Leisurely Luncheon in the Vineyards!

Outdoor seating at Avontuur Wine Estate and Stud Farm's Restaurant.

Yesterday was a typically hot, summer's day in the Western Cape, with a fairly stiff breeze blowing.  My husband and I had a number of errands to run in the village where we live, but had decided to 'treat' ourselves afterwards to a leisurely lunch.  We had never been to Avontuur, although we had heard several good reports, so yesterday seemed a good day to pay our first visit to this vineyard and stud farm.

The view from the outdoor seating areas is very attractive...please click the read more button below to continue ;)

...with lovely vine covered arbours...

but as it was a bit too hot and breezy, we opted to sit indoors...

View of the wine-tasting area from the diningroom.

We sat across from an open doorway, at the far side of the dining area.  From there, we enjoyed a lovely view of Table Mountain in the hazy distance and the grounds surrounding the restaurant.  A little water feature outside added soothing sounds of splashing water, always a wonderful sound on a hot day! While our meal was being prepared, I quietly slunk around the diningroom and photographed a few of the lovely paintings/prints that decorate the walls...

This painting is of the farm, Avontuur, looking across the paddocks towards the restaurant (the gabled building on the left) and other farm buildings, with the Helderberg Mountain in the background.

This work of Table Mountain from Blouberg Strand is by a well-known SA artist...

Gabriel de Jongh, son of Tinus, even more sought after by collectors.

And another by the same artist, a favourite theme of his being the majestic mountains of the Western Cape, where he was raised as a child.

His magnificent land and seascapes grace the walls of public buildings and private residences throughout the country. His works are also sought after by international art collectors.

Amongst other artworks adorning the walls of the restaurant are these older prints... 

An appropriate print to have in a restaurant...eating, drinking, merry-making!

Too much merry-making, perhaps?

This one appears to have some religious connotation, perhaps?

Thanks so much to Jenny @ jennyfreckles for pointing out that this is Rembrandt's Prodigal Son.
Much appreciated, Jenny ;)

Now what could this young girl be so forlornly pensive about?

Our waitron arrived with our glasses of the estate's Sauvignon blanc and a couple of warm slices of deliciously fresh, home-baked bread, so I happily abandoned any further picture-taking at this point and settled myself at our table.  This was probably just as well, as quite a number of other guests had arrived and the tables in our section were gradually filling up.

Fresh flowers always get the thumbs up from me :)

My husband had ordered the Crusted Kingklip served with a selection of steamed veg and a side of French Fries.

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.  ~ Voltaire ~

 

I opted for a side serving of salad as an accompaniment to the Duck Liver Pate and Onion Marmalade, which is served as a starter, but I had it as a main.  It was served with toasted ciabatta and was rich and very good! 

As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices:  take it or leave it.  ~ Buddy Hackett ~

From the dessert menu, my husband selected the Brandy Snap Basket filled with Vanilla Icecream...

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.  ~ Luciano Pavarotti ~

 ...while I chose the Brandied Crepes with fresh berries and whipped cream...

Seize the moment!
Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart.
~ Erma Bombeck ~

We rounded our meal off with filter coffees. It was a really delightful way to end what had been a busy morning of running several errands.  When I was a full-time, stay-at-home Mother raising our children and my husband was working in and travelling daily into and out of the city, we never had these opportunities.  This is one of the highlights of our working from home, being 'Derby and Joan', and occasionally being able to treat ourselves to a day OFF!  Bliss!