinach, mash potato, thyme jus
Or Mushroom risotto Parmesan foam, mushroom ‘caviar’ and crispy mushrooms
5. Waldorf salad Gorgonzola, celeriac puree, green apple jelly, candied walnuts, grapes
6. Chocolate orange chocolate ganache, orange sorbet, almond finaciers, orange puree
*Please note the Tasting Menus are available for the whole table only, menus will change throughout the season – starts 2 April and runs through winter.
http://lamouette-restaurant.co.za/

Haute Cabriere

Haute Cabriere (Franschhoek)
Haute Cabrière Restaurant’s winter-inspired Table d’Haut 4-course lunch offering consists of a carefully compiled selection of classic comfort-foods such as a chicken and mushroom broth with hand rolled noodles paired with the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir, or a springbok cottage pie paired the Haute Cabrière Pinot Noir 2009. The meal is rounded off with a delicious dessert to beat the winter chills.
Table d’Haut lunch for R195 or R295 with wines, from Tuesday - Sunday.
Pinot Noir Tasting Menu:

Tokara Restaurant

This classic 6-course tasting menu showcases the exquisite versatility of the elegant Pinot Noir cultivar. Guests are taken on a journey through different styles and vintages - including some rare finds from the vinoteque, which are only available from the Estate. This culinary adventure begins with an aperitif, the glorious Pierre Jourdan Ratafia paired with duck liver parfait, blue berry jelly and cardamom brioche. Thereafter, the “real” Pinot Noir experience starts with the Haute Cabrière Unwooded Pinot Noir 2011 which is served with a soy prawn consommé, peanut crusted salmon and edamame salad. The signature Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose MCC – which is 100% Pinot Noir – follows with steamed mussels in a truffled Belle Rose cream and saffron parpadelle. Thereafter, guests are treated to Porcini and bacon gnocchi, which - like the main course of basil crusted lamb boulangere potatoes, pickled crab salad - will be honoured with a glass of the rare and highly desirable Haute Cabrière Pinot Noir from the Estate’s vintage library. To finish, the sublime 2009 vintage Pinot Noir will be paired with a trio of Valrhona chocolate desserts.
Served Friday & Saturday for dinner. R595 per person including wine.
021 876-3688 restaurant@cabriere.co.za


Tokara Restaurant (Stellenbosch)
Richard Carstens is one of my food heroes and winter time is the perfect opportunity to try his 3-course Chef’s Menu, including of 2 glasses of wine, at R275 per person, from 1 May. Tuesday - Sunday lunch, Tuesday - Saturday dinner. Currently on his menu are dishes including the Duck prosciutto with pressure cooked sesame seeds, cucumber, goji berries, coconut tiradito & yuzu; Beef tartar and sashimi with katsuoboshi sorbet, daikon, tomato & red pepper sauce; and the Korean marinated beef fillet with kimchi, broccoli, pomme anna & tom yum jus. Hmmmmm.... can't wait to visit the restaurant again!
*Just note, Tokara's annual closure takes place from 20 - 30 May.

021 885-2550

Conservatory at Cellars-hohenort
Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef, Peter Tempelhoff and Head Chef, Delia Harbottle, have developed a Winter Special Menu in The Conservatory Restaurant. Focusing on seasonally influenced ingredients from the gardens and beyond, each dish is masterfully executed by the chefs and then skilfully paired with wines from the region.
Two course R155 (Including a 250ml carafe of wine R195)
Three course R190 (Including a 250ml carafe of wine R255)
Starters:
GARDEN VEGETABLE SOUP - prepared daily from seasonal organic vegetables
DUCK LIVER PARFAIT - toasted brioche, baby leaf salad, red onion marmalade
BEETROOT & SMOKED CHÈVRE - peartizer jelly, pecan waldorf salad, whole grain mustard dressing
Mains:
WILD MUSHROOM & MASCARPONE RISOTTO - parmesan crisps, courgettes, oven dried tomatoes
SEARED SPRINGBOK RUMP - celeriac puree, braised red cabbage, boulangére potato, madeira jus
PAN ROAST LOCAL FISH - pearl barley risotto, tender stem broccoli, saffron velouté
Desserts:
STARKING APPLE TART TATIN - butterscotch sauce, madagascan vanilla pod ice cream
TRADITIONAL CAPE MALVA PUDDING - crème anglaise, amarula ice cream, brandy tuille
SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISAN CHEESES - pepper biscuits & homemade fig salami
Booking is essential: Quote ‘Cellars Winter Special’ when booking your table. Valid from 15 May to 31 August 2013. Available for both lunch and dinner.
021 794 2137


