Behind the scenes at Vrede en Lust Estate with Chef Johan van Schalkwyk

  • Post published:February 14, 2017

Compared to most chefs, Johan may have had a bit of a late start, only entering the industry when he was 28. He started out as a chef at a chateau in France, where he fondly remembers the time spent wandering through the kitchen garden, a basket of vegetables and herbs on his forearm, carefully picking fresh produce for the day. These days, Johan heads up the kitchen at Vrede en Lust’s Lust Bistro & Bakery, cooking and baking (make sure that you taste the sourdough!) fresh and fuss-free fare at one of the most renowned eateries in the foodie centre of Franschhoek.

Read MoreBehind the scenes at Vrede en Lust Estate with Chef Johan van Schalkwyk

Behind the scenes at Haute Cabrière with chef Westley Muller

  • Post published:February 1, 2017

To celebrate the month of love and our one true love, chocolate, we challenged Chef Westley to create a choccy-inspired savoury dish just for us, but in true Haute Cabrière style, of course. We were definitely not disappointed as we scooped up every bite of his grilled springbok leg and dark chocolate sauce, served with grilled peaches and crispy kale. This dish pairs surprisingly well with the vineyard's Pierre Jourdan Bell Rose, and we enjoyed a glass or two with our meal as cellar master Takuan explained to us that you can serve sparkling wine with almost anything, should you be worried as to what to give your guests to sip at dinner.

Read MoreBehind the scenes at Haute Cabrière with chef Westley Muller