Despite the name (and much to her disappointment; she thought we were going wine tasting), Chardonnay Deli is, first and foremost, just that: a deli. It's set in an upmarket farm stall and is the creation of the pair behind the Chardonnay Chefs catering company team.
Think 'artisanal' and 'organic' and you'll get the idea: from handmade gifts and homemade treats to free-range meat and gluten-free bread. (Malik the baker trained in France and arrives at 11pm to make bread throughout the night.)
"I love the greenery," she said as we took our seats in the courtyard. Even with ongoing construction that will see the deli expand in the front and the kitchen move to the back, all the issues of daily life felt far away indeed.
The deli only opened at the end of 2014, but already has big plans for the future. Joining the Truth coffee baristas and their Ferrari machine is a dinner service (for you to order your evening meal before 10am and collect it later in the day), online shopping, Constantia Valley wines (sold for off-site consumption), craft beers, and more. Can you hear that sound? It's a hipster drooling into his beard.
"Chardonnay Deli will evolve its offerings over time, based on what its customers need to ensure the perfect marriage between supply and demand," the website explains. In other words, expect a tempting choice of meals on the chalkboard every day.
We chose to keep things healthy by ordering super juices: apple, beetroot, carrot, and ginger (to fight off her cold) and apple, celery, ginger, and lemon (to pick me up for a busy afternoon). And after our meals - a generous chicken salad for me and a chicken quiche that she described as more like a gourmet pie - we opted for some refreshing cucumber water instead of coffee or dessert.
Lunch done, we took the scenic drive through Constantia back to my home in Newlands. How nice to know that we now have the ideal setting for a relaxed meal the next time she comes back. Of course, that assumes I can wait that long before going to Chardonnay Deli again!
Eugene Yiga was a guest of Chardonnay Deli (AGM Superette, 87 Constantia Main Rd, Constantia, Cape Town). Call +27 (0)21 795 0606, email az.oc.iledyannodrahc@ofni or go to www.chardonnaydeli.co.za
