Steenberg Hotel launches revamped Catharina Restaurant
29. Jan, 2009
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Cape Town – There’s a new “in” spot in Cape Town. Catharina’s at the Steenberg Hotel, 20 minutes from the cacophony of the V & A Waterfront, has re-opened after an extensive renovation and the good word has quickly gotten around. Cape Town-ites are flocking to taste celebrated executive chef Garth Almazin’s amazing specialties that showcase the Cape’s bounty. A new contemporary interior with enlarged windows brings in the glorious natural beauty of the Cape. And adding to the experience: the Steenberg’s finest wines and superb service.
The sleek new interior of the 90-seat restaurant complements its historic Cape Dutch architecture and echoes its African roots with locally custom-made timber furniture and tactile fabrics in rich earthy tones. The expanded windows and doors offer sweeping views of False Bay, the surrounding mountains, and the sculpture-filled vineyards and gardens of the hotel. A beautiful courtyard and a conservatory filled with lush plants and unusual water features add to the ambience. The Steenberg Hotel dates back to 1682 and has been declared a national monument. In keeping with this status, the historic front exterior of Catharina’s has not been altered. The restaurant was named for Steenberg’s maverick founder, who, legend has it, was forced to wear men’s clothing in order to survive in a male-dominated society.
The Steenberg is located in Constantia, South Africa’s premier wine-growing region, and is one of the oldest wine farms on the Cape. Since South African wines have finally come into their own, it’s not surprising that the Steenberg wines are gaining recognition. Catharina patrons will enjoy the restaurant’s eponymous Catharina Red, the Semillon, and the Merlot. But the pièce de résistance is its award-winning, flagship Sauvignon Blanc, which has received kudos from abroad, including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
The Sunday Jazz Luncheon has also re-opened and is more popular than ever. Catharina’s is renowned for the mouth-watering selection of cuisine on offer in this generous buffet luncheon. Different artists entertain with laid back jazz underneath the historical oaks. When the weather gets colder, the Jazz Luncheon will move inside so patrons can enjoy the same mellow sounds in front of a roaring fire.
In addition to the delicious cuisine and spectacular country setting, recently a number of contemporary sculptures by Eduardo Villa, one of South Africa’s leading abstract sculptors has been added to the vineyards. This art creates a bold contrast between the lush evergreen landscapes of the wine farm and the bright colors of the sculptures.
For the first time in the restaurant, a sommelier is on hand to help diners pair the innovative South African cuisine with the perfect wine, either from the Steenberg’s own award-winning vineyards or from a nearby winery. Executive chef Garth recently won the American Express Fine Dining Award for 2008 for the Steenberg for the 11th time. Here, he shares two of his surprisingly easy, special recipes.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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