What more can one expect from none other than Luke Dale Roberts? Situated in Woodstock, where the trendy biscuit mill market comes alive on a saturday, there lies a small restaurant that seats no more than 30 fortunate guests. The first thing you see as you walk in is the open kitchen where chefs graciously move about creating works of art. I was amazed at how quiet they were.
The restaurant boasts a very elegant and professional atmosphere, with exceptionally well trained waiters and waitresses. The decor is also modern with an earthy flair. On seeing Luke Dale Roberts for the first time, I was itching to go up and shake his hand. You can see his passion for food as he swiftly moves around the kitchen.
The menu is so over whelming. Everything sounds amazing that I found it so hard to choose! Its gourmet and fine dining to the extreme. Thank goodenss I was out with my parents :) I have never tasted flavours like I tasted at the Test Kitchen in my life. They were so new to my taste buds that I was puzzled as to what was inside the food! The menu has a 3 course (R345) or 5 course (440) option to choose between. This also includes the many appetizers and palate cleansers.
The bread they give you is a kind of ciabatta that tastes like buttermilk its so delicious. We then got given a complimentary mushroom broth that blew my mind! For starters I had the trout tartare, green apple, lime, creme fraiche, caramelized cured aubergine, flat parsley and creamy miso dressing. It was incredible. Unfortunately I was so consumed with what I was tasting that I forgot to take a picture.
As an appetizer between our starters and main course we were given a lemon sorbet with crushed apple, gin jelly and mint.
My main was the line fish with marjoram, calamari, tomato fondu, chick peas, zucchini and pastis hollandaise. I've been craving it since!
Then to finish off, I had the frozen pine nut parfait, chestnut crumble, roast persimmon with tonka and yoghurt foam!!! I was blown away by the whole experience and felt so inspired. I truly felt as if I was on the set of Masterchef tasting what the contestants had cooked.
I truly recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting an out of the ordinary experience of fine dinning. What a night!
Until then...
Happy food. Happy photo's. Happy life.
