La Petite Colombe, sister restaurant to the highly acclaimed La Colombe in Constantia, re-opened its doors on 6 November at a stunning new location on Leeu Estates, on the outskirts of the village.
Leeu Collection’s Le Quartier Français was home to La Petite Colombe from its opening in August 2017, when the hotel group invited the La Colombe team to manage the food and beverage offering, as part of its desire to partner with the very best in class in the fields of wine-making, artistic endeavour and dining out. La Petite Colombe’s success (including an Eat Out Top Ten award and stellar reviews on TripAdvisor) led it to look for a larger venue, which it has found on Leeu Estates.
Not only is La Petite Colombe’s new stand-alone space larger (seating 60 guests both indoors and on its terrace), but it is also grander (thanks to the unique interiors crafted by the innovative MR Design Studio). Floor to ceiling windows mean that both the inside tables and those outdoors have glorious views of Leeu Estates’ beautifully manicured gardens and vineyards, with the Franschhoek Valley, river and mountains as a glorious backdrop.
Since its inception, John Norris Rogers (who trained at La Colombe) has been Head Chef at La Petite Colombe, producing dishes that reflect his extensive international travels. Many of the fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as herbs and spices, are picked daily from Leeu Estates’ organic farm, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the restaurant. As always, there will be a shorter seasonal set menu, as well as a Chef’s Experience set menu, with vegetarian alternatives available for both. The nine-course tasting menu starts from R695 for a set menu, with highlights including confit salmon cooked table side in Leeu Estates olive oil and a Willy Wonka inspired petit four trolley.
John is thrilled with the move, saying, “The new space at Leeu Estates is a dream come true; we are surrounded by so many different inspirations, from the world class interiors to the stunning panoramic views and our own vegetable gardens, that the sky really is the limit”.
Leeu Collection founder Analjit Singh adds, “We are very excited to welcome La Petite Colombe to Leeu Estates, as it will offer more top-class dining to residents and visitors. With its partners, Leeu Collection is creating elegant, authentic experiences that make a visit to Franschhoek, known as the gourmet capital of South Africa, even more appealing. The hotels and the destination have never been in a better shape to welcome discerning guests.”
La Petite Colombe is open seven days a week, from 12h00 to 22h00.
021 202 3395 | www.lapetitecolombe.com/book-online
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied
