Ok, we have to have a little talk about the Azure Restaurant at the Twelve Apostles Hotel, Cape Town. It is just resplendent, yes it deserves a big shiny word like resplendent, and I am left wondering how it ever slipped off my radar. (Too busy keeping up with the 175 other restaurants that opened up last month I guess).
The setting
Well, first and most obvious is… the view. The BEST in Cape Town. I can’t say it any better than that.
Enjoy it with Bouchard Finlayson wines and the best sole dish you have ever eaten and, unless you’re made of wood, you should have an epiphany of sorts.
I was invited for lunch by their PR Pete Unsworth, a truly hospitable host, but I get the feeling from the incredibly professional level of service that I encountered from start to finish that I was getting the same treatment as any of their guests. That level of hospitality just can’t be put on for one visit – from the hostess to the waiter to the impressively knowledgeable sommelier, you’ll get the full VIP treatment. Perfect for that first date dinner or hosting foreign business guests.
The chef
The new chef in residence has some very impressive credentials. Henrico Grobbelaar won the Sunday Times Chef of the Year award in 2009 and is currently… as we speak… captaining the SA team in Luxembourg at the Culinary World Cup. He’s young and he’s energetic, he’s got talent and he drinks a LOOOT of coffee (…Vida should really sponsor him).
The food and wine
For lunch I had 3 courses paired with the world-class Bouchard Finlayson wines. Henrico and his team outdid themselves on each count, but the stand-out dish was the pot-roasted sole. A generous 320g portion of this luscious fresh fish was delicately flavoured with white wine, vermouth, wild garlic and shallots. Served with baby potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and stem broccoli, it is a substantial main for R160.
If you are lucky enough to find yourself at the Azure Restaurant then you absolutely must order it. I thought the portion size would defeat me… but it is so light and fresh that the next thing I looked down and it was gone. I glanced suspiciously at Pete’s plate – but he was happily devouring his own sole.
Summer menu
Take a peek at the highlights of Henrico’s summer menu and if you’re planning a special occasion then I would highly recommend booking a table at The Azure Restaurant. It’s pricey, but competitive, and you get what you pay for.
Summer sunset season is here – if you’re looking for a view to beat all views, fantastic food and heavenly wines, look no further than this gem on our doorstep.