Keep an eye out for the new Valley Walk where we will  be offering picnics as well as an easy hike through the old mud brick quarry and the fynbos valley at the back of the estate. The path will lead to the Outlook where one can see Swellendam, Railton and the rolling hills of the Overberg. It is a road less travelled with great reward at the end.

Stravinsky has slowly but surely become the one composer that we listen to more and more. Especially during this past winter with a glass of Augusta Red in hand. We were still reeling over the Dudamel version of the Sacre when we stumbled across this gem.

This fabulous two-CD set offers so many pleasures it’s hard to know where to begin. Let’s start with the music, which, apart from the Duo Concertant, consists of Stravinsky’s arrangements of his own music. There’s Tchaikovskian grace in the Divertimento, fantasy chinoiserie in The Nightingale, stamping Russian fervour in Petrushka and cool neo-classicism in the Duo.

But, of course, it all sounds like pure Stravinsky and miraculously apt in its new instrumental dress. Enjoying Stravinsky’s astounding skill at re-imagining an orchestral score for just two instruments is another pleasure. Then there are the performances, which have a wonderful lived-in quality. Adès handles the finger-twisting difficulties of the Duo Concertant with total aplomb, and has exactly the right incisive, luminous and chaste sound. Marwood, too, has that springy balletic quality always needed in Stravinsky, but he finds a myriad of colours to go with it: sly and sentimental in the “Chanson Russe” from Mavra, tender in the Duo. In all, it’s a marvel.

This substantial crop of violin and piano works mostly came about due to Stravinsky’s concert-giving partnership with the violinist Samuel Dushkin in the 1930s. Besides the Duo concertant, which is the only original creation, Stravinsky’s arrangements and/or re-compositions of his earlier music sometimes exist in more than one version, presenting a problem about what should constitute a ‘complete’ recording.

Adès’s touch with the piano parts is at once live-wire and beautifully stylish, with Marwood matching this flair for deftly characterised light and shade. The Duo concertant can sometimes seem a cold and (in the opening ‘Cantilène’) even abrasive statement, but not when played with this degree of poise and bombproof technical command.
The Pulcinella suite and Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss both scintillate from start to finish.

Amazon it, order it or have a friend pick up a copy when they are in the position to, but get this disc.

One of the most exciting things to be nearing completion is the Valley Walking Route at the top of the estate. The area is wild and rugged and quite unique. I dare say that few small towns or historical areas in larger towns, have anything like it. Part of the Valley Walking Route encompasses the old quarry where mud was quarried for construction for a very long time. Scratch around and you still find brick-shaped pieces everywhere. The quarry site is atmospheric and very peaceful. It is therefore the perfect place for picnics.

A number of picnic spots have been identified, including one in a bright and sunny clearing. We will gladly pack a ploughman’s platter in a picnic basket for guests and of course add a few bottles of Augusta’s Grand Vin to enjoy under the trees. A few steps up the hill and you will find a lookout from which Swellendam, Railton, the big church and the rolling hills of the Overberg can be savoured. None of it would have been possible without the expert guidance and unfailing commitment of Pierre, the owner of Harlequin, proof that small town businesses (and in this case nurseries) can deliver big city commitment and results.

Please contact us for more details on the picnics and of course for a small map on the Valley Walking Route.

Swellendam is an amazingly fertile place – just look at all the greenery and sheer lushness of the area. It is therefore with excitement that we commenced with the planting of a kitchen herb garden.

We have already planted a respectably-sized bay tree and carefully noted where existing rosemary and parsley could be found. Also existing was a grand ring of oregano, in excellent condition and ready for some committed use.

We added Thai basil, sweet basil, rocket, several lettuces, pineapple sage, normal sage, soft rosemary, lemongrass, flatleaf parsley, mint and coriander.

Seeing Zosh Kihl and husband Kent always makes a day brighter, and having them come up for the weekend is a total treat. Here, sitting on the patio at Augusta de Mist,  Zosh is tucking into a little green salad we made and served with the most unbelievable chicken pie from Ou Meul Bakery in Riviersonderend. A drive on the N2 to Augusta is not complete without a stop at Ou Meul for one of their legendary milktarts or pies.

Speaking of sweet treats, Zosh brought us a small selection of her Pleezer’s Wheat Free Torte to serve to our guests. Zosh’s products are addictive and should come with a warning. She is in the process of launching a few more exciting products that will redefine convenience desserts in South Africa.

Try a Pleezer’s product from several Pick n Pay stores around the Western Cape and soon around South Africa, without doubt.

Visit www.pleezer.co.za for more information

When approaching Swellendam on the N2 you may  be forgiven that nothing of interest could possibly be on the road to Bonnievale by the Stormsvlei turnoff. Oh how surprised we were…

Today Stormsvlei is just a cluster of buildings off the N2 between Riviersonderend and Swellendam. For more than 200 years, however, its position at a major junction on the Old Cape Wagon Route made it an important stopover for the travelers, and even home to a manufacturing industry.

