My Cape Town

We were still at the polo farm* and the unaccustomed exercise along with the heat and the wine were beginning to make me hallucinate.  At one point I could have sworn I saw Baroness Thatcher slip into the house behind us.  And yet... that unmistakeable hair, the power suit, the pair of sensible yet elegant heels disappearing through the door... I moved a little closer and could hear a distinctly low-pitched, enunciated voice giving orders.  Surely it couldn’t be?

But it was lunchtime at last and we were summoned into the house, to the joy of my rumbling tummy.  I was a tad dismayed then to find myself in front of a plate that held a bizarre and frankly sparse assortment of nibbles from a kebab stick of cherry tomatoes to a stick of shortbread.  What was this, some kind of twisted health farm? I glanced around for a quick means of escape and caught my breath.  There was Margaret Thatcher, taking her place at the head of the table.  Was this the diet that was keeping her young?  That Spitting Image sketch of many years ago ran through my head, where Thatcher is seen dining out with her Cabinet: 

Waitress:               Would you like to order, Sir?
Margaret Thatcher:  Steak, please.
Waitress:               How would you like it?
Margaret Thatcher:  Raw
Waitress:               And what about the vegetables?
Margaret Thatcher:  Oh? They'll have the same as me...

We were in fact in the presence of Katinka van Niekerk who, not unlike Mrs T, is a leader in her field – a driving force behind South Africa’s emergence as a wine-and-food pairing capital of the world.  The term ‘wine-and-food pairing’ is heard increasingly often, but I’d always suspected it was just a new-fangled reference to meal times.  I mean, honestly, how complicated is it to drink wine at the same time as eating? 

But when we got stuck in I have to confess that a whole new world revealed itself.  We had five wines in front of us, to each of which Katinka gave a lively character; the Sauvignon Blanc was a ‘maiden aunt on the verge of a nervous breakdown’, the Pinotage a ‘slutty neighbour with a big cleavage’.  Each of the nibbles epitomised one of the five taste sensations: bitter, sweet, salt, sour and savoury (or strictly ‘umami’). The taste of a single wine changed dramatically according to the food munched on beforehand.  One combination was described as “depressingly wonderful”, another as “like floodlights coming on in your mouth”.  This was fun.

Needless to say we had to sample a few different wines and, on a relatively empty stomach, this led to an increasing amount of opinionated heckling from the floor.  Katinka, ever the Iron Lady, took it in her stride, relishing our comments like a lively Prime Minister’s Question Time where she had all the answers on the tip of her tongue.

Within a short time she had us eating out of the palm of her hand.  She didn’t go as far as walking on water or even boosting the economy of a small-but-great nation, but believe me – the woman could turn cheap plonk into a decently quaffable beverage simply by pairing it with the right food.  And that won my vote, even before our huge farmhouse lunch came steaming to the table.

Daisy

*see last month’s newsletter

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Tailormade food-and-wine pairing sessions with Katinka van Niekerk can be arranged at any private venue.  Rates on request.

Villa of the Month

Bridge House
Higgovale, Cape Town

4 en-suite bedrooms

Pinned up against the dramatic rise of Table Mountain lies this extraordinary property, recipient of numerous design awards and accolades for its unique contemporary architecture and breathtaking views.

The main house is a remarkable box of glass and steel which appears to defy gravity to float almost at canopy height.  The magnificent African pines which embrace the house also provide a natural frame for the glorious views of the city and harbour, and of Lion’s Head and Signal Hill to the West.

With its floor to ceiling windows, panoramic views and rooms which open up completely to the fresh mountain air, the house still achieves a sense of calm intimacy, perhaps due to the quality of the fresh green light which seeps through the surrounding foliage. 

The spacious living area at the top of the house is both quirky and practical, with a large fireplace serving as the buffer between the living / dining area and the open plan kitchen. Functionally well equipped, the kitchen also stocks many inspiring cookery books – a nice homely touch in a cutting-edge accommodation.

As with most of the rooms in the house, one whole wall opens up to the garden and view, so that the room naturally extends on to the balcony and, at this top level, onto a small garden with particularly good views of the pool and garden below and the forest-like surroundings all around.

This playful contrast between natural scenery and contemporary stylishness is a recurring trend which resonates throughout the house, epitomised by the quality dark wood finishing, the polished screed floors and the apparently seamless transition between indoors and outdoors.

Each of the equally spacious en-suite bedrooms has a king-size bed and simple, solid furnishings balanced by earthy, original artworks.  The fourth bedroom is situated in a separate building referred to as the “Donga” and is reached via a stone pathway which follows the course of the stream in the garden.  It too has its own outside area – a simple square stoep framed by concrete to create the extraordinary effect of a  life-sized painting at the bottom of the garden, softened by the leaves of the trees and the rippling of the water in the pond at its foot.

With numerous private decks set in the indigenous garden, an outdoor shower and a heated rim-flow pool that appears to tumble into the mountain stream, this is the ultimate city retreat, where quiet reflection and birdsong can be enjoyed in a virtually wind-free area just minutes from the city’s throbbing nightlife and vibrant shopping scene. 

Nearest beach: Camps Bay, 6 mins
Nearest bars and restaurants: 2 mins 
Cape Town city centre: 3 mins
Cape Town airport: 25 mins

Contact me  for more information.

Rates on application.

Upcoming Events

Highlights for July, selected from  WhatsoninCapeTown.com   - the indispensable guide to all that's happening in Cape Town.   For full details and more events, check out the website.  Upcoming events include festivals, shows and fairs; music, theatre and dance; cricket and other sporting events; comedy and concerts and exhibitions; celebrations of wine and whiskey, flowers and freedom... bring it on, Cape Town!   

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