Rising Above the Rest - Ryan's Kitchen Franshoek

Ryan's Kitchen 

Like their magnificent soufflé, Ryan's Kitchen rises 

on the list of the top restaurants in South Africa

It's supposedly rated the best restaurant in Franshoek at the moment which is hard to believe when Le Quartier Francais sits two buildings away however, Ryan's Kitchen has got me convinced because there is little I had that I believe one can compete with.

We started off with complementary pea mousse that came in little pots that replicated a pot plant. The mushroom crumble was made to look like soil and the pea shoot that stuck out replicated the plant. This was a delicious starter that I battled to finish due to it being a bit rich for me.

My Mom, Dad and I ordered three different meals one of which was the Shredded lamb on pap, the fish dish which was done in a cape malay sauce and the chicken with crab legs in a coconut sauce. All the dishes had such an array of flavors and textures which made typical South African cuisine turn into an eloquent 5star meals.

The shredded lamb was soft and melt in the mouth and was done on a pap which could have been soft polenta done in a light tomato  sauce. The most equate part of the meal where the small peppercorn meringues which melted in your mouth with a final peppery taste left after dissolving.

The fish was nice thick fresh piece of kingklip which was pan fried and then covered in a red cape malay sauce on top.The meal was light, fresh and the sauce was delicious.

The chicken and crab leg was done in a coconut type broth with a crumble of cashews. The combination of chicken and crab was great and the thai take with coconut and some wasabi was delicious.

The highly acclaimed dish, which according to the Maitre d' will never be removed from the menu, is the granadilla soufflé that sits in triumph high above you in its ramequin. The soufflé was light and airy and perfectly baked to perfection. I honestly still dream about this perfect creation which I could only dream of ever replicating.

Finally the wine I was recommended was a Mount Vernon wooded white which happens to now be the first wooded wine I have ever enjoyed. The recommendations by the sophisticated Maitre d' confirms the service to have been great. Seeing four chefs in the kitchen also made one feel like we were in capable hands. 

This restaurant is a place one must try! The Head Chef works both during the Lunch and Dinner shift and therefore one can be sure to experience perfection on either occasion. Don't let this one slip through your fingers. Although quite pricey one can order individual meals rather than pay for the obscene set menu. This is a place for a special occasion where one is guaranteed a great meal.

Three pots of Pea Mousse

Cape Malay Kingklip

Shredded lamp on tomato pap 

with pepper meringues 

Coconut Chicken with Crab legs

Granadilla Souffle

Student Budget Begins

I'm back at University, back to budgets and back to trying to make meals that I enjoy cooking, that are quick, cost effective and healthy. Its quite a lot to get out of a few Rands but I've tried and I thought I'd share them with everyone.

Grilled Basil and Lemon Chicken Breast
 with Basil, Cherry Tomato,
Green Bean and Lentil Salad

Steps to Make Salad:

1. Place 1/2 cup of lentils in a pot with water and cook for 20-30min
2. Chop cherry Tomatoes in half and place in bowl
3. Take a handful of basil leaves and place in bowl with tomatoes
4. Take a handful (approx 15green beans), cut off ends and chop not 1cm pieces, place in bowl with water and cook in microwave for 1.5min, cool off in cold water and place in bowl with rest of the salad
5. After the lentils are cooked (just soft- i.e. not breaking apart), strain and place in bowl
6. Drizzle Olive Oil and some balsamic reduction over 

Steps to Make Chicken:

1. Slice chicken breast in half in order to open the breast to create a thinner, schnitzel-like shape
2. Cover in 2tbsp of olive oil, 1tsp of salt, pepper, 1/4 of lemon squeezed
3. Take a handful of Basil, thinly slice into little pieces and sprinkle on chicken
4. Using a pan (griddle pan is preferable ) cook for 10-15min, altering sides when necessary

Kitima (Best Asian Restaurant acc to Eat Out 2013)

Kitima

Placed quite out of the way for city dwellers the drive to Kitima is a long dark and windy rode to take all for a meal. Rated the best Asian Restaurant in SA 2013 by Eat Out Magazine some people see it as worth it. My experience was a mixture of below average and sensational. I therefore find it quite hard to completely disregard this restaurant and what it has on offer.

The restaurant's decor is classy and sophisticated and for an asian restaurant it is unusually placed in a traditional dutch building in Hout Bay. Besides the decor the waiters and service was just as up to scratch where recommendations from the menu were clear and chosen in accordance with your preferences. 

Before starting on our meal we were stuck into their renowned cocktails. These cocktails may be the reason I cannot let Kitima slip out my book of good restaurants. If you aren't very into cocktails or lets say alcohol - do yourself a favour and don't not order one! The Strawberry Rose Martini was lovely but The Chai Affair by Chai was the best drink I have ever had. A berry mixed cocktail with  a lemongrass foam! I was convinced I had arrived in heaven. Serve me one of these everyday and I will be living the high life!

We started our meal with some starters which included some chilli-pepper salt squid, veggie gau,  prawn and mozzarella balls and golden secrets (deep fried prawn dumplings). I am a dim sum addict and found the dim sum good but not the best I've had. The squid was also good but the prawn balls were definitely my favourite followed by the Golden Secrets. For our main meals I had the Pla Neng Ma Nao - steamed kingkilp. I managed to also taste the Aromatic crispy duck which came with homemade pancakes. I was so disappointed with the Kingklip. Instead of  a nice thick piece of kingklip I received little chunks. I am also pretty certain the fish was either frozen before or very overcooked. The duck on the other hand was rather good. 

All in all the meal was good but for a place I had been hyped up and absolutely ecstatic to get a table at last minute I was slightly disheartened. If it hadn't been for those two Chai Affair cocktails that we ordered successively I would say my meal at Kitima would have been a last time for a while.

