The Corkless Mind

Tag: West Coast

Top 5 things to do in Lamberts Bay this Festive Season.

It’s that time of year again, all the pushing and shoving and craziness in stores. If you’re feeling end of year burn out like most of us are this time of year, why not give yourself a well deserved break from all of the hustle and bustle of city life and get some emergency R&R with your loved ones in the coastal sleepy town of Lamberts Bay. With that said here’s a list of all to see, do and taste in Lambert’s Bay:

Die Plaaskombuis

Enjoy traditional country food (boerekos), seafood, farm breakfasts in a restored farm house more than a century old. It is situated on the scenic farm Steenbokfontein, 9km south of town. Be sure to make a booking first. If you’re lucky enough Tannie Kitta will show you around all the relics in the restaurant accompanied with all the fascinating true stories of the history in the area and how her family came to be in the area. For those wanting to stay a little longer On site are also self-catering cottages on the Steenbokfontein sea farm to enjoy a little R&R by the sea.

Lambert’s Bay Harbour and beach front

Take a leisurely stroll along the harbour and beach. Watch the local fisherman come in with their catch of the day and clean them right on the harbour docks to sell fresh to suppliers through app, Abalobi or private sales.

Walking Tour

Put your walking shoes and learning cap on. Starting at the oldest seaside factory and all throughout the town stopping at local landmarks.

High Tide Restaurant

At the helm of this gem is a Cordon Bleu trained chef. Besides her warm reception, along with that of the staff, Chef Bertina Engelbrecht’s food is seasonal, fresh and inspiring. Being a oenophile, I gladly stopped by the quaint tasting room next door to purchase some of the deliciously crisp Teubes wines that was served in the restaurant. I absolutely couldn’t go all the way home without a little bit of Lamberts Bay in a bottle. I plan to pair my wines with a dish, coming soon to the blog! We were also treated to a professional food and wine pairing. Which reminded me of WSET Level 1. Knowing how salt, umami, sweet and bitter affects wine is life changing and incredibly fascinating.

Visit the Sandveld Museum

The museum houses 15 different exhibits, “Old” Lambert’s Bay, HMS Sybille Gunboat which ran aground in 1901, Photograph collection, Fish industry and fishing community, Book & Bible collection, Archaeological display, Horsemill and Farm implements and Clothes and embroidery from bygone days.

Lamberts Bay has so much coastal charm and I love how locals are always welcoming you with a smile. Certainly worth the drive out of Cape Town, but I would advise to stay a little longer, the tranquility is infectious!

*Information supplied by Lamberts Bay Tourism and West Coast Way**

November 30, 2018
Off the ‘Beeten’ Track pt 2 – The Darling Wine Shop.

The Darling Wine Shop is an amazing Darling gem with so many varietals of wine available for sale, both local and international spoils. Owned by Charles Withington, Charles has over forty years of experience in the South African wine industry, twenty five of which were spent with two large wine estates, and more recently, developing his own brand as négociant, sourcing wines for his own label.

We were invited by Charles to come and visit his wine shop in Darling for a tasting with a side of history and basic wine education for the everyday wine-lover. We started off with a blind wine tasting, one unidentified white and one red. I too eagerly identified the white as a crisp Riesling, the red was a tad tricky to name. The white was a 2018 Groote Post Riesling with refreshingly crisp notes of grapefruit, pineapple and peach with hints of ginger and spice on the palate. The red was to my surprise, one of Charles’ very own, named Roan Ranger, a play on the French region Rhône. A sophisticated blend of Cinsault (65 %), Grenache and Mourvèdre. Although A french inspired blend, the grapes originate from Darling. It is an easy drinking blend and is best served slightly chilled. The Groote Post Riesling I found I grew an instant liking to. It certainly is such a delicious summer treat, best served chilled. I couldn’t leave without going on a little shopping spree in the store. We were also lucky enough to be gifted a bottle of Charles’ Roan Ranger!

