Review: The Hearty & Homely Winter Lunch at Bistro Sixteen82

A winter menu should evoke visions of heart-warming and comforting dishes that nourish the body and soul pre-cosy afternoon nap. Savoury soups, stews, braised meats, roasted root vegetables, and enticing aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves aromas.

I joined a group of dear friends for a long lazy lunch at Bistro Sixteen82. It was one of those crisp winter days with a pale yellow sun, so we sat outside with a pre-meal glass of the farm’s 1682 Brut Chardonnay, admiring the Farm’s water features. We were there to indulge in the executive chef of Tryn Restaurant and Bistro Sixteen82 Kerry Kilpin’s Hearty & Homely Winter Lunch. The menu, and the fact the restaurant was packed to the rafters on a Wednesday afternoon, promised a sensory feast abundant with fresh, local and seasonal ingredients and gratifying flavour combinations.

To start, I had the pickled fish bao bun with crème fraîche, loquat and tamarind atchar. Kerry said she loved the influences of Thai cuisine, its flavours of lemongrass, basil and lime, which I could taste in the tangy tamarind balanced by the bao bun’s sweetness and feather-light fish.

My main course was a generous portion of umami-glazed ethically sourced Cape Bream atop potato and aubergine parcelled in a light tempura batter and accompanied by red pepper vinaigrette, feta and mint salsa. All of Tryn and Bistro Sixteen82’s fish is freshly sourced through ABALOBI, an initiative designed to support and conserve fishing communities by connecting small-scale local fishers with the marketplace. ABALOBI ensures that the fish has been responsibly harvested using low-impact fishing methods and is fully traceable.

Steenberg’s Hearty & Homely Winter Lunch menu showcases a delightful array of seasonal fruits, including naartjie, guavas and quinces, to add freshness to balance each delectable dessert’s richness. And, boy, was the Valrhona chocolate marquise with almond chocolate biscuit, salted caramel, sorghum popcorn and macadamia ice cream decadent! Those among our party who chose this dessert commented on how beautifully presented this dish was and that the mild, earthy flavour of the sorghum popcorn enhanced the dark chocolate. Valrhona is a French chocolatier that also employs sustainable practices, so not only was our meal lip-smackingly good, but we were dining with a conscience.

The winter menus at Tryn and Bistro Sixteen82 offer a thoughtfully curated selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes, catering to diverse dietary preferences, a comforting variety of robust soups and the delightful crunch of perfectly cooked tempura vegetables. The menu proudly showcases tantalising quinoa fritters infused with aromatic spices and wholesome ingredients for those seeking a delectable plant-based protein option.

The Hearty & Homely Winter Lunch has a two-, three- or four-course option and will run on weekdays (excluding public holidays) from May to the end of September. Visit Steenberg Farm for more information.

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By Lisa Abdellah for Getaway Magazine

Feature Image: Sourced/steenbergfarm.com