It’s really easy to fall in love with the exquisitely beautiful Franschhoek Wine Valley found in the Western Cape of South Africa, and that is exactly what I did more than 20 years ago. I’ve been a frequent visitor ever since and still pinch myself that this dreamy destination is within easy driving distance from Cape Town.
I recently had the pleasure of rediscovering a firm favourite, La Petite Ferme, enjoying a rather magical stay in one of their luxury Vineyard Suites and sampling sumptuous country fare from the restaurant’s seasonal menu.
While the historical winelands town of Franschhoek is situated close to Cape Town, you feel far removed from the stresses of daily life as you enter the gates at La Petite Ferme. I have always enjoyed the warm hospitality offered by the team at this iconic establishment. I’m happy to say that this is still very much the case.
There is an immediate sense of tranquillity and warmth that envelops you as you arrive at this special place. Our porter, Unathi, greeted us with a wide smile and offered us a welcome drink each. Naturally, I went for the bubbly! It was a mini celebration after all – it isn’t often that Ryan and I escape for a romantic midweek date night that includes a fabulous stay.
LUXURY VINEYARD SUITES
As one of the most sought-after destinations in the Cape Winelands, this boutique hotel is a member of The Nest Collection, “A premier collection of distinguished, independently owned boutique hotels, safari lodges and country escapes, each with its own unique personality, artful furnishings and superb location.”
My last visit to La Petite Ferme included a tour of their then almost refurbished Vineyard Suites. I swooned then and I swooned again as Unathi showed us our home-away-from-home for the night.
Perched on the slopes of the Oliphants Pass and Middagkrans Mountain Range, the Vineyard Suites offer guests private country-style luxury accommodation and arguably the finest Franschhoek Valley views. The Moresque Suite is stylish and spacious, with elegant décor inspired by Morocco’s captivating landscape and its famous spices markets.
The idyllic terrace is made for relaxing and getting lost in those spectacular valley and vineyard views. Featuring a comfortable day bed, table and chairs, pool loungers and your very own private plunge pool, it is the perfect place to rest and restore one’s body, mind and soul. With the vineyards on your doorstep and picturesque valley views stretching for miles, I made sure to enjoy the lush surroundings for as long as possible.
The Suite of my dreams allows the outside light in with large windows overlooking the valley. You’ll find a plush king-size bed (extra length), a light and airy en-suite bathroom with a bath and walk-in shower and all the modern amenities that you could wish for. Experience bathroom bliss and relax in a heavenly bubble bath with panoramic valley views to keep you company.
With a plunge pool to cool down in summer and a fireplace to warm you in winter, the Vineyard Suites at La Petite Ferme are a year-round destination that appeals to local and international travellers. South Africans can take advantage of the hotel’s Winelands Summer Escape packages.
THE RESTAURANT AT LA PETITE FERME
Known as the Culinary Capital of South Africa, Franschhoek boasts an astonishing array of eateries. You’ll find delightful cafes, fine dining restaurants, gastropubs and everything in between in this epicurean paradise.
Established in 1986, La Petite Ferme’s Restaurant is one of Franschhoek’s longest-running restaurants. It is easy to see why this local favourite has stood the test of time, evolving over the years and enticing delighted diners with seasonal country style cuisine that has a fresh contemporary touch.
I have been fortunate to dine at La Petite Ferme on a number of occasions and always look forward to a delicious and memorable experience. The relaxing ambience and friendly, professional service is matched by panoramic valley views and superb wines.
Having recently welcomed talented Head Chef Odette Olivier, she has taken on the challenge to re-invigorate the dining experience at La Petite Ferme. With a wealth of local and international experience, Odette will oversee and implement the menu design, offering a seasonal menu showcasing quality produce from the bountiful Franschhoek area.
“I enjoy creating from South African heritage dishes, employing a mix of cooking methods like smoking, pickling and fermenting,” she says. She adds that menu planning always starts with the desserts “because of my sweet tooth”, implying that every dining experience at La Petite Ferme is guaranteed to end on a high note.” – Odette Olivier (read more about Odette and her culinary journey here).
Ryan and I had a lovely, romantic “date night” dinner, but a leisurely lunch would have been more ideal to truly enjoy the spectacular views alfresco-style, taking time to savour each sumptuous bite and sip of award-winning wine.
While fairly small, the menu offers a tantalising selection of dishes that feature South African-inspired cuisine created from fresh, local and seasonal produce, including Assiette De La Semaine – Plate of the Week. Children are also catered for with a Kids’ Menu.
Starters include Heritage-inspired West Coast Mussels and BBQ Pulled Beef Short Rib with a deep-fried bobotie dumpling and condensed milk mayonnaise. Ryan thoroughly enjoyed his starter, while my Foxenburg Goats Cheese Mousse with heirloom tomatoes, bee pollen, honeycomb, tempura celery, fruit brioche, aged balsamic and gooseberries was a unique start to our meal.
Choosing between the Pork Belly and Seared Salmon Trout was no easy decision, but my seafood-loving soul went with the salmon trout. An excellent decision I might add, as the spicy fermented honey glaze, confit potato, sugar snap peas, green grapes, edamame beans and lime hollandaise created a symphony of interesting flavours and textures that took this dish to another level – it was utterly delicious and a joy to eat!
My meat-loving husband chose the Slow Cooked Karoo Lamb Shoulder. The addition of kapokbos (wild rosemary), confit garlic mash, apricot, cauliflower and moskonfyt jus (a thick syrup prepared from grape must) brought the dish together beautifully. It doesn’t get more South African than this!
The wine list contains a selection of award-winning La Petite Ferme wines, as well as local Méthod Cap Classique and local craft beers. A bottle of wine was included with our meal and since the dishes would be quite rich, I chose a lighter style of wine. La Petite Ferme’s Baboon Rock Rosé 2021, made from 100% Grenache Noir grapes, contains aromas of strawberry, candyfloss and candy apple. Luscious fruit abounds on the palate and it has a fresh and lively acidity. It’s the perfect wine for summer sipping!
As is often the case after a delectable meal, we had no room for dessert! We opted to share dessert in our suite instead. The Heritage-inspired Tonka Bean Panna Cotta with raspberry ice, baboon rock rosé jelly, pink turksvy chiboust, dragon fruit, meringue and hibiscus is beautifully plated and a delight to eat.
Breakfast the following morning was another delicious feast and the perfect start to our day. Think fresh fruit, pastries, jams (and more!) and the most heavenly Salmon Eggs Benedict. The lime hollandaise sauce made this dish sing!
As the year draws to a close, give yourself the gift of a relaxing getaway and enjoy ultimate tranquillity, luxury and exceptional service at this much-loved winelands destination. Create special memories with La Petite Ferme’s Winelands Summer Escape for South African residents (Ts&Cs apply). Your body, mind and soul will thank you.
Disclosure: I was invited by Random Hat Communications to review their client La Petite Ferme. Views and images are my own unless stated otherwise. All Covid-19 safety and hygiene protocols were adhered to throughout our stay.
A special thank you to all staff members for your gracious hospitality. You made us feel so welcome and right at home.
Yours in Travel, Food & Wine
xoxo
Until the next adventure!