Gin was our next tasting, also another Withington speciality. Darlington is a new dry London inspired gin with of course a local touch to truly make it one of Darling’s own. Making use of an indigenous plant Gethyllis aka ‘Koekemakranka’ to blend into their very own Gin. The gin is a straight up, no-nonsense good old traditional kind of gin. I love that you can taste the distinct floral undertones of the Koekemakranka which in the words of Charles “really gives it the true spirit of Darling” We experimented with different flavoured tonics, herbs, fruit and garnishes, which was so much fun getting to taste which paired better with the juniper balanced gin.

I particularly enjoyed picking Charles’ brain regarding local wine knowledge, being a wine geek I feel I could chat about wine, regions and different types of soil and the effects climate has on wine, with him all day, if it were not for the fact that we had to beat traffic on a Friday afternoon!

The wine bottle chandelier, which is one of the first things in the store you notice, is an absolute show stopper. Made by the locally famous artisan, Edmund Tango, who has made quite a reputation for himself in Darling and surrounds. Most of the wood work and welding seen in Darling Brew, Edmund has done, He will also be doing a lot of the work in terms of furniture etc in the new Woodstock brewery too! He has a knack for turning any material into a beautiful work of art.

The store feels like a friendly place I would surely pop in frequently, if I lived nearby. I actually asked Charles to open a store up in Durbanville. The experience of shopping at the Darling Wine Shop is something that I loved more than the actual tastings, which were pretty good might I add! If you’re looking for a personalized wine experience, The Darling Wine Shop is certainly worth the drive and time. Don’t have the time right now? Simply visit their website to order online and have your wines delivered straight to your doorstep – Order online now

Find Darling on the Culture/Tractor Route on West Coast Way

Take a road trip to Darling this weekend to experience The Darling Wine Shop.

Find them at:

5 Main St

Darling

Western Cape

7345

Phone: +27 22 492 3971 or 074 1941 711

** This post was sponsored by The Darling Wine Shop. All views and opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.**

November 16, 2018
Off the ‘Beeten’ Track – Darling Lodge

It always astounds me how much beauty exists right in my backyard, I mean I am situated just 5 minutes from The Durbanville Wine Route and 20 minutes, on a good day that is, from the breathtaking beautiful Winelands. Darling, an hour’s drive from Cape Town, is the perfect pit-stop town, with so many to see, do and taste. This charming town is fast becoming a favourite of mine. If you read my last blog post you will know that I visited Darling Brew, a local craft microbrewery also situated in the heart of Darling.

Darling Lodge is a 3 starred guest house with a beautiful Victorian feel inside and out. This grand dame offers three individually styled country rooms. The more modern garden annex consists of three further generously appointed rooms with a grape-vine covered patio which overlooks the sparkling swimming pool.

We drive around leisurely stopping to see all of the weird and wonderful types of scarecrows propped up all around town in preparation for the Scarecrow festival which took place from the 26 – 28th of October. Finding Darling Lodge is no hard task, located in the heart of the town, just off of the main artery of Darling. We pull up to the entrance of Darling Lodge, with a scarecrow affectionately named ‘Bennie’ of their own perched up on their post surrounded by plentiful blooming flora. Co-Owner Stephan warmly receives and welcomes us in. Showing us around all of the available suites, aptly named after local artists, each suite is styled according to the artists’ style together with the personal touch of their own flare both Stephan and partner Olivier posses.

We’re escorted to their lush and serene garden which feels as though we’ve been transported to an English garden in what I would imagine a setting would look like out of an Emily Brontë novel. You’re probably wondering how their beautiful gardens look and stay this lush? Guests are encouraged to reuse their shower water (remember, no taking baths as we’re still in a drought) with 5 litre bottles punctured to let the water seep out into the ground with spouts attached at the top to make it much easier. Stephan tells us most guests actually enjoy this water-wise chore!

Darling Lodge Guest House is the perfect venue for small business meetings and conferences, individual retreats, anniversaries or weddings of up to 24 guests. Children of all ages are welcome. They offer secure off street parking, a swimming pool with open air lounge, free internet Wi-Fi, a cosy TV lounge with garden view and privacy certainly conducive to curling up or putting your feet up to read a good book, an honesty bar (licenced), a relaxing library and individual concierge services.

