Cape Town - Bottomless bubbly you say? Challenge accepted.
On the first Sunday of every month, 15 On Orange hotel in Gardens has a lunch buffet which includes unlimited bubbly. Well, it’s safe to say “unlimited” because apparently the average guest gets through about a bottle and a half. But that knowledge just makes me want to be above average. Even so, I must not be too much of a lush, as they keep inviting me back. Either that or I have over-estimated my capacity for bubbly.
The buffet begins at 12.30pm. Besides the never-ending flow of Graham Beck sparkles in pink or white, they put on an amazing spread. The cold starters and salads and the desserts are my favourites. The hot courses are few in comparison – it’s always a challenge to keep these kinds of dishes hot and tasty in a buffet environment.
The current entree menu includes hazelnut-crusted beef, filet mignon, wild-mushroom casserole, kingklip, prawns, lamb chops, Thai seafood curry and various vegetables.
I’d much rather fill up on the cold stuff, and of course you can revisit as many times as you like. Salads include the makings for a Caesar, Greek or Cobb, which you can create traditionally or invent your own. There’s the almost classic caprese – fior de latte mozzarella, plum tomatoes, rocket pesto – and beef tataki with pickled carrot and daikon salad, citrus vinaigrette and garlic chips.
Pile a plate with bread, cheese and cold meats – like prosciutto, coppa, smoked beef and salami – and spike it with mustard, sweet pickles and marinated olives for a Mediterranean course.
Then there are all sorts of lovely things already plated, or “glassed”, if you prefer: gazpacho shooters, duck liver creme brulee (paté to you and me) with apple chutney and pecan nut brioche, and prawns and avocado cocktail with sauce Marie Rose.
Which leads us neatly to the seafood side of things. This is where I usually get stuck, because there are oysters, platters of salmon, tuna and new-style sashimi, salmon roses, gravad lax, tuna ceviche, Vietnamese salad rolls with crab and avo, mussels, and all manner of dipping sauces to complement the different fish. A few plates of that and I’m happy. Plus it all goes so very well with the bubbly.
The dessert display is just as magnificent, with many decadent little morsels to tempt you, lots of divine chocolate goodies and things dusted with gold leaf. While we were still on our savouries, a young boy, having done a recce, ran past excitedly yelling to his parents that the puddings were “awesome”.
Later, my friend commented: “That lad was right – this is awesome.” I have a random note that the malva pudding was excellent, so there’s that.
And the bubbly kept on coming.
l 15 On Orange’s address is right there in its name. There is undercover parking, and it’s wise to book now for next Sunday by calling 021 469 8000. The buffet costs R495, so make it worth it, and make me proud. However, Prokard (the group’s loyalty card) dining discounts of up to 50 percent apply. - Weekend Argus