On a very hot Friday afternoon during the December holidays, we were off to Vrede & Lust Wine Estate, situated on the Simondium-Klapmuts Road, close to Franschhoek.  On a previous trip to Franschhoek, we noticed this wine estate and it has been on our restaurants-to-visit list for quite a while.

Vrede and Lust Wine Estate

The trip to Vrede & Lust was not so peaceful as the name of the wine estate suggests, as there were many cars on the road.  The entrance to the wine estate restored the peace as the gardens were covered with white roses and we loved the beautiful green and white scenery against the picturesque backdrop of the mountains.

Picturesque Gardens

Lunch today was at the Lust Bistro & Bakery.  The restaurant was fully booked and we were seated on the patio, which was not a good idea on such a hot day.  The inside dining area was air-conditioned and tastefully decorated in modern shades of grey, with burgundy lamps and wooden furniture.

The Patio

Elegant Interior

The food was delicious with lots of seasonal ingredients.  Artisan breads baked in a traditional, wood-fired brick oven by Jean-Pierre Smith, accompanied our meal.  We chose our meals from the daily blackboard specials.  Deon enjoyed his Ploughman’s Platter which came with cheese, artisan charcuterie, beetroot chutney, bacon jam, olives and preserves.  I ordered a delicious Salmon Pasta which was served on a bed of rocket and served with shaved Parmesan.

Ploughman’s Platter

Salmon Pasta

For dessert, we shared a Classic Crème Brûlée, served with apricot sorbet and white-choc-biscotti.  The sorbet was refreshing on this sweltering day.

Dessert

We had an enjoyable afternoon on another of the Western Cape’s beautiful wine estates.  Lust Bistro & Bakery with its simplicity, excellent service and informal atmosphere contributes to the popularity of this estate.