As the seasons change from busy, bustling summer to quieter autumn, there’s no better time to visit Franschhoek’s beautiful La Petite Ferme which has launched its new Autumn menu. The menu combines the wine estate’s long heritage with a forward looking approach to both plating and provenance.
“Our Autumn menu is really a tribute to the cuisine and hospitality that have made La Petite Ferme one of the best-loved restaurants in the Franschhoek valley for more than 30 years,” explains Riaan Kruger, General Manager of La Petite Ferme. “Regular guests will recognise and enjoy many of the signature dishes on the menu, but will also be tempted by the addition of new plates that show a subtle evolution of the culinary principles that have long been the foundation of La Petite Ferme.”
Starters include classic Country Style Chicken Liver Pâté, plated with fragrant mosbolletjies and pickled red wine figs, alongside a delicate Tartare of Cured Franschhoek Trout, and the Bobotie Bitterballen, where slow-roasted Cape Malay spice-infused beef brisket croquette are served with a set custard, raisin gel and puffed rice.
The signature lamb dish remains on the main menu, but with new plating, and other main dishes include slow-braised springbok shank with deep-fried pomme anna and beetroot hash, wild mushroom arancini, and homemade gnocchi of sweet potato and ricotta.
The new menu showcases local produce across most of its menu, and will also be the inspiration for the ever-changing Assiette de la Semaine (‘Plate of the Week’) – available for both starters and mains, lunchtime only – which will allow the chefs to get creative with whatever ingredients arrive at the kitchen door.
Desserts include Rooibos-poached fig, Textures and flavours of Citrus, and Chocolate torte with salted caramel and liquorice chocolate mousse.
To complement the Autumn menu is an extensive selection of wines from the La Petite Ferme cellar, with winemaker Wikus Pretorius tapping into selected vineyard sites across the Western Cape winelands to craft an impressive portfolio of terroir-driven wines.