Breakfast is served near the garden in the breakfast room equipped with plenty of varieties of tea and coffee, juices and more. The ambiance in the breakfast room as is the whole lodge is that of a family friendly, stay as long as you want type of feel.

Spend a weekend catching up on R&R or take a walk exploring Darling. There’s so much to see and do in the town and surrounds. Visit: http://www.darlinglodge.co.za/attractions.html and find out more. Stephan is quite knowledgeable about attractions in the area and where to get the best meal in and around the little town.

Find Darling Lodge Guest House through Darling on the Culture Route on West Coast Way and book your stay today! Have a look at their newly renovated website too:

Address: 22 Pastorie Street, Darling, 7345

Tel: 022 492 3062

Web: www.darlinglodge.co.za

Email: info@darlinglodge.co.za

GPS: 33º 22′ 44.16” S
18º 22′ 42.73” E

Information sourced from Hello Darling Tourism – https://www.hellodarling.org.za/darling-listings/darling-lodge-guest-house/

-Darling Lodge Guest House.

*This post was sponsored by Darling Lodge Guest House. All views and opinions are my own. *

November 14, 2018
Darling Brew: What’s New and Trending.
A Friday well spent is one out of the office visiting one of my favourite local craft brewers. Craft beer is something Darling Brew does so well and not to mention sustainably too. I attended their official launch in April this year for the announcement that they have obtained carbon neutral status, which meant Darling Brew had officially become Africa’s very first Carbon neutral brewery. Remember the tree that was planted in April to commemorate their carbon neutral status? Here’s an update:

Co-founder of Darling Brew, Philippa Wood graciously hosted and took me and a select group of media on a very informative tour of the brewery, in what made me feel like this was a more grown up version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Entering the brewery, the rich smell of roasted hops fills the air and entices you to a ‘cold one’ upstairs at the Tasteroom where you can also order an equally delicious meal to pair with your brew of choice. It’s been a while since April, so here’s my update on what’s new on offering at Darling Brew:

News on the Brews

We were some of the first to be let in on a little secret. Darling Brew has just launched a new beer, Pixie Dust. It is a Golden Weiss beer. We when visited recently, I noticed a brewing tank labelled ‘Pixie Dust’, as well as that they have already started serving this tasty beer on tap at the Brewery, one more reason to go and visit Darling Brew! Philippa informed me that both Slow Beer and Bone Crusher beers were recently awarded at the 2018 African Beer Awards.

The Tasting Room

The menu is seasonal and good old pub grub with a special touch on locality, only using local artisanal food suppliers. The incredibly rich and creamy cheese selection that is used in any of their menu items containing cheese comes from a local dairy shop, Udderly Delicious, the smoked meats and charcuterie they use is sourced from Darling heavyweight, The Flying Pig. I particularly love how much emphasis Darling Brew puts on supporting local businesses.

Joyce who works at Darling Brew, has a wealth of knowledge about their award winning beer and brewing processes. Her passion and drive is so infectious!

That gooey cheese was a winner!

After my tasting flight of fresh and fruity beers, I opted for ‘The Cuban’. A toasted sourdough sandwich with smoked pork ham, gooey cheddar cheese and pickles with a side of delicious crispy potato chips. I was forewarned by our waitress that the portion is quite generous, and generous it was! I would advise going hungry, fuelling up with either breakfast or lunch before partaking in a tasting flight of your choice.

The tasting flight variety ensures that there certainly is something for everyone!

Pick between the DB Popular flight consisting of the:
- Slow Beer
- Gypsy Mask
- Rogue Pony
- Bone Crusher
Alternatively, if you don’t consider yourself to be much of a beer drinker, try the Ladies Flight, which consists of Rock Shandy inspired beers like:
- Golden Tail – Lemon 2.6%
- The Ruby Jewel – Grapefruit 6%
- Gypsy Mask – Red Ale 4%
- Rogue Pony – Pale Ale 5%
FYI

Official word: this year the Darling Brew Beer Fest will be held on the 15 December. Keep your eyes peeled to their social media accounts for updates closer to the time. If you’re in and around Woodstock you would have noticed a massive billboard on the actual building announcing Darling Brew coming to the neighbourhood soon, opening doors early 2019.

