Headed by TV chef personality Pete Goffe-Wood, the new restaurant offers less-fussy, hearty dishes in a far more relaxed, yet still luxurious environment and is open to the public – not only Grande Roche Hotel guests as done in the past.
The décor has been given a contemporary spin with graphic wallpaper and quirky art, yet the elegant chandeliers and mirrors from the previous restaurant remain.
Stand-out dishes include the intensely rich gnocchi and lamb sweetbread starter with mushroom and home-cured bacon. So delicious! But trust me, you will be glad the portion size is modest as more than that could send you into a cardiac arrest of lushness.
Other tempting sounding starters include the wild mushroom risotto; squid and mussel tagliatelle; and roasted bone marrow and sourdough toast.
For mains, I can highly recommend the roasted lamb rib-eye with baked aubergine, tomato, cream and basil. Tender lamb paired with an oozy creamy (almost macaroni-cheese-like) aubergine was absolute heaven.
Look, you need to go prepared (i.e. hungry) when dining at Viande, this is a marathon, not a sprint and you’re not going to want to miss out on the decadent desserts.
The Viande Ice Cream Sundae comes highly recommended, pair this with the strong espresso martini and everything is right in the world. Consisting of a rich chocolate mousse, homemade vanilla and chocolate ice cream scoops and chocolate brownie pieces – this is a death row kinda dessert.
The wine list has been paired down and focusses on both big-hitting wineries and boutique brands from the surrounding Paarl Winelands.
Viande is a wonderful addition to the Paarl wine and food scene and makes for a very satisfactory day out in the Winelands. If you plan to really sample the wine list, plan ahead and book a night’s stay at the recently refurbished Grand Roche Hotel.
Grande Roche Hotel is offering a two-night stay special from 1 September to 31 October 2019. Book for two nights, bed and breakfast included plus a dinner at Viande for one of the evenings up to the value of R400 per person. Stay in a Duplex Heritage Suite for R8,450 per room or in a Terrace Suite for R9,950 per room. A complimentary wine tasting at Under Oaks as well as a complimentary platter on arrival together with a bottle of Under Oaks Sauvignon Blanc.
For more information about Grande Roche Hotel and Viande Restaurant, visit www.granderoche.com, email . The Grande Roche Hotel is located at 1 Plantasie Street, Paarl. To book a table at Viande visit granderoche.com/viande/
Photography by Charles Russel
*Ruth Cooper was a guest of Viande
