In the heart of the Devon Valley Winelands, just outside Cape Town, lies a serene country restaurant oozing old-world romance and charm.
The restaurant, Flavours, forms part of the picturesque Devon Valley Hotel (a well priced four-star country hotel). Nestled amongst farmlands and lush green Winelands, both the hotel and the restaurant provide a soothing sanctuary for stressed-out city folk.
Diners can lunch in the shade of an enormous oak tree during the day and dine inside in style at night. Décor is stylishly contemporary with chic colonial touches like chandeliers; wooden furniture and floors; and a picturesque antique fireplace. Fresh lilies adorn each table and a piano player taps out light jazz in the evenings.
The restaurant's menu offers up fresh classical fare with a contemporary Cape twist. A unique trademark of Flavours restaurant is that the dishes served are all seasonal. The menu changes monthly according to the ‘flavours of the month' (i.e. whatever is in season for that month).
Diners can expect only the freshest ingredients when eating at Flavours. Seafood, meat and fresh produce are delivered daily and most of the greens and herbs served up are grown in the restaurant's own garden. The owner, Craig Seaman, muses that the ingredients are so fresh that the kitchen is devoid of canned food and the restaurant doesn't even have a freezer. Farm-style breads are baked on the premises and the restaurant's sauces and relishes are all made in-house.
The menu also boasts an impressive selection of fresh game. The Karoo Springbok Loin with mango and green peppercorn sauce - sprinkled with pine kernels and served with fresh vegetables and gratinised potato - definitely gets our vote. The meat is soft and succulent and the innovative combination of ingredients and tastes makes this the finest dish this restaurant-weary reviewer has tasted all month. An added delight to Flavours' delicious fare is the generous bowl of crisp, lightly boiled vegetables that accompany each meal.
Flavours' extensive wine list won the prestigious Diners Club International Wine List of the Year Gold Award for 2005. An impressive new addition to the restaurant is the extensive walk-in wine library that guests can utilise to choose their wines from.
If you're looking to escape the urban sprawl - break away to Flavours at the Devon Valley Hotel for a healthy dose of good food, and idyllic country charm.
Molo says: "There is a variety of excellent wine estates in the vicinity: SylvanVale (part of the Devon Valley Hotel), Clos Malverne (renowned for its Pinotage Reserve), JC Le Roux (renowned for its champagne), Stone Hill and Louisvale Vineyards.
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