By Jonathan Byrne
The Duchess of Wisbeach
S
outh Africa is a delightful
country to visit; stunning
countryside, magnificent
views, iconic landmarks,
warm welcoming people,
excellent wines and not one
bad food experience.
Everywhere there is great
food and drink on offer. The
local street café we visited
soon after we arrived. The
famous Grill chain
restaurants featuring all
types of meats and wild
game. Truth Coffee Shop in
De Waterkant. Exotic
Sundowners at Camps Bay.
Even Nando’s fast food
shops, in my opinion the
better end of fast food,
originated in South Africa.
Our friend, Norma, who runs
specialist South African
travel company, Follow Me 2
Africa, recommended The
Duchess of Wisbeach as an
experience not to be missed.
How right Norma was! Not a
place for the fainthearted.
Norma’s team had found
superb accommodation for us
at Moullie Point making The
Duchess of Wisbeach a 20
minute warm evening stroll
away along the seafront to
Seapoint. A gentle stroll was all
Andrew, my closest friend,
Perfume Alison (a fragrance
designer, hence our nick name)
and I could manage ‘recovering’
from an ‘exhausting’ day touring
Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope
and the Penguins at Boulder
Beach. As we approached, the
crowds outside the bar and
restaurant indicated we were in
for as much fun as Norma had
suggested.
Despite a small bar area,
service was fast, friendly and
humorous taking time to help
us choose a light refreshing
Chenin Blanc from one of the
Cape’s longest established
farms and vineyards,
Babylonstoren. Not a
particularly complex wine with a
flinty background, this was ideal
in a hot climate with three
different pallets to satisfy. All
three of us have definite views
about what we like so finding a
wine so please us all can be a
challenge. It was also safer to
stick to this wine for the
evening.
In my experience, the welcome
you receive and the care people
take in looking after your needs
are as important to the meal
experience as the food and
wine. Well, at The Duchess of
Wisbeach you get attention of
theatrical proportions! The
Restaurant Manager is
hilarious, welcoming, over the
top, yet efficiently charming.
While you don’t feel ‘herded’ he
keeps the place flowing fast.
We were welcome to stay at our
table all evening; although we
did not stint on ordering. The
demand for tables is great and
several tables around us hosted
two or three groups during our
visit. I recommend you or your
travel company book in
advance. Every member of staff
had a similar theatrical
personality making great show
of their service skills and the
occasional shot of liquor.
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Matching the atmosphere of
fun and entertainment was
truly lovely, impressive food.
After previous meat heavy
dinners at the famous Grill, we
all stuck to lighter choices
dipping into each other’s
orders, as we had throughout
the trip. Maybe the location
and euphoria of a trip away
enhances the taste buds but
there was not a dish that did
not delight. Salmon Tartare was
a perfect example of a raw
serving bringing out the true
flavour. Soya and lime dressing
on grilled Calamari tubes
captured the essence of the
dish. Deep fried Calamari were
crisp but the fried flavour hides
any taste of fresh seafood.
We continued to be delighted
for main course. I made the
best choice of Tuna Nicoise and
can only assume Cape Town
lands the freshest fish. Perfume
Alison came a close second
with her Roasted Peri-Peri Baby
Chicken. Even Andrew’s health
conscious grilled flattened
Chicken Breast had a flavour to
enchant. Alison and I were
tempted but then slightly
disappointed by The Duchess
Famous French Fries which
were good but not overly
impressive. Our order elicited
an impassioned cry from ever
healthy Andrew “Crikey! Carbs!
Are you mad?” who went on to
order Duchess Salad with Avo,
Feta and Egg.
In my experience,
the welcome you
receive and the
care people take in
looking after your
needs are as
important to the
meal experience
as the food
and wine.
Now those who have read my
musings before may be
surprised