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