I look forward to your additions to the report, Peter. Bob seems to forget that in addition to those of us who have responded, there are plenty of "lurkers" who read but don't post.

Please continue. I read nearly every TR about South Africa as I'm trying to put a trip together for next year. I sometimes don't respond until the report is complete because I don't want to hijack the thread with my specific questions.

Reconsidering... may write less detail.

btw, mostly we eat and drive around, oh yes and LAUGH

Next day we’re moving on again to Franschhoek, a leading wine town. Lovely drive along the sea and then we began climbing up thru a major mountain. All very picturesque. Fantastic wildflowers— all colors. Mostly a two lane road, good road, not a difficult drive—- lots of sharpe turns.

Decended into Fra. and just before town we stopped at a hillside restaurant/winery. Lovely lunch in a covered pavilion— good wine too.

Drove a few more miles into town and our Protea hotel on the shop lined Main Street. Lots of restaurants.

Great gated parking (highly suggested in SA) at hotel. Perhaps 60 rooms surrounding a lovely garden and pool. Comfortable smallish rooms with nice baths. Only 2 floors, with a fine steakhouse on the ground floor.
Some of us had steaks the first nite. Very pleased with this and each of our hotels thus far.

Girls and P did the shops the next AM after a good breakfast at the hotel.

Dinner was at Reubens at the suggestion of the Protea chef. Very good meal, full menu, great desserts.

Good sleep.

Now today we intended to do several wineries, but rain interfered. Did La Motta first. Absolutely fab. Great flowers, great vines, beautiful old, but modernized, buildings. Rain cut stop short, so we moved on.

I'm along for the ride, too, Bob. I LOVE all the details. You always write such great trip reports!

Just chiming in to let you know that I'm still following, even if I don't always comment. Hope you enjoyed Franschhoek as much as I did. It remains the best wine region I've visited - for the food as well as the experience at the wineries.

Just lost another whole post

Today, Thursday we headed to Simon's Town south of Capetown. As we chose to drive Capetown, we took the opportunity to eat at Osteria Tarantino again. They are open for lunch 1-3 daily. There was only one other table full.
We found easy parking just above the restaurant on a tiny street in a handicapped spot.
Same menu as at night when early reservations by telephone are essential for evenings.
Staff remembered us and Tarantino spent quite a bit of time talking with us again.

Menu:

Antipasto for me
1 bottle of white wine, Diet Coke, water
bread with balsamic (moderna) and SA oil
veal and mushrooms AND pasta with fennel sausage, artichokes, mushrooms in a cream cheesy sauce—. Fab—girls
mushroom veal for P, plus pasta Alfredo
tiramisu
chocolate truffle ice cream
casatta— a trio ice cream cake with nuts

$55 a couple

FABULOUS, FABULOUS, FABULOUS

Thanks for continuing your report!

Above forgot to add our fab luncheon at La Petite Coombes in Franschhoek, sister of #1 rated La Colombo in Capetown. Note: restaurant will move end of Oct, 2019 outside of town to a wine estate.

Housed in a lovely upscale hotel in the center of town the vibe is minimalistic and cool. One side of the building is open to a small garden containing well trimmed hedges and a large shinny black stone sculpture of 2 intertwined people.

Tables are formally set with an elegant fern like arrangement set in a huge black bean shaped vase, low to the table.

Much of the cutularily is Japanese in style. We were seated at a large table next to the garden.

Menu:

A trolley was pushed up to our table planted with many plants. Scattered throughout it were some pre-apps: a minced mushroom reformed as a loli-pop sitting atop a wooden scenery, which was “replanted” in our center piece; a small round loaf of oatmeal bread, cut in quarters, accompanied with what looked like a tiny ear of corn, complete with look alike kernels within a tiny husk, which was the butter; a small individual open pot of avacado and tuna broth seasoned with coriander; Granny Smith palate cleanser sorbet served from a steaming from dry ice “treasure chest”; a beef fillet, cooked to individual liking, served with baby veggies and dutchese pots; coconut and passion fruit served in a chocolate shell; “treats”— French macaroons- coffee flavor, roasted marshmallow torched at the table, also served on a stick, smoke infused chocolate cigar.
Upon arrival we had been greeted by a very small sake drink served in a small porcelain cup.
Durind the meal we shared 3 carafes of white wine and some vodka.

2 1/2 hour lunch— fab, fab, fab lunch...335 ZAR for food= $23. each— amazing. did I say AMAZING

Pics coming

Bread and butter

Tuna and avacado dish...the best

Same

Beef and baby veg

Cheese and rhubarb

Lamb and baby veg

Dessert

Treets

As the diner eating the larger menu I received a couple of additional dishes: Lamb with baby veggies; the soft cheese and rhubarb circle served in a glass top box—- more wonderfulness...

New york, eat your heart out!!!!

The day of rain in Fra. saw us return to the lovely La Motta wine estate for lunch. Lovely restaurant indoors and out.

Pierneef is the restaurant name— Hugh open kitchen, comfortable dining room.

Menu:

smoked brisket with mushroom sauce, green salad with mustard seed dressing— best salad so far, chick pea and almond salad, several types of really good bread with the brightest yellow butter, pickles, butter beans, pickled beet chunks, tomato relish and pickled onions— all of these served family style as appetizers.
For mains 3 of us had the pork cooked for 12 hours with a crossection cut of a cabbage head which had been braised. P had a chicken dish.
Desserts: Sogo pudding (like tapioca), and a chocolate caramel dish
Wine of course— sauv. blanc

$66 per couple

What gorgeous food!

Today’s correction: Price for fixe prix La Colombo luncheons: 495 and 795 ZAR= $27. And $54.


Nice dinner tonight up the road in Kalk Bay at the Harbor House. Our table overlooked the rocks where huge waves crashed and sent water spraying skyward. Great fresh fish (3 of us had swordfish with fried chopped artichokes and leeks— yummy). Peter had a pork belly dish.

For apps I had a rich corn soup, K had oysters (so so, not like NE), L had calamari.

Desserts good but did not match descriptions.

1100 ZAR for 4 incl wine, vodka and beer.

At hosts suggestion we took a car service both ways— 400 ZAR

It rained most of the day.

Today in the PM P drove the girls down to the cape of good hope. We will return there again tomorrow in the sun and tour the whole area.

Enjoying our time in Simon’s Town, so. Of Capetown. Small town on the coast, near Cape of Good Hope. We are at a 4 room B & B called The Lookout. Wonderful and accommodating hosts. Lovely fresh breakfast put in your room the afternoon before. You can eat by your slider looking at the pool, ocean and mountains or out on the deck overlooking the same.

A few good restaurants nearby— last night it was Harbor House in the next town—Falk Bay. Could not be any closer to the sea. Great food.