BABYLONSTOREN PART IV - The Farmshop

Welcome to the Farmshop - Winetasting, Bakery, Charcuterie & Cheese

The Farmshop

The Bakery - the marble countertop where the breads are kneaded, behind is the old oven where amazing breads are baked

Beautiful bread creations, red stripes of beet juice, different herbs, seeds and nuts abound.

Wine tasting area - I absolutely love the table - a solid piece of wood on iron legs.

Wine gift baskets woven from grape vines.

More wine tasting in the attic.

Charcuterie - home smoked meats from the farm

Ready to slice, don't you just love their signature wall tile murals?

Biltong - South African dried meat

Selection of cheeses, fresh from their farm.

Taste, buy a slice, wedge or chunk of your favorite.
Babylonstoren - the most amazing farm to visit - for a wonderful walk amongst their 8 acre veg gardens, tea in the glass house, or wine tasting.  If you are in the Cape Winelands, you have to go!  

BABYLONSTOREN PART III - "TEEKAMER IN DIE GLASKAS" (tea room in the glass house) a beautiful place to visit, walk, ooh & aah, and eat delicious treats - fresh from the farm.

NESTLED AMONGST ORCHARDS AND 8 ACRES OF VEG GARDENS, CLIMBING ROSES, VINES DRIPPING WITH PASSION FRUIT, IS A HEAVENLY OASIS.  THE TEA GARDEN AND GLASS CONSERVATORY.

As the sign says, "Teekamer in die Glaskas" - walk this way to something spectacular (I just made that up), the "Tea Room in the Glass House".

And there she stands in all her glory, the glass house.  Inside are vegetable gardens on the one end, chairs and tables for tea and the most delicious delights ever on the other.  

Outside the glass conservatory are many more casual chairs and tables scattered under huge old oak trees.

What sandwich would you like - pick your bread, freshly baked in our own bakery, add your selection of cheese and then what about some smoked trout, fresh from the farm?  Or our own smoked ham, or even smoked chicken.  

Fresh bunches of orange blossom - talk about heaven "scent".

Bunches of freshly picked herbs scent the air.

And for the arrangement, long stems of heirloom tomatoes.

I wanted to stay here forever, quite comfortable.

I can honestly say without hesitating, this is the most delicious and BEST tart I have ever had, by far.  Thin pastry crust filled with a white chocolate and lemon custard and topped with fresh Strawberries and Cape Goosberries.

The LOO!

I must say, I had a thing for these amazing "loos/toilets/bathroms", call them what you may depending on where you're from.  Surrounded by lavender fields, fresh herbs, fig trees and lemon trees, wouldn't you?

And there is still more to come.  This place is endless in "oh my, look at that, I want it........"

BABYLONSTOREN PART I - heaven on earth in the Cape winelands of South Africa

Welcome to Babylonstoren.   Located in the picturesque Drakenstein Valley between Franschhoek and Paarl in the Cape Winelands of South Africa, Babylonstoren is one of the best preserved working farms (werfs) in the Cape Dutch tradition.  Dating back to the founding of the farm in 1690, great attention to detail has been applied to the preservation of buildings and traditions, with a spectacular twist on guest houses, a world class restaurant and glass conservatory teahouse.  8 acres of formal vegetable and herb gardens and fruit orchards can be walked and the smell of herbs permeates the hot summer air as you marvel the creative wonder.  
www.babylonstoren.com

Babel the restaurant - a rustic courtyard with the Babel restaurant on one side, farm store on the other, and the most exquisitely intricate knot garden of lavender and thymes on the far side.  

Baskets abundantly overflowing with lemons, freshly picked from the orchard.  Double doors lead to the store.

Babel, the restaurant

Inside the world class restaurant that is Babel

Deliciously decadent deserts on display - lemon meringue served in porcelain teacups

Reading the Babel menu, outside the double doors leading to the store

Store counter - exquisite piece of furniture - wish list!

The amazing Babel book, which I had to purchase and bring back home, with a rustic turnip garnish!

Home made preserves, jams, pickles, syrups, bottled honey harvested just down the way!

Leading from Babel, the knot garden with a selection of lavenders and thymes surrounded by low rustic walls and beyond that, fragrant orchards

Looking back to the restaurant, Babel.

With a backdrop of the Drakenstein Mountains, could there be a more exquisite beautiful place on earth?

Traditionally South African, waterblommetjies (water flowers), are harvested and used to cook up a flavorful "bredie", a type of stew.

Harvesting waterblommetjies, not just to cook into a delicious "bredie", but also for the incredible flower, fruit and veg table decorations they are so renowned for.

Lavender, the waterblommetjie ponds, orchards and the spectacular mountains beyond.  What a gorgeous place to visit.  Watch this space - LOTS more to come.