Restaurant review: Rambling Vines - Mount Grace country house and spa, Magaliesburg

Written by Angus McEwan
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 15:17

The Magaliesburg is a region rich in natural beauty and history, and it delivers plentiful reward to all who ramble within its intriguing contours. First amongst equals, for some, and certainly a precious jewel in the Magaliesburg crown is the long established and highly celebrated Mount Grace Country House & Spa, home of the equally lauded Rambling Vines restaurant. Mount Grace is situated approximately one hour from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, which makes it very accessible.

Rambling Vines is an apt name, as from the parking lot you need to take a stroll across a courtyard and a turn here and there, to come to the entrance. Two wrought-iron candelabra standing at near head height flank the welcome table. By its own description, the restaurant is a “fusion of contemporary luxury and classic charm”, and with its mixture of “old world” hanging brass lanterns, mirrors and vases, the décor is both elegant and casually country.
We waited for our table in comfortable large wing-back chairs from which we could see a cosy fire burning in the courtyard, casting shadows in the last slivers of daylight and creating the restaurant’s famous country ambiance.
 

A complimentary starter arrived – puff pastry topped with an herbed cream cheese, cocktail tomatoes and onion seed sprouts. It was a delightful way to begin! For starters we chose salmon pastrami, described as “citrus and soft herb cured Scottish salmon served with a tempura California roll topped with salmon roe and Japanese mayo”. As with all the dishes we had, the pastrami’s flavour and texture combinations induced a slow natural savouring with each mouthful providing a delicious lingering on the palate. We also had a blue cheese soufflé, and the moderate portion was absolutely perfect. The soufflé’s texture and the combination of the blue cheese mousse and the Hanepoot and saffron poached pear were mouth-watering.
 

A fresh carrot sorbet did wonders to freshen our palates. Lest I forget, we were served two virgin strawberry daiquiris. I’m not a cocktail drinker, with or without the shot, but they were delicious works of art.
 

My partner, Carmen, selected quail for her main course whilst I was drawn to a slightly more traditional dish, fillet of Karan beef. The quail was served with pommes Dauphine, the silkiest potato I’ve ever tasted. Carmen described the overall effect as “racy”, and her enthusiasm in anticipation of this dish was equally matched in its consumption!
 

The fillet was delivered perfectly to my specifications, the vegetables were crisp, and the sauce Bordelaise provided a wonderful complement to the fillet – I was very satisfied.
 

The presentation of the menu, the daiquiris, starters, mains, and finally desserts – all the elements worked together to create a winning formula.
For dessert I ordered a dame blanche, home-made vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce with fairy garden and meringue mushrooms. On aesthetic value alone, it is a dish worthy of a place in Alice’s Wonderland and tasted very fine indeed!
 

All that I would have wished differently is to have had the luxury of more time to spend in this wonderful place, both before and after dinner.