THIS Valentine’s weekend there’s no finer place to celebrate romance than at Cape Town’s legendary retreat, Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel. Sensational dining and live al fresco music wait to embrace happy couples among The Nellie’s fragrant gardens and rose-tinted walls.
Kick off your Valentine’s weekend in the Planet Bar, where the stars align to bring you succulent oysters with chilled Moët & Chandon, or Imperial Heritage Caviar washed down with either Dom Pérignon or Belvedere Vodka. Seeking something sweeter? Opt for chocolate truffles with Hennessy Cognac. Or why not try every indulgent combination? The perfectly paired treats are available from Friday 11 until Monday 14 February.
“Where words fail, music speaks,” said Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, and if you’re looking for a melodious way to show your love, the Sunset Soundscape Series could be just the thing for you. Click here for more information.
On Valentine’s Day itself, chef Rudi Liebenberg has pulled out all the stops for the evening. His irresistible Valentine’s dinner menu delivers flavour sensations your palate may never have experienced. Take, for example, the gin-cured salmon starter, crafted in-house with a selection of fynbos, hibiscus, liquorice, rose petal and citrus, wrapped around prawn and avocado and served with dune spinach and spekboom. Or the Tomato Variation, which pays homage to the seasonal bounty in simple yet mouth-watering style. Savour tender beef fillet, sea bass or squash cannelloni before arriving at a luscious dessert of strawberry consommé, rum baba and champagne jelly. Rudi says: “The aroma of lemon verbena and mascarpone ice cream reminds me of summer in a bowl.”
For those who prefer a more laidback celebration, a Sunset Valentine’s picnic will be set out on the expansive lawns, with all the additional extras, a glass of bubbles included, of course. But, as it is for so many, if afternoon tea is your heart’s desire, the Mount Nelson is taking its iconic spread to new heights. Treat your loved one to afternoon tea over the entire Valentine’s weekend with exquisite specialities ranging from pakoras and croquettes to milk tarts and eclairs, plus some surprise rosy-hued delicacies. To raise a toast, a glass of bubbles is included (Friday 11 – Sunday 13 February). You’ll be serenaded by the wonderful keyboard guru Henry Dike on the baby grand – showing once again that music is the food of love.
To find out more, or to make a booking, email restaurant reservations on: [email protected] or call +27 21 483-1000 and ask for Restaurant Reservations.
