Babel Restaurant at Babylonstoren – Jan ’18 – Mario Arendse

Babylonstoren, has been on my bucket list for some time, having heard about it from a colleague. I really do enjoy the drive out of the city, seems like time slows down, as you move further and further info Farm country and the rat race.

The farm is exceptionally well maintained with fruit seemingly bursting from all the trees in abundance. I didn’t come prepared, but I recommend that you wear comfortable sneakers as there is a lot to see on this working farm. Its child friendly, and I’m sure the Donkey’s Trompie and Racheltjie would love to meet them.

We were scheduled for lunch at the Babel restaurant, a converted cow shed, on what turned out to be a scorcher of a summer’s day.

Our choices for the starters were:

Sweet melon topped with pumpkin flower pakora and moringa flower with granadilla and coriander leaves, toasted kalongi seeds and deep fried curry leave served with the optional spicy deep fried calamari.

Next was the chilled black pearl plum soup with watermelon, frozen black grapes and purple basil. There is an option of adding lightly smoked trout and dill seed ice cream to this dish

My favourite was the Fig, pear and apple caprese style salad with Baylonstoren  fior di latte cheese and basil pesto (which was made up of seven basil variations)

The starters were really good and the portions were quite generous and diners have the option of making additions to their salads or not in they are vegetarian. Also you can include wine pairing with these courses.

Our main dishes were:

Grilled Wild mushroom bay leaf skewer on a Persian sauce and green olive tapenade, diners are able to add grilled halloumi cheese

Babylonstoren carnaroli risotto with creamy parmesan, hyssop salsa verde, tulbaghia and hyssop flowers with optional biltong. This course was the disappointment of the afternoon as it was somewhat under-seasoned and not creamy at all.

Double lamb cutlets, grilled with Babylonstoren  za’atar spice blend served with purslane, spekboom and tulbaghia tzatziki

Dry aged Ribeye

Grilled trout with Fig leaf and lime spice rub and light elderflower vinaigrette.

We shared a green salad and Kimchi for the table and arguable the best crispy roast potato wedges I have ever had. It will leave you teary eyed, it’s that good.

Dessert:

Although stuffed, we couldn’t exactly leave without trying the dessert on offer. So we soldiered on and tried;

Lavender, stevia and coconut panna cotta with chrysanthemum flowers

Lemon verbena and lemongrass poached pear with elderflower, stevia and day aged lily jelly with roasted pumpkin seed, mint lime and coconut cream.

There is just so much to do on the farm, so take the time to do so. Walk through the fruit orchards, purchase the most delicious freshly baked bread, I bought one with a whole pear in it, a whole pear!!!!And it was delicious.

You could also go to the butcher and maybe purchase a beef fillet or aged streak (which was extremely reasonably priced as far as I’m concerned). The service was attentive and homely. I loved the basil pesto so much I asked for a “takeaway”; which our waitress generously had bagged and vacuum-sealed at no cost.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but I need to go back though, as I feel there is more to see…can’t wait!

For the full album click HERE

Restaurant Info:

Babel Restaurant

Tel No:+27 (0)21 863 3852

Email: enquiries@babylonstoren.com.

Opening Hours: 

Breakfast Monday–Sunday: 8h00–9h30
Lunch Wednesday–Sunday: from 12h00
Dinner Monday–Sunday: from 19h00

Written for JAR PHOTOGRAPHY by Mario Arendse

Photography for JAR PHOTOGRAPHY by Jason “Dubbz” Petersen