Steenberg flies the flag for the Constantia Valley at Amex Awards 2013
Published: 21 Sep 2012
Steenberg in the Constantia Valley is fast making its mark as one of the culinary 'hotspots' in the Western Cape, with fine dining restaurant Catharina’s and trendy Bistro Sixteen82 both scooping an American Express Platinum Fine Dining Award this year.
The internationally recognized American Express awards platform was created 15 years ago to acknowledge those food and wine-serving establishments that set the standard for a top quality dining experience. This year, only 83 restaurants from all over South Africa received the coveted award, 18 of which are based along the Cape Peninsula.
A feather in the cap for Steenberg, Chef Garth Almazan’s Catharina’s Restaurant is celebrating its 15th American Express award this year, while it is the second one for Chef Brad Ball and Bistro Sixteen82, which made its debut onto the list last year, shortly before celebrating its second birthday.
Along with inspired cuisine, Steenberg is a one-of-a-kind winelands destination which serves up a delightful range of experiences to entice, entertain and engage guests, while they soak up the heritage of the oldest farm in the Constantia valley. From the superb hotel facilities and luxury spa, to the 18-hole Peter Matkovich championship golf course, and the award-winning Steenberg Winery - it’s in a class of its own, and was voted Global Winner Wine Tourism Services in the Great Wine Capitals’ Best of Wine Tourism Awards in 2011.
According to restaurant critic Victor Strugo, who has been on the judging panel since the inception of the American Express Fine Dining Awards, modern diners are accepting a more open minded interpretation of what constitutes ‘fine dining’. He comments: ‘If the food is good and they understand their wine well, there is now scope for many types of restaurants and cuisine to be included and recognized, including urban chic, rustic and ethnic’.
This trend and philosophy is echoed by the direction that Steenberg’s culinary offering is taking. The popularity of cellar door restaurant Bistro Sixteen82 serves as an excellent example - the restaurant providing a food and wine experience that consistently tops the list of the Cape’s favourite daytime restaurants among locals and jet-set alike.
Catharina’s, which has been a longstanding landmark on Cape Town’s wine and fine dining scene, recently started sharing space in its historical building with Gorgeous by Graham Beck, South Africa’s first brand-exclusive bubbly bar. With its approach to cuisine that is ‘finely presented’, alongside sister restaurant Bistro Sixteen82, it is set to keep Steenberg firmly on the culinary map as one of the Cape’s most exciting wine and food destinations.