For those looking for a cooking-free Christmas with a view that’s better than their living room, Trees Restaurant nestled in a tree-lined avenue near Parliament in the CBD, in the Townhouse Hotel, in is a surprising foodie find. This wonderful restaurant serves up thoughtful food accompanied by an excellent selection of wines and spirits.
Chef Stefan Schmidt will be serving up a Christmas lunch buffet for R485 per person and a gourmet 3-course dinner for R278 per person
His classic and contemporary dishes showcase the best of local seafood, meats, produce and Cape wines.
I was invited to sample the three-course Christmas dinner menu - which did not disappoint.
Starters offered a choice of:
- Turkey velouté with sherry, turkey croquettes, pickled beet slivers and smoked crackling
- Pressed beef and tongue terrine, mushroom emulsion, spiced butternut waffle, butternut and carrot preserves, currant dressing and jus.
Mains:
- Coke and brandy glazed joostenberg gammon with orange and pomegranate,
- wholegrain mustard pan gravy
- Roasted and slow cooked lamb leg, aubergine chips,confit garlic and minted jus
- Seared duck breast, turkey, bacon and cranberry strudel, stir-fried red cabbage and kale, cinnamon jus
- Mains are served with table servings of hasselback potatoes, savoury rice and market vegetables.
Dessert
- Christmas pudding with vanilla pod anglaise and candied orange and pistachio ice cream
- Dark chocolate and peach trifle with macadamia nuts
Dark chocolate and peach trifle with macadamia nuts
The Trees Christmas Buffet Lunch menu offers diners an extensive spread of starters, salads, in-betweeners, mains and deserts including:
To start
- Pressed smoked beef & tongue terrine with pickled golden baby beet and beet root tzatziki
- Smoked salmon and spinach roll with salsa Verde
- Crunchy vegetable rice paper rolls with shredded duck and sesame – soy dipping sauce
- Chilled potato - butternut vichyssoise smoked salmon grissini
Salads
- Smoked snoek & vegetable salad, almonds, honey – rooibos dressing
- Bulgur salad with turkey confit, chestnuts, feta, pomegranate dressing
- Baby cos, mango & gammon salad with chilli – peppadew dressing
- Ciabatta and radicchio “panzanella” pickled wild mushrooms, spring onion, pecorino and truffle dressing
- Smoked duck and red cabbage slaw, sesame seeds, cranberry – emulsion
In between
- Calamari and chorizo pot with roma tomatoes, farm herbs & green olives, garlic ciabatta crostini
- Zucchini fritters with smoked salmon and Greek yoghurt, capers
- Pumpkin fritters, smoked Karroo ostrich, cranberry compote
Mains
- Pan fried local fish herb – caper butter, panko crumbed mussel & haddock fish cakes
- Corned beef tongue and smoked beef ribs sticky mustard sauce, dates and onion rings
- Turkey and bacon skewers, roast duck leg chards, chestnuts, candid baby root vegetables
- Coke and brandy glazed joostenberg gammon, pomegranates, and pan gravy
- Whole roasted lamb leg carvery, rosemary jus, mint sauce,
- Penne pasta in in creamy turkey sauce, grilled beef chipolatas, farmed mushrooms and dried cranberries
Dessert
- Cape winelands cheese board with crackers & preserves
- Chocolate and peach trifle
- Fresh Fruit & summer berry tartlets with raspberry mousse
- Traditional mince pies
- Macaroons
- Gingerbread mousse with drunken cherries and nut brittle
- Xmas pudding with vanilla pod anglaise
For more information: Tel: 021-465 7050 or go to their website for bookings