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Something Different and New

In the spirit of sustainability, Darling Brew has been toying with the idea of creating something out of the spent grain that comes with any beer production. Until, enough trial and error, Darling Brew Beer Crisps were born. With two flavours, Slow Beer and Bone Crusher made with the spent grain of said beers, the bags of crisps are great value for money for the size of the bag. To make the crisps, 40% of spent grain is used. Grain from the Bone Crusher and Slow Beer is used to make the respective flavours of crisps. Since launching on the market, the crisps have been well received. Another snippet of inside information, the crisps will in future be used on The TasteRoom’s menu as a delicious addition for Nachos. Production of the crisps are on site, besides the actual frying of the crisps which is sent to a local business to take care of. The small batches are then brought back to the brewery to be put on a steep conveyor belt which is then gently dropped into bags that are immediately sealed and ready to be sold off to any lucky customer. I of course couldn’t bare to leave the brewery without having purchased a bag of both the Slow Beer and Bone Crusher to enjoy at my own leisure.

Find Darling Brew Tasteroom & Brewery on the West Coast Way Culture & Foodie Routes

Distance from Cape Town: 76km

Darling Brew Tasteroom & Brewery: 48 Caledon Street, Darling

Brewery, Restaurant, Tastings & Sales, open-air kids play area, MTB-friendly, Live Events

School Holidays & Flower Season: Open 7 days a week.

Tasteroom operating hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 am to 5 pm Kitchen closes at 4 pm

Friday 9 am to 7 pm Kitchen closes at 6 pm

Saturday 9 am to 5 pm Kitchen closes at 4 pm

Sunday 10 am to 4 pm Kitchen closes at 3 pm

They are also open for private functions. The restaurant works on a walk in basis but large groups are encouraged to book.

Contact: +27 (0)21 286 1099 | tasteroom@darlingbrew.co.za | www.darlingbrew.co.za
October 31, 2018
Off the Beeten Track – in Saldanha.

** This blog post was sponsored by West Coast Way and Blue Bay Lodge. All views are my own. Besides accommodation, all other expenses were paid in full**

A blog post like this is very easy to compose and publish, especially if the time spent coming up with the content was particularly amazing! I was offered an opportunity to stay at the serene Blue Bay Lodge and experience the sleepy town of Saldanha for a weekend. If you’ve read any of my other West Coast adventures, you will know how much I love spending time and recharging my soul there.

As you enter the legendary fishing village, Saldanha, Blue Bay Lodge meets you at the very beginning of the town, situated off Henry Wicht street. Aptly named after the Wicht Family who runs Blue Bay lodge. My fiance and I were lucky enough to stay in the stunning Executive suite overlooking the bay and of course the monumental Saldanha Steel plant. The staff are extremely welcoming and warm, something among many other reasons makes me want to go back and soon! Previously a homestead for the Wicht family, the Wicht’s moved to the area and bought the property in 1954, and proceeded to raise their 9 children on the small farm. The lovely owner, Mart-Mari Wicht, told us a charming tale of how her parents came back from their honeymoon and began with the idea of starting a self-catering establishment. Years after her grandfather passed on, her father bought the family homestead and turned it into Blue Bay Lodge. In 2005, the Wicht family built an additional 16 rooms on to extend the lodge, which we now call the suites.

As the storm clouds started rolling in to the bay, we arrived just in time to cosy up and watch from the comfort of our beautiful suite. Dinner was a gourmet hamburger and fries. Every Friday at the restaurant (situated inside the lodge) is Burger night, where for a steal, the hamburgers at a discounted price and cocktails half price.

Awoken by the crashing of waves, feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the day after a good night’s rest. My morning coffee turned into something of an experience, overlooking the bay area on the balcony with the crisp ocean air against my skin. Breakfast was a simple but filling one at the restaurant at the lodge. With the emphasis on filling and fueling up, we had quite a busy day ahead of us with site seeing around the bay. First up was a visit to the much talked about local gem, Cup of Cake. A bakery and coffee shop much loved by the locals and those passing through Saldanha, know it’s always best to get their sweet fix early, as the bakery fills up very quickly. The cake, deliciously decadent and moreish. The coffee is the perfect accompaniment to balance the sweet. I would recommend leaving with one or two cupcakes or slices. It’s just that good!

