Salmon trouting in Franschhoek
2012-05-25 15:37
A welcoming, placid atmosphere that's easy to slip into, is how The Salmon Bar greets us in Franschhoek, one of South Africa's oldest Winelands towns. Referred to by some as the 'hot spot on the Hoek', it is easy to see why.
Founded by Gregory Stubbs, this charming little establishment in Franschhoek owes its origins to the 27-years -old trout farm Three Streams located in the Southern end of town. And through persistence in the face
of all sorts of adversities, including ridicule, it has become one of the
biggest distributors of both trout and salmon in the country.
The biggest take-away from my dining experience is the knowledge about the breeding process - from Alaskan and Norwegian
to local trout - and most certainly the many ways to prepare it such as smoked, sliced or fresh up and paired with the Salmon Bar's homemade sauces and local wines.
And when we say fresh we mean fresh. The eggs are literally imported from either Norway or Scotland, fresh trout is even flown in from as far away as Alaska and Chile. After they've hatched at Three Streams, its then transported to the sanctuary of Africa's second largest dam, the Katse on the Malibamat'so River in the Lesotho Highlands.
Once farmed, the final product is cured and
smoked and served up or retailed by this little corner establishment in the cobbled courtyard along Huguenot Street. Guess there's a reason they're the main supplier of Salmon and Trout to some of the country’s top restaurants, including Woolworths. So whether you're in the mood for bubbles and canapes or a sizable pan fried cutlet served fresh with some lemon and thyme butter - stop in during your next visit to Franschhoek.
Upcoming festivals:
Cook Francshhoek: June 15-17th - The festival invites food and wine enthusiasts to master their passion for the culinary arts.
Franschhoek Bastille Festival: 14-15 July - A celebration of the valley's French Huguenot heritage.
Franschhoek Uncorked Festival: 1-2 September - Welcoming Spring with an uncorked wine bottle the festival gives the wineries in and around the scenic valley the opportunity to showcase their exciting new vintages and releases.
Franschhoek "Magic Of Bubbles" Cap Classique and Champagne Festival: 2-4 December - The perfect excuse to sample Champagne and Cap Classique wines of the region
Franschhoek Literary Festival 2013: 11-13 May - Celebrate the magic of words with a gathering of over 90 authors, poets,
editors, illustrators and chairpeople taking part in 70 events.
