Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant’s Winelands Tea celebrates the tradition of Cape hospitality as well as a heritage of passionate Cape cooks who were known for their pastries and confectionery. This charming and sentimental tea service has recently been re-interpreted and guests can expect the same style and elegance, but with a fresh look and new menu.
Expect sophisticated sandwiches with Franchhoek salmon trout, sausage rolls with the flakiest of pastry, savoury tartlets, Soes of the day (traditional choux pastry puff with a decadent sweet filling), moreish macaroons, traditional soetkoekies (sweet tea biscuits) and a selection of Tea cakes.
The Winelands Tea is served in the restaurant and on the stoep or in the garden. Guests can choose from a selection of the finest teas of the world and following the custom of the old Cape, where the man of the house often served some sweet wine (called a soet sopie), guests will have the option to order a glass of sweet wine or La Motte sparkling wine with their tea. Avid coffee drinkers can of course opt for a steaming cup of La Motte’s house blend or even homemade fruit cordial on a hot summer’s day.
Served in a tea-set especially crafted by Ella-Lou O’Meara, who is also responsible for the talking-point ceramic chandeliers in the restaurant, the individually hand-made cups, saucers and tea pots are painted with typical Famille Rose patterns. The Dutch East India Company originally brought these Famille Rose design crockery from China and transported them to the Netherlands. Well-to-do Cape families commissioned this porcelain and, therefore, it also found its place on the Cape tea tray.
The Winelands Tea is served during restaurant day-time hours from Tuesdays to Sundays, 09:00 – 17:00. Reservations are essential.
Cost: R165 per person (Sweet wine (R45) and Sparkling wine (R65) can be ordered)
