Where: Riverside Sun Wine Cellar, Vanderbijlpark
What: Whether with friends, family or your boo, we’ve all had the sudden urge to go on an unplanned trip. As a meaty long weekend approaches, now is the perfect time to catch a break from the humdrum of everyday life.
So I caught an hour-long shuttle from Southern Sun Gardencourt to Riverside Sun, in Vanderbijlpark, to experience what an unplanned Easter holiday away would feel like in just 24 hours. Particularly, what foods would be on offer.
What’s hot: The Wine Cellar is a quiet hideaway tucked away in the pool area of the hotel. Wandering eyes might stumble upon it by chance if you don’t ask the staff, but it’s well worth the trek out to the Vaal.
The wine tasting is hosted by a resident sommelier, pairing the experience with local wines. A big crowd-pleaser is the Stellenzicht chardonnay. The wine is also paired with the food offerings served at the lapa just outside the cellar.
What’s not: Comfort-food dining is having its moment in the sun again, which means larger portions for those who want to unleash their inner gimba and less treacherous menus to navigate for people who aren’t looking to decipher the meaning behind foie gras or bouillabaisse. However, while most new restaurants exploring comfort fine-dining do so with a personalised twist, there’s really little room for play with this menu that delivers current favourites.
Food: The Wine Cellar Dinner kicks off with an Asian salad (another favourite locale for kitchens lately) with seared togarashi strips and a mixture of peppers and ginger soya, as well as Thai sweet chilli to bring it all together. This is served in a spring roll basket topped with baby leaves.
Red meat lovers can choose a lamb loin chop, while fish lovers can tuck into grilled herb-crusted Norwegian salmon. My personal favourite was the latter, served on Pommes Anna, string beans and a delightful lemon beurre blanc sauce. The vegan offering includes a duo of lentils, wild mushroom gratin topped with parmesan.
Red wine lovers will appreciate the double-decker mousse with meringue pearls and a berry sauce to bring it all together.
Bookings: book via their events portal or call 016 982 7300.
• Thango Ntwasa was a guest at the Riverside Sun.
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