Babelonstoren: The Greenhouse

Franshoek's Garden of Eden

This wine farm in Franshoek is the closest place I've seen to what I imagine the garden of Eden to be like. With fruit trees ranging from plums to figs, olive trees, pumpkin patches and a cacti garden - you name it - Babelonstoren grows it.

With a variety of fresh produce like theirs its to no surprise that their restaurants serves food that depends on their produces' seasons. Fresh salads, ice-creams, jams and meats are all organic and produced on site. I had a salmon salad (obviously not caught in the winelands) made up of beetroot, cherries, nectarine, red onion,  potatoes and tomatoes. Although fresh I did not find the salad to be anything out of the ordinary.

Their red, green and yellow juices were quite nice and their homemade ice-cream were quite delicious. Their menu is simple, clean and healthy however I think more care and flavours could be incorporated into their dishes.

If anything I would say their homemade tomato chutney and jams were their best products. This you can buy at their little farmers store which in itself is quite a treat to see. Their home made breads, jams, meats and cordials are sold there too. Most beautiful were some of the recipe books and ceramics that were on sale.

Babelonstoren itself is something worth seeing due to its uniqueness. If you are wanting to go to a wine farm visiting Babelonstoren should be based on seeing the Gardens and not to eat at The Greenhouse. Their other more renowned restaurant Babel may be another story however a spontaneous lunch at Babel is out of the question as bookings are needed to be made far in advance.

Salmon Salad

Red Juice

Cacti Garden

Hemelhuijs - No Pictures Allowed

With a sign on the wall that says "No picture zone" ,with regards to their decor, one may think this little cafe quite rude. However after eating at "Heaven's House" you will not question their slightly "stuck up" sign

Walls covered in frames with pressed leaves and flowers (probably indigenous to SA) with their fascination to petri dishes and measuring flasks this place has managed to make quirky chic. 

Besides their decor their salt and bread were enough to fascinate anyone. Their salt, displayed in a petri dish, is black in colour as they call it "charcoal salt." Their complimentary homemade bread ( delicious by the way) also had pieces that were black in colour as it too was charcoal bread. The bread, of which pieces had aniseed in, was served with zataar ( a middle eastern spice) and olive oil.

Their meatballs with truffle mash were fantastic - making a basic meal glamorous with  their truffle addition. The salmon and poached egg on a  thin "pancake-like" rosti with creme fraiche was also great. The chicken salad with dried cranberries was good but definitely not my favourite.

Glamourous and chic indeed with their beautiful layout of food on their plates. I had a duck salad with the most delicate thin slithers of beetroot, caramelized nuts and strawberries.   Never being a huge fan of beetroot I am convinced that this is the way to serve beetroot raw in a salad. I hope to also assure you chicken or duck the duck salad is the one to order.

Besides their food their fresh juices were the best I have ever had. The strawberry, apple and lime was the best juice over the other coconut option. I am absolutely convinced that with some mint leaves, vodka and slushy ice that strawberry, apple and lime juice will become the best mojito ever!

I did not manage to taste any desserts however I was told by my mother that the milk tart  was average however by the looks of their cappuccinos I would order one of those instead.

Hemelhuijs was placed under cafés to try in the eat out 2013. This is one of the best meals I've had in Cape Town. Don't miss out on this heavenly food.

Potato Rosti with Salmon,
Poached Egg and Creme Fraiche

Beef Meatballs/Frikkadel with Truffle 

Mash and Tomato Relish 

Duck Salad with Beetroot, 

Strawberries and Caramelized nuts

Strawberry Apple and Lime Juice
and Apple, Coconut and Pineapple Juice

Hemelhuijs From Outside

Bukhara: Indian

Bukhara is a restaurant I have been going to for years. When I ate there in 2012 I was concerned by how the restaurant did not seem to be well supported however eating there at the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 I was pleasantly surprised by how busy the restaurant was.

Although busy the service was great and the food was delicious. As always the butter chicken curry is a must. The butter and garlic naan are definitely required to eat your curry with. Another favorite in my family is the tandoori chicken. The dal fry is also great to have to accompany your main dish.

To finish off your meal the mango ice cream is the only thing you need to order. Possibly one of the best ice creams I've ever had this ice cream is made from one of the 100 mango varieties in order to create the tastiest and best textured ice cream possible.

Mango Ice Cream

  

Hout Bay Market

Now some may not like markets but I assure you that some of the best food in ct is at this little vibey market in Hout Bay. I promise that before you know it these little businesses are going to become a little larger and little more heavy on your pockets. So take advantage of this food!!

Lamb Lover

I for one have never been much of a lamb lover however I guarantee you the softest and most delicious lamb at this market. If you aren't too trusting of my statement you are welcome to taste their lamb before you buy it. Have a taste and you won't look twice at any other stand.

Veggie Eater

For those non-vegans Vegan words like micro-greens, chia and coconut flour are quite off putting when they are the ingredients in your food. Do not be scared! This vegan food has completely changed my mindset. The bun-less asian burger on micro greens and quinou salad with avocado and beetroot hummus is so yummy and healthy. 

You're assured an interesting conversation with the young guy cooking your patty as well. Ask and learn about his "righteous food."

Sweet Tooth

This last time I was at the market I was sad to not see the Creme Brule cupcakes! If you are lucky enough to come across them on your visit be sure to have one! Another delicious sweet treat is the pineapple and banana cake from Nap. For someone who does not like banana and pineapple this cake is definitely better than their carrot cake which they sell.

Mojito Movers

When it comes to cocktails I am very into my fresh minty mojitos. The raspberry mojitos next to Bramptons wine stand is fantastic. If you're not into your cocktails the Bramptons wine is always a safe bet or rather their delicious bubbly!!