Tom Cannavan
Administrator
It's not trendy like Fyn, La Colombe or Chef's Warehouse, but for me Aubergine remains my favourite restaurant in town. Its a bit like the Peat Inn, in that others possibly have "better" food (though it'sarguable), but the package here is just brilliant.
I've been a loyal customer for well over 20 years and chef/patron Harald Bresselschmidt and Sommelier Ralph greet me by name like old friends, and know all about what's happening on wine-pages, so that obviously adds to the appeal. But it is Harald's contemporary but never just fashionable cooking with proper sauces and commitment to wine friendliness that sets it apart. Ralph has got to know us too, so we spend as much time talking about wine as drinking it. And what wine: it's a fantastic cellar here, with mature and rare gems.
The menu last night for me was Crayfish, Gemsbok, Cheese then chocolate fondant dessert, every one a success. The wines were the Ambeloui 2018 MCC (60 months on the lees), @Migliarina Chardonnay 2012 which was fabulous and so Burgundian, Restless River remarkable Cabernet from Hemel-en-Aarde 2015, the gorgeous Pinot Noir 2011 from Chamonix (my kind of Pinot) and, to finish, an exceptional wine: Lost & Found 2019 is the only straw wine Muscat made by Chris Alheit, and it was truly glorious - sumptuous and rich with a Seville orange depth, but perfect, vibrant acidity.
What a fabulous evening. Had to stop Steve ordering magnums.
I've been a loyal customer for well over 20 years and chef/patron Harald Bresselschmidt and Sommelier Ralph greet me by name like old friends, and know all about what's happening on wine-pages, so that obviously adds to the appeal. But it is Harald's contemporary but never just fashionable cooking with proper sauces and commitment to wine friendliness that sets it apart. Ralph has got to know us too, so we spend as much time talking about wine as drinking it. And what wine: it's a fantastic cellar here, with mature and rare gems.
The menu last night for me was Crayfish, Gemsbok, Cheese then chocolate fondant dessert, every one a success. The wines were the Ambeloui 2018 MCC (60 months on the lees), @Migliarina Chardonnay 2012 which was fabulous and so Burgundian, Restless River remarkable Cabernet from Hemel-en-Aarde 2015, the gorgeous Pinot Noir 2011 from Chamonix (my kind of Pinot) and, to finish, an exceptional wine: Lost & Found 2019 is the only straw wine Muscat made by Chris Alheit, and it was truly glorious - sumptuous and rich with a Seville orange depth, but perfect, vibrant acidity.
What a fabulous evening. Had to stop Steve ordering magnums.
