Our very first table in Africa, and one of our most special events to date! From the moment we arrived at Kleinood Farm & Winery in South Africa’s Western Cape, we knew we were in for something extraordinary. The intoxicating scent of perfume roses, the verdant fields of grape vines and olive trees, the surrounding hills gilded with golden light. Farmers Spicer and Melissa De Villiers produce wine, olive oil, honey and perfume here on the slopes of Helderberg Mountain, and it was such a treat to get a taste of their products and a tour of their land. We started the evening with a verjus cocktail garnished with garden herbs and flowers and took a beautiful stroll through lush woods and native fynbos—a type of diverse vegetation unique to this region—before sitting down at the table set between ripening olives and grapes. There, guest chef Jenny Ward treated us to four very special courses incorporating all sorts of things from the farm and surrounding wilderness, from fynbos-cured freshwater trout to verjus-pickled waterblommetjies (a type of flower found in local dams and marshes) and house-made butter flavored with the farm’s olive oil and served in the shape of a sheep (Kleinood’s logo!) With our meal we got to taste several of Kleinood’s beautiful wines, including viognier, mourvedre and two expressions of their Tamboerskloof Syrah: a full-bodied red paired with our final course of herb-crusted lamb and a dry rosé named after their first child, Katharien. The evening was immensely lively and convivial, with so many friendships formed across the table and some sociable farm dogs saying hello throughout the night. As we finished off our meal, we witnessed golden hour turn the peaks around us purple and an almost-full moon rising high over the hills. ✨ Chef: @chefjen_6 @makerslanding Farm: @kleinood_farm Wine: @kleinood_farm Gin: @hopedistillery Photos: @thefoodnarratives