Decadent Deals:

La Boheme Wine Bar & Bistro (Sea Point, Cape Town)
Two-course special (starter + main) R100, Three-course special (starter + main + dessert) R125.
Chalk-board menu, which changes daily. French bistro classics with a twist. Their pork belly, rabbit gnocchi, chicken-liver parfait and beef carpaccio are regular favourites of mine. Good winelist with great wines by the glass. *This is an ongoing special, 021 434 8797
www.labohemebistro.co.za/


Beluga (Green Point, Cape Town)

5 Rooms at the Alphen Hotel

Half price sushi, dimsum and cocktails all day Sunday, and from 12noon-7pm other weekdays. Great for an after-work dinner.
021 418-2948
Sevruga (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
Half price sushi and dim sum Monday to Saturday, 12noon-6pm; 25% off sushi and dim sum on Sundays 12noon-2pm, half price on Sunday 2pm- 6pm. Nice for lunches during a shopping trip.
021 421-5134
5 Rooms (Constantia)
This restaurant in the suburbs at Alphen Boutique Hotel offers incredible food in a cosy environment with a great fireplace. 3-course dinner R200. 021 795-6313


Beer & Burger Bargains:

Beer tasting at Saints Burger Joint

My husband loves eating burgers, so this next section is dedicated to finding Gourmet Burger goodness at great value.

Sotano by Caveau (Mouille Point)
2 lamb burgers for the price of one on Wednesdays from 5pm! (R90 gets you two renowned lamb burgers made from free-range mince topped with a tower of homemade tzatziki, hummus, avocado, lettuce and tomato, which is served open-faced on a freshly baked slice of rosemary focaccia). Sotano also recently had an interior renovation and now boasts two fireplaces.
021 433-1757

Saints burger Joint (Gardens) Order 2 flatbreads and pay for one on Mondays, or order 2 Saints classic burgers and pay for one on Thursdays. There are also beer and cocktail specials from 6pm.
021 424-0030

Hudson's Burger Joint (Greenpoint and Gardens)
Great spot for after-work light dinner and drinks. They have half-price specials on beers, cocktails and appetizers (the ribs are amazing), from Monday - Friday from 4:30pm-6:30pm.
021 426 5974

For Steak Lovers:
Hussar Grill (Camps Bay)

On of my most favourite steakhouses, the Hussar Grill in Camps Bay has a fab winter special, on from now until end August. Two Courses for R118 or three courses for R138. The starters on special include the choice between French onion soup, fried calamari, leek and potato soup or a tossed green salad. Mains on offer include either a 200g rump or sirloin steak, 500g beef ribs or a chicken cordon bleu. Dessert options include apple crumble or French baguette and real butter pudding.
021 438 0151

Bistro 1800 (Green Point)
Bistro 1800 at the Cape Royal Hotel grill some mean steaks with awesome sauces. And they're running a 'Buy any two main courses and get the cheapest one free' special. Essentially a 2 for 1, until 31 July, Mondays to Thursdays. Go for it!
021 430 0506

Sunrise steals:
After all this wining and dining, a good breakfast is needed to cure those hangovers... 


Arnold’s on Kloof (Gardens, Cape Town)
They're known to be a bustling breakfast spot, but early birds can get their breakfast at half-price if ordered before 7am, Monday - Friday.
021 424-4344

***I'll add more to this list as time goes on***