a winter gourmet tasting feast at la colombe

I get very excited about visiting one of my all-time favourite Cape Town restaurants – La Colombe. Its beautiful, its casual and the food is always an adventure.

I wrote about my meal last year and the year before where I enjoyed a legendary book club dinner with a bunch of fabulous girlfriends. 

This year I was invited to sample Scot Kirten’s latest creations on the current winter menu, and I took along a food-loving friend to enjoy this with me. We spent a rather pleasant Saturday afternoon having our taste buds and senses delighted with this delicious and visually beautiful meal.

If I ever had to imagine what heaven would be like, I would be living on a street called Strawberry Lane and I would be indulging in this Umami broth every day. I would be knocking back several of the fresh Saldanha oyster with kalamansi granité and be sipping on copious glasses of Constantia Uitsig Blanc de Blanc bubbles.

The dessert which looked like it had been designed for fairies, was achingly whimsical and a light ending to an exquisite meal.

I hope I have captured a bit of the experience in these pictures:

The amuse bouche of feather light and crispy pork crackling chips (a firm favourite on the La Colombe menu), served alongside truffle butter melba toast, gave our taste buds a gentle wake up call.

Asian citrus oyster

Fresh Saldanha oyster with kalamansi granité

Constantia Uitsig Blanc de Blancs 2008 (Constantia)

 

Beetroot Cannelloni

Beetroot cannelloni, goat’s cheese panna cotta, walnut purée, crisps, walnut shavings and crumble, aged balsamic vinegar

Mellesat White Pinotage 2011 (Paarl)

 

Foie gras and lavender

Foie gras and caramelised fennel tian, macadamia and lavender crumble, sous vide smoked quail breast, rhubarb butter and lavender brioche

Cederberg Bukketraube 2011 (Cederberg)

 

Umami broth

Umami broth, steamed langoustine, miso scallop and shitake roll

Mullineux Kloof Street Chenin Blanc 2009 (Swartland)

 

Piña Colada

Pineapple granite, rum and coconut espuma

 

Trio of lamb

Sous vide lamb loin, braised neck, pan fried sweetbreads, fricassée of wild mushrooms and celeriac, asparagus and pea salad, fondant potato and fennel jus

High Constantia Cabernet Franc 2006 (Constantia)

 

Rose & coconut panna cotta (aka fairy dessert)

Delicate rose and coconut panna cotta with a cashew crumble, sweetened lime cream and orange blossom yoghurt, rose meringues and orange infused basil seeds

Constantia Uitsig “Red Muscat d’Alexandrie” N/V (Constantia)

Legendary service from staff that remain year after year, this is truly one of Cape Towns gems.

La Colombe, Constantia Uitsig, Spaanschemat River Road, 021 7946500