This is Christmas, South Africa-style
You’ll neither be roasting chestnuts nor toasting your toes at a roaring fire … instead Christmas down South means barbecuing your food as you catch some rays and watch the sun go down over the surf.
Image Credit Spier Wine Estate
The very best gifts: a Christmas bouquet of local flora and a bottle of Spier pinotage
The festive season in South Africa means food and wine. Exchanging material goodies takes a back seat here, it’s all pretty much about celebrating summer with family, delectable food and splendid wine. And South African families are seriously into putting on a feast on Christmas day.
With December 25th being bang in the middle of the southern hemisphere’s summer, many families will opt for an outdoors extravaganza of barbecued meat and/or vegetables, fruit, cheese & more at one’s own abode or that of relatives. One might also opt to book a celebration at your local wine estate, hotel or restaurant beach-side, mountainside, countryside or in your city or town – these would range from informal picnics to full-fledged English-style Christmas meals. Alternatively – an a very popular option – is for all to trek down to the beach – towels, picnic baskets, grills, beach umbrellas, cooler bags & all. (no wind breaks required here!)
Whichever way one chooses to celebrate these ‘Big Days’, there’ll be ample refreshments, a host of condiments and other side dishes to accompany the plethora of main dishes. And there’ll be spectacular fresh proteas, lilies and other local flowers as centerpieces to festive tables!
Let me give you a flavour of what goes down at Christmas time Down South.
Image Credit Boschendal
Indigenous ‘fynbos’ bush gets the Christmas treatment
1. A CHRISTMAS PICNIC
Life’s a picnic, so enjoy every minute of it!
BOSCHENDAL WINE ESTATE
@boschendal
Image Credit Inside Guide
Under tall trees and surrounded by blue mountains are the Boschendal picnic grounds
Image Credit Boschendal
These are the delights you’ll find waiting for you in your lovingly packed picnic basket:
Image Credit Boschendal
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SPIER WINE ESTATE
@spierwinefarm
Image Credit Spier Wine estate
Image Credit Spier Wine estate
This is what you can expect in your Spier picnic basket!
Image Credit Spier Wine estate
Mince pies and gingerbread men
Image Credit Spier Wine estate
Blood oranges and canned Spier Rose
Image Credit Spier Wine estate
A festive platter
Image Credit Spier Wine estate
Image Credit Spier Wine estate
Some selection for one’s picnic blanket is that!
2. A COUNTRY-STYLE CHRISTMAS
Merry everything and a happy always.
THE COUNTRY GRAND
@country_grand
Image Credit The Country Grand
The ultimate venue out in the Winelands for a Christmas party
Image Credit The Country Grand
Views, views, views!
Image Credit The Country Grand
Image Credit The Country Grand
Image Credit The Country Grand
Roast vegetable pizza
THE KRAAL RESTAURANT AT JOOSTENBERG WINE ESTATE
@kraalrestaurant_joostenberg
Image Credit The Kraal
Image Credit The Kraal
Proteas add to the culinary charm
Image Credit The Kraal
Image Credit The Kraal
Christmas roast
Image Credit The Kraal
Tomatoes and flowers from the estate
Image Credit The Kraal
Artichokes harvested from the estate
Image Credit The Kraal
Image Credit The Kraal
A Christmas dessert wreath
3. CHRISTMAS AT A WINE ESTATE
Wine is sunlight held together by water – Galileo Galilei
THE VINE BISTRO AT GLENELLY WINE ESTATE
@the_vine_bistro
Image Credit The Vine Bistro
Tables set outside on the terrace
Image Credit The Vine Bistro
Fresh baguettes baked and served every day at the start of every meal
Image Credit The Vine Bistro
Lunch outside on The Vine Bistro terrace overlooking the vineyards
Image Credit The Vine Bistro
Linefish goujon with red pepper coulis and grilled
Image Credit The Vine Bistro
Beef in red wine Sauce
Image Credit The Vine Bistro
The extraordinary Glenelly Estate Reserve
Image Credit The Vine Bistro
Strawberry semifreddo
THE POSTCARD CAFÉ AT STARK CONDE WINE ESTATE
@the_postcard_cafe
Image Credit Cécile Paul
The spectacular view from the Postcard Café over the landscape
Image Credit The Postcard Cafe
Image Credit The Postcard Cafe
Walking towards the tasting room situated in the middle of the lake
Image Credit The Postcard Café
Unbeatable views over the vineyards
Image Credit The Postcard Café
A picture postcard desert!
BABEL AT BABYLONSTOREN WINE ESTATE
@babylonstoren
Image Credit Babylonstoren
The spectacular fruit, vegetable and herb gardens at the estate
Image Credit Babylonstoren
Babel the Restaurant, where every piece of fruit, vegetable, grain and meat is home-grown
Image Credit Babylonstoren
Image Credit Franschhoek Wine Valley
Food that is is as aesthetically pleasing as it is tasty and wholesome
Image Credit Babylonstoren
The famous Nebukadnezar red
4. CHRISTMAS ON THE BEACH
All I want for Christmas is Sun, Sand, and Sea.
Image CreditFinGlobal
Image Credit Life From A Bag
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DUNES RESTAURANT
@duneshoutbay
www.dunesrestaurant.co.za
Image Credit Dunes Restaurant
Enjoy your food with a sea breeze
Image Credit Dunes Restaurant
Overlooking the ocean, the chairs and tables at Dunes are embedded in sea sand
Image Credit Dunes Restaurant
Exotic Christmassy cocktails
Image Credit Dunes Restaurant
Sea food, what else?
5. CHRISTMAS AT AN INNER-CITY RESTAURANT
All I want for Christmas is
youfood!
HEMELHUIJS
#hemelhuijsrestaurant
www.hemelhuijs.co.za
Image Credit Hemelhuijs
Image Credit Hemelhuijs
Salad art
Image Credit Hemelhuijs
Roast carrots and pomegranate seeds
Image Credit Hemelhuijs
Colours, edible flowers, flavours, textures and plenty crunch!
Image Credit Hemelhuijs
Marmalade crepe and mascarpone
6. CHRISTMAS AT HOME
East, West, home’s best
Image Credit Dining Out
A festive feast at home
Image Credit Pinterest
Proteas and Christmas berries decorate the table
Image Credit The Citizen
The roast beast – what else
Image Credit The Citizen
Image Credit Drum
A barbecue is always a firm favourite
The mother of South African Christmas dessert: the old-fashioned trifle
WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY FESTIVE SEASON FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
Image Credit South African Lodges
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