The Witness food fun destinations e ploreX fashion Saturday, July 23, 2016 Hartford: Hartford: Dine in style in
the Midlands A trout dish with squid ink and orange foam. Hartford House is ideal to celebrate special occasions
KAVITHA PILLAY
JUST 12 kilometres from Mooi River — surrounded by farmland, the picturesque hills of the Midlands Meander and Summerhill Stud — is an awardwin ning lakeside hotel called Hartford House. With a colonial setting and decor that preserves and exquisitely exhibits the architecture of the grand house and expansive garden, Hartford House is a historic beauty to marvel at. The hotel is built on a worldclass racehorse stud, Summerhill Stud, with tours of the stud and horse riding available to the hotel guests. Hartford House also offers hotel guests trout and bass fishing, and a Wellness Centre with a range of therapies, massages and facials. Visitors can walk through the game conservancy and spot animal and bird species that inhabit the estate. There’s also a historic chapel which caters for weddings and memorial services, and a fully equipped conference facility. New to Hartford House is Tijnhuis (pictured) which offers a unique ‘high tea’ experience in the Midlands. But what makes Hartford House a mustvisit PHOTOS: KAVITHA PILLAY gem in the Midlands, for hotel guests or daily visi tors, is the awardwinning restaurant. The restaurant at Hartford House serves lunch gredients and creatively prepared meals offered by game meat from a farm about 10 kilometres from crunchy ball. or dinner to daily visitors, which can be enjoyed the restaurant’s chefs. the restaurant. A chocolate dessert was the perfect followon and while overlooking the gardens or in the candlelit My food journey at Hartford House began with A personal highlight was the dessert. A “starter” was paired with a port. It consisted of chestnut ice dining hall. Breakfast is available to hotel guests. seeded and cranberry bread made at the restaurant, dessert of “nitrogen coffee” was a gastronomic ex cream made from chestnuts from Hartford House’s The menu, which changes daily, is inspired by with Mooi River salted butter and paired with Hart perience like no other. It combined science and art garden, chocolate ganache made with coconut the availability of local produce and fresh pickings enberg Chardonnay. A simple appetiser such as to craft a dish that evokes the senses and creates cream, coffee meringue, fresh coconut water gel, from the Hartford House garden. bread, with its presentation, freshness and most im awe, while pleasing the pallet. coconut panna cotta and dairyfree, dehydrated The lunch menu is served as either a two or portantly delicious taste, proved to be a marvellous “It’s something fun to get guests involved in and chocolate mousse. “Dessert should always be fun threecourse option, and dinner is a fivecourse start to the menu to follow. perk them up before dessert,” said Hartford House and should always be an experience,” said Hahndi tasting menu with an optional wine pairing. Reser Next up on the tasting menu was rabbit croquet, head chef Constantijn Hahndiek. ek, who hails from Cape Town. vations must be made. followed by a trout dish with squid ink and orange To make the dish, he uses pure coffee with a bit • [email protected] If you’re a wine connoisseur, then a visit to Hart foam, and then a tasting of pork belly with puffed of gelatine and sets it ford House restaurant is a must, as it is one of the crackling, kimchi and the chef’s take on a barbeque in the gun used to 10 restaurants in South Africa boasting a fivestar sauce. make whipped cream. 485 Langalibalele (Longmarket) Street wine list. The finale, before dessert, was a tasting dish of It is then squirted into New to Hartford House is Tijnhuis, with a fresh, lamb, onion purée, onion rings, gnocchi and cauli liquid nitrogen which Tel: 033 394 4240/8114 light menu including a range of sweet and savoury flower. Hartford House uses locally reared meat and freezes it into a light, Fax: 033 394 4130 dishes, and beverages that complement the menu and style of the venue, offering a unique “high GET WELL ... STAY WELL tea” experience in the Midlands. Tijnhuis is open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm. BE PREPARED THIS WINTER Fine dining at Hartford House is ideal to cele Valid for one week only brate special occasions, or for keen “foodies” who want to explore and indulge in the fresh local in flutex ,99 procydin ,99 20s R19 60s R79 each
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