The antidote, should you feel like you’ve been eating too much over-wrought food, is to go to Joostenberg. I am always amazed at the quality of the food here, and the prices. Sure, it is is not the trendiest spot in the winelands (more of a canteen off the deli), but this is food worth travelling for, as many also travel for the fine produce in the deli and the good Joostenberg wines.
For those who have never been, this is pork central. The farm has a very active piggery and chef Christophe Dehosse (with his French roots in compatible soil) certainly knows what to do with a pig – every bit of a pig. The menu features a trotters’ salad, a liver dish, and my favourite: pigs’ cheeks with chorizo and lentils. More conventional cuts also, and a wicked crouque monsieur, plus great omelette, French onion soup, etc. The bread, made on the premises, is super and the coffee good – and when an excellent two course lunch, glass of wine and coffee costs you R125, you know you are in a very special place.
Off R302, Muldersvlei. 021 884 4932. Open daily Tues-Sun breakfast, lunch and tea.
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8 Comments
Aren’t his pigs cheeks just the best ever? PJ Vadas gave us a a braised ox cheek which was just this side of heaven at The Roundhouse. Butchers are not keen to give away cheeks as it diminishes the value of the heads they sell. Even so, Christophe slaughters his own pigs and is not able to get enough – the pigs head customers want the cheeks, they know of something! At Joostenberg I constantly chide myself for not eating there more often. I do stop by every trip to Stellenbosch or Paarl and buy bread – the walnut and raisin has to be one of the finest loaves in the Cape. Christophe’s fish soup flavoured with crayfish shells is a trip to Marseilles. Toulouse sausages and mash with onion gravy – indeed I drool at the very thought. Susan and Christophe are a great couple and deserve more support on the bistro – the fire’s great for a cold winters day. Go early if you want Sunday lunch. Pop in when you drive by – the pork products are just fabulous and the bread [forgive me] divine!
The Roundhouse’s ox tongue in cheek was absolutely the best thing I have eaten in months. Soft, succulent and such intense flavours. Worth a visit just for that …and the bon bons after dinner.
Of all the great wonderfull things at JD, I will travel a thousand miles their pies….deli cious! You can get organnic pork, cheeks and all, from the Happy Hog Butchery, between Robertson and Swellendam. The happiest pigs in the land.
Dionysis.
Hi Dionysis
Thank you so much for the great comments. We at the Happy Hog Butchery pride ourselves on providing the best product to our customers throughout the Western Cape. Kind regards Linda
Have not experienced lunch here, but if the coffee and cake is anything to go by, the three stars afforded this establishment over-rate it. The scones were murder weapons and the carrot cake (although a large helping) was heavy enough to sink one. A very average experience.
Interested to hear that their bakery underperformed, but as you suggest, the stars are for the hot kitchen – it’s not been rated for its coffee shop potential. Still, you should not have had such poor items.
I had the misfortune of visiting Joostenberg Bistro this morning. I have been a regular visitor to this restuarant and have noticed a radical downward spiral in the service. Today was the last straw with no running water in the mens toilet to me having to go and call a waitress for service to her getting my order wrong and to me being served the worst cup of coffee in my life. Sadly I had to pay for this inconvenience but I drove away knowing that I will never go back and I will never recommed the Joostenberg Bistro to anyone. Customer lost I am afraid.
I hope that the owners of Joostenbeg Bistro read these comments as there certainly a downward trend.
I often stop there for some years now but the the last two occasions the food was still good but the toilets were disgusting and the waitresses seemed to be in another world
Hope they get it right again