Stormsvlei, twenty kilometers east of Riviersonderend, just off the N2 highway on a trunk road leading to present-day Bonnievale, Montagu & Robertson, is situated on a part of the farm Avontuur with a very long history dating back to the early 1700s. In order to keep the ships of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) supplied with meat, bartering with the indigenous tribes for livestock was an important and continuous task for those in command at the Castle of Good Hope and exploration and trade expeditions to the hinterland were and ever-increasing activity. In time the VOC gradually withdrew from direct trade with the indigenous people and relies increasingly on the free burghers who had become farmers for their provisions. When Avontuur was first granted as a loan place in April 1732 it was described as being ‘above the Compagniesdrift’. This old crossing (drift) through the Zonderend Rivier, about 300 meters upstream of the present bridge, was therefore already a recognized route to the Breede River Valley.

When the Sonderend River was in spate travelers had to bide their time in their wagons or, in later years, at the old Stormsvlei Inn which overlooked the crossing. Because of its strategic position the settlement was a hive of activity. Poor roads took their toll on wagons, carts and carriages, which had to be constantly repaired and the horses shod. Many of the owners of stopovers on the wagon route provided such services in addition to accommodation. The Stormsvlei crossing was particularly busy over the festive season when holiday makers form the Breede River Valley and Klein Karoo passed through on their way to the sea.

Stormsvlei in the early 1900s was a hub of activities with many families living in the hamlet and surroundings area. Apart from the Le Roux & Kennedy smithy, wagon-maker’s shop and mill, there was also a school, church hall, the Stormsvlei Cash Store, a butchery, a post office, garages, and inn and later a proper new hotel (this is where the Restaurant & Farm Stall is now situated) where dances were held once a month.

In 1921 Stormvlei was ‘electrified’ even before Swellendam, with 110-volt electricity generated by an old engine charging Edison batteries. Also in 1921 a special building, now a beauty salon, was erected to accommodate the postal agency.

Exactly when the SA Police established a presence at Stormsvlei has not been established. From correspondence, however, we do know that the police took possession of quarters there on 22 May 1918. It is remembered as a significant station with a staff of three who patrolled the area on horseback – hence the large stables. The present owner of the premises, Dr Morley Thomson, recalls that a motorcycle with a sidecar later replaced the horses.

The old inn, which was later designated a ‘hotel’, was a rambling structure that had grown haphazardly over time. Its facilities were sub-standard and so a later owner, Johan de Villiers, decided to give the settlement a new lease of life by building a modern hotel and at the same time to boosting his lucrative off-sales business. It was built c.1920 on de Villier’s holding of 47 morgen. As the nearby Riviersonderend was laid out in 1925 as a ‘dry’ village, anyone from Riviersonderend wanting to quench his thirst had to go to the pub at Stormsvlei, which was also known as Stokkiesbaai.

In 1955 the hotel was bought by Jimmy Blackenberg. He was married to Mitzi, an Austrian. They had four daughters, Emmie, Mary, and twins Erica & Monica. When Jimmy died 10 years later, Mitzi – or Tant Mietjie as she was known by then – ran the hotel all by herself for the next twenty years and in time would become a legend.

Jimmy & Mietjie’s middle daughter Mary, and her husband Willem Spies took over the hotel in 1985. Ten years later the hotel ceased to provide accommodation, but retained its off-sales outlet.

In February 2010, Jeanne van Deventer (a Swellendammer) and her fiance Steve Collinson (a Londoner) relocated to Stormsvlei from London, England. Steve has worked for 20 years as a chef and later a pastry chef in various well known restaurants and clubs in London. They continue the culinary tradition set by Tant Mietjie.

Make sure that you stop over for coffee or lunch. The cheesecake is perfect and if you are lucky you will bump into Mary Spies, who kept us entertained and spellbound for an hour.

Open: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays until 17h00 Fridays & Saturdays during the day and also in the evenings for steaks & burgers, Sundays brunch & lunch.

Closed: Tuesdays

Tel 028 261 1167  & Email: stormsvleifood@gmail.com

It was especially important for us since this was the first time we saw our Riebeek Valley friends since moving to Swellendam. We all went to the relaunch of ‘Roosje van de Kaap’ restaurant last night which was a lot of fun. Freerk & Helpi have done a great job tidying up the place and served a great spread. Guests would be interested to know that the menu is similar to before, but with the help of Helpi some Indonesian specials have made their way onto the menu such as Rijstafel & Loempia.

Sunday was spent having the laziest of breakfasts at ‘Paradise Organics’ in Suurbraak. The setting is perfect and as usual the breakfast was superb. This just has to be one of the nicest places to go. The drive to get there is easy and very pretty. I should have had cake.

Seen below: Claudia sitting in the sun at Paradise Organics soaking in the sun, & the Mullineux family checking if JZ’s nappy is ok – also at the Paradise Organics.

Our neighbour, the Kunsmis Art Gallery asked us to help judge the best submissions for a gallery sponsored calendar publication.

This was a quick sneak of some of the fine art in the run for the  prize. The event was part of the Canola Carnival and entrants had to capture the essence of Swellendam in their work.

One of our favourite people, Jo Orr, dropped by on Saturday with 3 of her fabulous heads. She left Dax to relax in Robertson at the Slow festival while she nipped down the R60 for some Swellendam Canola Carnaval action.

Here she is in one of the suites (Arum Lily), after successfully assembling and mounting the fantastic kudu head. Other heads to be seen at Augusta include the buffalo and sable.

Visit Jo’s site here to see more about what she does.