Chefs Warehouse At Maison
South Africa is well known for its wildlife and wilderness, but did you know it has a thriving food and wine scene? Even though I spent most of the trip in the African bush, I had a few days to explore Franschhoek, an area known for its magnificent landscapes, charming vineyards and fine cuisine. Many would argue that it has become the culinary capital of South Africa.
If you’ve followed Blonde Voyage Nashville for any amount of time, you know that I am a “Type-A” planner. My restaurant reservations are usually booked before my airline ticket and my friends have learned not to expect anything less. However, when I found myself with an open evening and no dinner reservations, I was a bit apprehensive. Who am I kidding? I was freaking out. With many award-winning cafes and eateries scattered throughout the region, food connoisseurs are presented with quite a predicament when it comes to making reservations. Anxiety levels sky-rocketed when I realized that I was trying to score a table at one of the best restaurants in South Africa.
After many, MANY calls and lots of website refreshing, I landed a reservation at none other than Chefs Warehouse at Maison.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Chef Warehouse, it’s one of six restaurants within Liam Tomlin’s CW restaurant conglomerate. Tomlin, who relocated to South Africa from Sydney in 2003, opened Chefs Warehouse in 2010. Since then, the Chefs Warehouse concept has evolved as it expanded its reach throughout South Africa. Guests can expect to enjoy a global tapas inspired menu incorporating seasonal ingredients to illustrate the flavors of the world in one multi-course meal.
After spending a day at Leeu Estates ( more details coming on this gem) winetasting and getting all the spa treatments, I was ready for an incredible meal and Chefs Warehouse Maison did not disappoint. Once we arrived on the property, we were immediately ushered outside where we were seated at one of the many picnic tables within the vineyard. Strutting about the property was the fluffiest little white chicken aptly named Tina Turner. Tina ruled the roost that evening splitting her time between greeting guests and checking on her chicks.
Chefs Warehouse is known for their signature experience, Tapas for 2. Even though we had a party of three, they were more than willing to incorporate additional courses and accommodate any dietary restrictions our group may have had.
Our first courses were so damn delicious. When you have three girls together and the table falls silent, you know the chef is knocking it out of the park. While it may sound trite, each dish was so unique and flavorful that I could not pick a favorite. I will say that the Beef Sirloin Pastrami left a lasting impression and would easily rank as one of my best dishes of 2020. I’m just going to throw that out there.
Sipping our wine and soaking up the views of the vineyard and towering mountains, we caught a chill and moved our dinner party inside where we were served two more mouth-watering dishes: Roasted Carrot & Saffron Risotto and Duck Liver Parfait. Chef David Schneider does such a lovely job pairing flavors in an exciting, unexpected way. For instance, I would never imagine serving duck liver with something sweet like gingerbread streusel, but the flavor combination was divine. And that risotto…was downright dreamy. I forgot that sweetbreads ( which I typically stray from) were even in the dish.
After the last two courses, I thought that it really couldn’t get better than what we had already experienced.
Concluding our tapas experience for the evening, the chef brought out our three final courses, all of which were savory: Braised Springbok Shank, Meat Of Origin Karoo Lamb “ Sout-Ribbetiji” and Sea Bass. Reveling in the flavors, it was all I could do to keep my eyes from rolling back in my head from enjoyment. Each bite was better than the last. Midway through our courses, one of the staff members who was assisting throughout dinner came to check on us and told us the most darling story about her younger years and how she always enjoyed the “Sout-Ribbetiji” growing up. Something that I now will always remember.
Don’t be fooled. Even though it’s not pictured here, we created our own dessert and wine courses with some guidance from the staff. As if I need to even tell you, they thoroughly impressed me. The flavor combinations at this restaurant were OFF THE CHARTS delicious.
Chef David Schneider does a remarkable job pairing flavors unexpectedly and excitingly allowing guests to experience food as they’ve never experienced before. This experience would not have been what it was if it weren’t for the staff. Not only are the incredibly accommodating and helpful but their attention to detail is like no other. From the time you arrive, you will feel as if you are magically transported to this delicious wonderland where the views delight your eyes and the food feeds your soul.
Tariff: Tapas for two is R1000. After several glasses of wine, dessert, and tip, I paid approximately $70.00USD for my meal.
Can’t Miss: Beef Sirloin Pastrami, Roasted Carrot & Saffron Risotto and Meat Of Origin Karoo Lamb “ Sout-Ribbetiji” were the standouts for the evening. I’d order an extra one of each if I had the room!
Potential Pass: Honestly, this isn’t even applicable for this meal. This was easily my favorite meal while in South Africa.
Until Next Time!