THERE’S something very welcoming, familiar and comforting in the smell of freshly baked bread and this is at the heart of the offering at the Artisanal Bakery & Garden Café that has just opened on La Motte Wine Estate in Franschhoek.
Sharing some of their fondest memories of growing-up and living on the farm, La Motte’s owner, Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg and her family invite guests to enjoy the historic werf and its profound sense of home, sharing in the delight of simple pleasures such as freshly brewed coffee and artisan bakes, just out of the oven.
Under the guidance of master baker Markus Färbinger, of Knysna’s well-known île de pain café, this charming day-time spot celebrates bread in all its original beauty. The team of bakers presents a wonderful daily variety of freshly baked options from the on-site wood-fired oven, designed and produced by Four Grand-mere in France. Expect favourites such as the classic sourdough loaf and La Motte’s popular mosbolletjies as well as the crustique (the predecessor of the baguette), the Cederberger (a dark, malty rye sourdough with spices), flatbreads drizzled with salt and olive oil and The Motte loaf created especially for La Motte. Available to purchase and take home, the variety of breads also form the basis of the café’s daily menu.
The menu is seasonal and begins with simple and original choices such as the classic Croissant 1837, harvest-time mosbolletjies and a cultured slice of bread with farm butter and raw honey. As an invitation to enjoy the splendour of an early morning on the farm, beautiful breakfast options range from granola, cinnamon oats and mieliepap to everything with eggs, including a special La Motte take on the popular Eggs Benedict. Open sandwiches with hearty toppings, a lovely array of summer salads and lunchtime options such as a plankie steak complete the savoury selection. Inspired by South African favourites and executed with the delicate touch of pastry chef Marisa Botes, the delicious choice of patisserie and sweet treats include lemon meringue tart, melktert and ystervarkies, to name but a few.
A delightful drinks selection will take you from coffee meetings and meals to afternoon drinks. Alongside freshly-brewed coffees and a choice of teas, the drinks menu features summertime favourites such as spritzers, fresh juices, frappés, cocktails and of course, award-wining La Motte wines at cellar door prices.
The Artisanal Bakery & Garden Café is hosted in the estate’s Jonkershuis, built in 1752. Combining nostalgia with new, the elegant Cape Dutch building has been extended with modern glass and steel to offer both inside and outside seating. Opening into the calm of shaded gardens, scattered with charming over-sized wooden acorns, young and old are invited to explore the gardens with their ancient oaks, stretched lawns, tranquil pond and farm-yard inspired playground for young ones.
Other than enjoying the serene gardens or a relaxed meal, guests can buy bread and patisserie to take home, browse a skilfully curated selection of lifestyle items and gifts or opt for a wine tasting experience in the historic cellar next door.
The La Motte Artisanal Bakery and Garden Café is open Wednesdays to Sundays, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and a variety of tempting treats. Hours are 8am to 4pm; the kitchen closes at 3pm, but guests are welcome to enjoy afternoon drinks until 4pm. Also keep an eye out for curated bread and wine tastings and experiences to be announced soon.
Chef Chris Erasmus, the first chef at La Motte when Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant opened its doors in 2010, returned to La Motte on a temporary basis as alumni chef to help conceptualise the breakfast and lunchtime menu at the La Motte Artisanal Bakery and Garden Café.
Information & Reservations
- Email [email protected]
- Call +27 (0)21 876 8825
