HOW many times have you had a dish with a beautiful piece of garnish on the plate? The first reaction is usually to remove the garnish before you start eating.
Well, at the Basil and Barley Restaurant, located at 156 High Street, the garnish is part of the whole flavour sensation of the dish.
The restaurant is part of the Thorny Creek Brewery, started by Rob and Olga Hofmeyr about 4 years ago. They recently moved from the farm to Oudtshoorn. The farm still produces fresh and organic fruit, vegetables and flowers that locals have learned to love.
Now add to this already wonderful concept spent grain and you have a winning recipe.
Olga, originally from Russia where she used to be a lawyer, has a tangible passion for food, and it can be tasted in every bite she lovingly prepares.
Rob, the beer brewer and Olga’s husband, used to be a farrier by trade, but he has stowed his files and farrier pliers and opted to rather brew amazing beers. Some of the styles they offer are Weiss, Imperial Stout, Indian Pale Ale, Stout and the newest addition, Wild Honeybush Ale.
Once the brewing is done, Olga takes the spent grain left over from the beermaking process, and dries it in the sun. “The Karoo sun is perfect, and it takes about a day to dry before I can further process or mill it into a fine flour,” she explains.
Spent grain is virtually gluten free and Olga uses this wonderful product to make bread, biscuits, cakes and even pasta. By the time it ends up on your plate, the whole dish becomes an experience of textures and flavours.
Purple flowers on the plate are from garlic chives and give the dish a subtle garlic tinge.
At the same time, you have a fresh chive flavour also playing around in your mouth. Or you can get lemon basil, basil flowers or even a Jerusalem artichoke. The petals taste like butter. Each combination was well thought out and prepared with lots of care.
So, if you are adventurous and would like to go on a flavour sensation tour in the heart of the Little Karoo, book your next lunch or dinner and some beer or a handpicked bottle of wine with the Hofmeyrs. Or stop by for the famous Russian Honey Cake or Black Carrot Cake. You will be pleasantly surprised!