About Pierneef à La Motte
Pierneef’s creativity in portraying the beauty of the South African landscape is echoed in the restaurant’s offering of traditional cuisine with a modern interpretation. The unique food styles and diverse flavours have been inspired by centuries of cooking, spiced by influences from across the globe, forming the precious ingredients of Cape Winelands Cuisine. A hardcover recipe book of the same title and with beautiful photography now shares these special recipes and their history. Cape Winelands Cuisine, the cookbook, is available from the La Motte Farm Shop and all leading bookshops.
The restaurant interior blends beautifully with the external surroundings – a fresh, natural look inside is embraced by tranquil gardens and majestic oak trees – where a Winelands Tea with a selection of home-baked delights from the La Motte Farm Shop can be enjoyed.
The exclusively arranged Pierneef à La Motte Chef’s Table offers a fine-dine menu in line with guests’ preferences, as pre-arranged with Chef Chris Erasmus, as well as a harmoniously complementing wine selection.
Sunday Family Lunch
In keeping with the sentiment of family get-togethers and in celebration of the tradition of sharing, the Sunday Family Lunch will be served family-style and guests can expect a choice of plated starters and desserts while the main course will be served to share on the table. The menu will change subject to availability and seasonality, but the main course will always include two types of meat, one of which will be a roast, complemented by a selection of vegetables and salads. Guest can make their wine selection from the award-winning wine list with La Motte wines available per glass and at Cellar Door pricing.
Sunday Family Lunches will only be served on Sundays between 11:30 and 15:30 and replaces the normal lunch menu. Adults: R295 per person / Children under 12: R125 per person / Wine and beverages excluded / Service fee excluded The Children’s Menu will still be available for small children and toddlers.
Cape Winelands Cuisine
Dishes served in Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant are based on recipes used and modified in the Cape Winelands over more than three centuries. The emphasis is on the first recipes brought to the Cape by European settlers during the 17th century.
Through the centuries, different cultures contributed to the shaping of Cape Winelands Cuisine. Originating from the Old-Cape chefs’ “lost” recipes and “forgotten” knowledge, a wealth of ideas has been gathered, representing extraordinary ingredients of the regional cooking served in Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant. Such traditions are still alive at the restaurant with the use of a seasonal menu, fresh vegetables and fruit from the La Motte organic garden, the vital use of spices and herbs as well as cooking with wine – creativity of the early Cape being recreated today, for guests’ enjoyment.
Cape Winelands Cuisine recipes are also available in a hard cover cookbook with beautiful photography. While the Cape Winelands Cuisine cookbook shares a long and rich history, the recipes are far from outdated and makes out part of everyday life in the Winelands.
Cape Winelands Cuisine Cookbook
The Cape Winelands, from the Constantia Valley to Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Wellington, Worcester and Tulbagh, hold the combined history of many different nationalities who, over the centuries, travelled to this most southern part of Africa to start a new life. As they adapted the recipes of their homeland to new surroundings and ingredients and shared their culinary skills with one another, a new cuisine was born. Cape Winelands Cuisine is the result of a culinary collaboration unique to this region.
Passionate about regional cuisine, Hein Koegelenberg, CEO of La Motte and his wife, and owner of the estate, Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg encouraged and supported Hetta van Deventer-Terblanche, Culinary Manager of Pierneef à La Motte, in researching and collecting these historical recipes. Time and passion have been dedicated to the development and innovation of these traditional recipes which are now available in a hard cover cookbook with beautiful photography. Readers will find that despite the long and rich history, the recipes collected in the book are far from outdated, and makes out part of everyday life in the Winelands. “What really makes this book so special is that it is the first time in the history of South Africa that such a complete and detailed traditional recipe book with historical, scientifically based recipes is published”, says Hein Koegelenberg. “It was a daunting task finding these recipes, researching them into their finest detail and then adjusting them to work for modern day living as many of these recipes have never been published before.”
Book price is R395.00 including VAT and excludes shipping cost.
Chef’s Table
Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant introduced its Chef’s Table for visitors requiring an intimate area for entertaining guests in a rather exclusive fashion. With an appealing glimpse of activities in the kitchen, the Chef’s Table is secluded from the traditional restaurant area, affording guests an atmosphere of privacy.
What sets the Chef’s Table apart is the cuisine offering as well as the freedom of being able to plan a personal menu and wine-list, with Chef Chris Erasmus as the creative guide. Passionate about Cape Winelands Cuisine – the unique traditional style of food served at Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant – Chris delights in creating the ultimate menu and ensuring that both host and guests surrender to a gourmet food experience perfectly partnered by a hand-picked selection of wines.
The Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant Chef’s Table is available for up to 8 guests for lunch or dinner.
Winelands Tea
Celebrating a culture of hospitality and a heritage of passionate Cape cooks who were well-known for their pastries and confectionery, Pierneef à La Motte invites you to a beautifully presented Winelands Tea.
The Winelands Tea is served in the restaurant and on the stoep or in the garden and guests are able to choose from a selection of the finest teas of the world. Following the custom of the old Cape, where the man of the house often served some sweet wine (called a soet sopie), guests will have the option to order a glass of sweet wine or La Motte sparkling wine with their tea, while avid coffee drinkers will be allowed a steaming cup of La Motte’s house blend or even homemade fruit cordial on a hot summer’s day.
The confectionery is inspired by Cape Winelands traditions and guests can expect an enticing offering of delicate trout-filled pancakes, chocolate truffles in traditional flavours such as milk tart, charming macaroons and an assortment of delectable cakes.
Cost: R125 per person (Sweet wine and Sparkling wine can be ordered at an additional R20 per glass)