Epice in Franschhoek

I dined at Epice at Le Quartier Français in Franschhoek for the first time a few weeks ago and it was nothing short of incredible. Part of the La Colombe stable of restaurants, Epice – derived from the French word Épice meaning spice (and is pronounced eh-peace) – is a fine dining restaurant headed by chef Charné Sampson (previously sous chef at La Colombe).

The menu features a selection of flavour-packed dishes inspired by spices from an array of global cuisines. All staggeringly good.

The service is top-notch and each waiter doubles up as a sommelier brimming with knowledge about the wine. The pairings were interesting and spot on.

You can choose between a full or reduced tasting menu and both will leave you totally satisfied without feeling overwhelmed. Go hungry either way. Don’t be in any rush either, it’s a culinary journey of note.

In true La Colombe style, there is always a touch of table-side theatre and a chance to meet a few of the chefs.

The bread course was amongst the best I’ve ever experienced. Warm wagyu dripping infused with butter and a hawajih spice blend is poured onto a large brass plate and sprinkled with caraway, cumin, coriander, turmeric, black pepper, confit lemon, and red onion. Finished off with a sweet reduced jus and a dash of vinegar for acidity. The idea is to scrape your bread around the plate getting a bit of everything on it. It set the tone for all the deliciousness to come.