I feel like we’re living in a weird time of still very being stuck in the conditions of a pandemic yet also longing for the days of being totally vaccinated and “free”. While we all know life will never be the same again, we’re starting to see a tiny light at the end of the lifestyle tunnel. A chance to possibly celebrate receiving the vaccination, anniversaries missed in 2020, birthdays delayed – and I know the perfect spot to do that.
While visiting Boschendal earlier this year, we were totally spoilt at The Werf where we celebrated our 5 years of marriage! It just so happened to fall over a date when restaurants were allowed to serve food and we were allowed to enjoy it with a glass of MCC!
The Next Level of Farm Fresh
The Werf is the perfect social distancing restaurant by the pure virtue that it looks out over Boschendal’s exquisite vegetable garden. The food brought to your table is literally the food you see growing and being cultivated a few meters away. It could not be fresher and the Boschendal food is oh so exquisite. Both from the fresh ingredients perspective as well as what they do with it!
The Werf Ambience
Watching the trees gently sway in the distance as water is sprinkled from the recycled water fountain, there couldn’t be a more relaxing and special location for our 5 year anniversary lunch. With a few other guests in The Werf, it’s quiet yet cheerful, making it the perfect combination of intimate and relaxing.
With large glass walls allowing light and views into the restaurant yet sheltering us from the breeze, we’re excited to explore the menu and all it has to offer. This is because it changes regularly in order to align with which produce are fresh and available seasonally.
What’s for Lunch?
To start, we indulged in two salads: a plum and deep friend camembert as well as a classic creamy Parmesan, anchovi lettuce salad. This is one of my absolute favourites, particularly if the anchovy is subtle (not a big fish fan). This was delicious and the perfect way to start our meal, along with a glass of Boschendal Brut Rose.
To mention, the restaurant was kind enough to switch the bread to a gluten-free option simply because Eric, our server, had recalled my request from breakfast. This is where service really is top notch and we appreciated that attention to detail.
It worked perfectly with the cubed plums, peppery rocket and rich cheese. All, of course, from Boschendal!
For mains we indulged in three delicious meat dishes to enjoy the best of the best! A pulled beef cannelloni topped with little onion cups filled with mushroom puree, crispy onion rings and fried sage.
Medium rare fillet paired with the most delicious crispy potatoes and pork belly with croquettes. Can you spell I N G U L G E N T! My goodness, food from heaven after home cooking for more than a year!!
At this stage we were too full for desert (and had a picnic booked for later!) so we called it a day and took a slow stroll back through the courtyard to our Boschendal cottage accommodation.
Final Thoughts
With AJ having fallen so ill with pneumonia (unrelated to COVID) in 2020, this really was the most appreciated lunch. Thank you to The Werf for spoiling us; we’ve thought about it many times since our visit and have been plotting on how soon we can return! Here’s to a more celebratory times ahead!
Find The Werf off the main courtyard at Boschendal, towards the manor house. Booking is advised.
