Babylonstoren
“To visit Babylonstoren is an intensely personal experience. I am both confronted and comforted by some recollection of my past – because we all have memories of a garden; because the Earth is in our DNA.”
Babylonstoren is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms. It offers a fruit and vegetable garden of beauty and diversity, unique accommodation, fine food (two restaurants) and a sense of wellbeing.
The Greenhouse
After strolling around the garden, I’ve enjoyed a super delicious meal in the Greenhouse. At the rear of the garden, tucked away between the oak trees, the Greenhouse offers the perfect place to rest and enjoy delicious home-baked cakes, artisanal breads with handcrafted cheeses and dressed meats, homemade herb oils, chutneys, preserves and relishes, as well as delicious, fresh garden salads. The Greenhouse menu subscribes to the self-same “pick, clean and serve” philosophy as Babel, with a strong emphasis on honest food with little to no fuss. I must be honest, I have never ever had a better salad.
Restaurant Babel
I haven’t had dinner here, but it’s worth mentioning. Housed in an old cow shed, Babel is a wonderful mix of Cape Dutch architecture with contemporary glass walls that makes for a simple yet edgy environment in which to try our tasty yet often unconventional combinations. They have a farm-to-fork philosophy, which means they like to serve food that is seasonal and that reflects their “pick, clean and serve” approach.
After lunch, I joined their fantastic wine tasting and I couldn’t resist taking some of their wines home.