After all the cake, we needed to take a brisk walk to keep the guilt at bay. Just up the road is one of the West Coast’s oldest fishing villages, where the Hoedjieskop museum is. The museum was momentarily closed so we instead took a hike up to the look-out point to have a look at the bay area. This village has the oldest cemetery on the west coast too. Saldanha bay has such rich heritage and history, something that the locals can be proud of and I’m certain of is celebrated.

Saldanha is also renowned for sustainable seafood. Most people don’t know this, but the annual Knysna Oyster festival gets all their Oysters from Saldanha! Another fun fact: did you know, the best time to consume Oysters are in winter? The reason behind this is that they are at their prime.

Our next stop, was something I had been looking forward to all week! We took a boat trip to a local oyster farm. In the bay,of which there are several companies with flotation devices to keep their stock of West Coast Black Mussels or West Coast Oysters in check. A short boat trip across the bay took us to Blue Sapphire Pearls (the tour operator) section of Oysters and Mussells. The water is filled with many colours of flotation devices signalling which site belongs to which company. When asked, how do they know which stock is theirs, the tour operators, confidently responded with the only colour they use for their site.

The boat trip came to a halt. It was finally time to have a look at their farm! Like a rig or a well bringing up water, a rope attached to the flotation devices was rung around a recycled wheel, much like a conveyor belt. The belt stopped, out came three wire cages of dozens and dozens of Oysters. The two gentlemen on the boat sorted through them and put a few back. The reasoning for this is putting back the young small oysters that still need time to mature and grow. The bigger ones will of course dominate in the environment and eat most of the food(plankton, etc) and leave very little left over for the younger ones, hence they need to be sorted and set aside or shucked to be eaten.

With the engine fired up and ready to go, we made a very short trip across to a floating wooden deck, where Oysters are shucked, bubbly popped,and reveling in the temporary feeling of the good life are enjoyed! I lost count the amount of Oysters I consumed, and because my person is (so he suspects) allergic to shellfish, I chose to eat for the both of us! Two bucket list items are officially ticked off. Touring an oyster farm and having freshly shucked oysters right then and there! And of course shucking my own oyster straight from the sea. Whether you have a penchant for a freshly shucked oyster or not, this is definitely something every foodie or food nerd should experience!

Each juicy plump oyster tasted of the sea, fresh, and had a delicious sweet taste. I tried plenty without any condiments, and to me this is the best way to eat them. Recalling something that Kyle, of Mussel Monger recently said, “chew your oysters, rather than knock it back like a shot” Some sound advice, as you really get to experience each texture and taste as you chew.

The cliched saying of “time flies when you’re having fun” comes to mind. The weekend was over before it actually began! With a jam-packed weekend of seeing and tasting all Saldanha has to offer, I felt the immediate need to come back and do it all again, and soon! Blue Bay Lodge, is family friendly, a fantastic place to switch off and reconnect with oneself and nature. They host all sorts of family friendly activities year round, from the kite-windsurfing cup to a sailing regatta and lots more! See below to visit their website and keep up to date with all their events. Blue Bay lodge is the perfect sea-side escape for everyone! If you’re planning a wedding,function or conference, they have such beautiful and affordable facilities to host you and your guests. Get in touch with the team to find out more.

You can find Blue Bay lodge on the Foodie route(#53) on West Coast Way’s route guide. The foodie route is a great way to explore those tucked away local gems!

Plan your weekend away with West Coast Way and Blue Bay lodge whilst they are still running the 3 for 2 nights deal! Visit West Coast Way and Blue Bay Lodge for more information. To book an oyster farm tour and tasting contact Kevin Ruck at Blue Sapphire Pearls at kevin@ruck.co.za or call (022) 714 3928. The tours are R460 per person and have a minimum of 4 people per tour.

July 6, 2018
How to experience the West Coast.

The West Coast of Southern Africa is something of a spiritual escape for me and my better half. We always tend to visit at least a few times a year, however always going to more or less the same areas…until recently. West Coast Way invited me along to a media day of road-tripping around the West Coast to see, taste and explore.

