Bistro 13, located on the historic Welmoed Wine farm home to Stellenbosch Vineyards, celebrated its first birthday last month. Chef Nic van Wyk and his team plan on making this the first of many, as they look to the future with some exciting plans, improvements and new flavours for the seasons ahead.
A time for reflection and celebration
Since its doors opened over 16 000 guests have been through the doors of Bistro 13. Many of these guests are repeat customers and some even have close to a standing reservation. On top of the regular service Bistro 13 has hosted many private functions, from special birthdays, a wine award, small conferences and an annual fellowship brunch for 300 guests.
Looking back over a successful first year, Chef Nic van Wyk is proud of the achievements and loyal customer base Bistro 13 has gained. He comments, “we received a 5 star review from Jos Baker in the Cape Times newspaper. We have also been featured in the country’s leading online/ print food and restaurant guide, Eat Out, and continue to receive praise from our local fan base. These accolades serve as reminder of the standard we need to keep up.”
“We’re grateful to have learnt so much from these guests. We are fortunate that they are constantly helping us to improve and that we have genuinely built remarkable relationships with guests, we now fondly refer to as our locals. In this industry, customers and their insights are priceless,” says Roxy Laker, marketing and PR at Bistro 13.
Looking forward to the future
Coming out of a less than dormant winter, the new season begs for a brighter and lighter menu. Guests can look forward to smoked mackerel salad with pickled fennel and chorizo, roasted asparagus and truffle hollandaise, cumin roasted pork belly with remoulade and salsa verde potatoes, and a roast pork chop with a stuffed potato and brussels sprouts. Fans will be relieved to know that the steak tartare will too come out of hibernation and fresh tuna will see an Asian inspired tuna tartare. For those with a sweet tooth, desserts have not been forgotten. Bistro 13 will add a mouthwatering three chocolate terrine and rum baba with sultana ice cream, welcoming the warmer weather. More new dishes will be making their appearance during the rest of the month. The wine list, with Stellenbosch Vineyards wines available by the glass or carafe, also gets a season makeover.
Investor, Protea cricketer Faff du Plessis comments, “it’s great having a professional chef and kitchen to call on. My passion for food made the decision to get on board as an investor, quite a natural one. It’s been a year filled with excitement. I’ve watched and tasted the growth of Bistro 13 and simply can’t wait for the great things that are to come.”
“Our goal remains the same to innovate and build relationships. We want to people to create moments with us, with great food, wine and friends. We want to be excellent at what we do. Every day, ” concludes van Wyk.
The newly opened foodie meeting spot, De Warenmarkt in Stellenbosch is fast becoming a favourite among locals. Fresh produce, a wine bar, Ryan Boon meats and artisan food creators all come together under one roof to offer visitors a feast for the senses. Bistro 13 is currently heading up the ‘Hands-on’ kitchen for the rest of the year with street food.
New season hours are full swing with lunch and dinner being served seven days a week, and breakfast reserved for weekends. Bistro 13 has also been nominated for a Klink Award in the Beyond Expectations category for great food and wine. The awards are in their fourth year, headed up by South African Wine Tourism. Voting is public across the 11 categories and until 13 November 2015.
Details
Address: Welmoed Wine Farm, R310 Baden Powell Drive, Stellenbosch
Tel: 021 881 3044
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bistro13.co.za
Twitter: @Bistro_13
Facebook: Bistro 13
Instagram: bistro.13
Hours from 1 October 2015- 31 May 2016
Breakfast: Saturday and Sunday 0h800-10h00
Lunch: Monday-Sunday 12h00-15h00
Dinner: Monday- Sunday 18h30-21h30