Starting at The Lodge at Atlantic Beach, situated in Melkbosstrand, a 25 minute drive out from Cape Town. Chantal generously hosted us for a quick brekkie to meet-and-greet our fellow bloggers and media. Thereafter gave us a tour of The Lodge and it’s facilities. We had a quick tour of the fully equipped leisure centre, with Yoga class in session we had to keep the noise to a minimum in the area, to respect the space of those who use the leisure centre as an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle. From there we had a sneak peak at the trails for those who like to go walking in nature and even came across a golfer ready to tee off. From there we popped in to the restaurant with delicious weekly specials not to be missed! For those looking for a venue for weddings, parties or even conferences, The Lodge has a magnificent space that can fit up to 200 people at a time with spectacular views of Table Mountain, and also a quaint little arch should you choose to hold your wedding ceremony right there. There is an amazing special currently running for accommodation at The Lodge, for only R1095 for a deluxe room and R895 for single occupancy(includes a continental breakfast). This special ends 30th April. Book now to avoid the disappointment and FOMO of not having to wake up and watch springboks and other local wildlife graze right outside your doorstep! Visit their website for more details and to book: The Lodge at Atlantic Beach

A drive north on the R27 took us to our next destination, the R27 Roosterkoek pad stall stop. At just a a few months old, their roosterkoek is already making waves (I’m sorry, just couldn’t resist that one) along the west coast, so much so that theirs was voted the best in the West Coast! The other highlight of our pit-stop there was being welcomed oh so warmly with a piping hot cuppa Moerkoffie with a caffeine kick to boot. The Roosterkoek is made fresh daily and while you wait you can see it being made right there on the coals! With so many styles, flavours and fillings to choose from, you can’t go wrong by taking a shot left at the R27 Roosterkoek pad stall.

Our next stop? Langebaan. More specifically the infamous Club Mykonos resort. A serene, Greek-inspired paradise of holiday-makers young and old. Our first stop was at the Marina, waiting to board a chariot that we would have lunch and drinks on, provided by Elite Charters. We had a quick tour of the new modern development that is their apartments that one can hire for a long weekend or two, fully furnished with top of the range furnishings, overlooking the moody marina. Entertainment for every member of the family can be found in every nook and corner. From a thrilling night at the casino to live music on the marina. If luck is on your side, why not play some Bingo by the seaside.

Having only ever experienced Club Mykonos through epic stories of holidaying in the peak of summer, by friends, I certainly cannot wait to experience Club Mykonos myself and make my own memories! Visit their website for more information on how to book: Club Mykonos

The padkos as pictured above is from the Kardoesie pad stal, was presented to us as something of a “West Coast Everyday kit” A loaf of bread, a packet of Bokkoms(is it even a survival kit without bokkoms?) vis kaaings, fat, jam and a pocket knife. The story told was of making a sandwich with all of the ingredients and then of course washing it down with an ice cold one. The story was told in Afrikaans, if told any other way, would lose its spark and humour. Kardoesie N7 Countrystop is only a 80 minute drive out from Cape Town. They offer Camping and self-accommodation facilities. Visit their site for more details: Kardoesie

Thali Thali was another highlight of the day. Their hospitality and accommodation is definitely something that will draw me back there again. The game drive lasted about 1 hour and a bit. With some time to spare to tour the accommodation and get one last coffee in before we hit the long road back. The Farm house has a grand old charm about it. I particularly loved the old farm style kitchen, of course! The accommodation we got to view were cozy farm style cottages with one or two modern touches here and there but staying true to it’s farm/bush spirit. Stop by their website and book a stay in the farm house: Thali Thali

My experience was a pleasant and intriguing one, so much so that, the very next weekend, my partner and I got into our car and drove to the West Coast to taste some of that infamous Roosterkoek I couldn’t stop talking about! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, there is something magical and mysterious about the West Coast. There is so much soul in the coastal towns that surround the West Coast, so many stories to tell, food to taste, beautiful people to meet and memories to create. I certainly cannot wait to get back into the car, pack some padkos and take a drive out to the West Coast.

**Sponsored by West Coast Way **

March 29, 2018