Review: A secret dinner at Grootbos

Relaxing after the drive, on the stoep at Grootbos (Angelique Smith Photography)
Relaxing after the drive, on the stoep at Grootbos (Angelique Smith Photography)

A few weeks ago I received an invitation from the Secret Eats team to join one of their secret dinner adventures on the 5th of April 2014. I was only told that the adventure involved some traveling to a secret location, and that it involved a secret chef and a secret menu. Having heard of the Secret Eats adventures before (underground dining experiences with limited seats), I signed up immediately and couldn’t wait to discover more!

On the 4th of April, it was revealed that our secret dinner location was Grootbos, an exclusive luxury destination in the heart of the Overberg. On the afternoon of the 5th of April, I joined a group of other adventurous eaters in the shuttle and headed out towards Hermanus. About 20 minutes past Hermanus we entered the Grootbos gates – a  private nature reserve that provides luxury accommodation, dining, wine tours, spa treatments, guided adventures, and supports responsible tourism.

The chicken coup at Grootbos (Angelique Smith Photography)
The chicken coup at Grootbos (Angelique Smith Photography)

We were treated to a guided tour of the Grootbos Foundation’s Green Futures project – a horticulture and life skills college that provides an annual training programme to 12 unemployed young adults from the Gansbaai area. In addition, the Grootbos Foundation also established the Growing the Future project – an organic food production and life skills certification course that provides an annual training programme to 8 unemployed women from the Gansbaai area. Here they have established an impressive organic vegetable garden and chicken coup, selling most of their produce (also including pork and honey) back to Grootbos. This means that Grootbos is not only able to supply diners with amazing, fresh produce, but more importantly they are making diners aware that they are supporting the upliftment of local women in their local community – an ethical way of eating.

Canapés before the start of our secret dinner at Grootbos (Angelique Smith Photography)
Canapés before the start of our secret dinner at Grootbos (Angelique Smith Photography)

After a quick refreshment and a new lick of lipstick, we gathered for bubbly and canapés before being escorted to our secret dinner location inside an ancient milkwood forest on the Grootbos grounds. The location was one of the most beautiful settings for a dinner that I have ever seen – absolutely magical.

Getting to know the guests at our Secret Eats adventure, Grootbos (Angelique Smith Photography)
Getting to know the guests at our Secret Eats adventure, Grootbos (Angelique Smith Photography)
The pathway to our secret dinner location... (Angelique Smith Photography)
The pathway to our secret dinner location… (Angelique Smith Photography)
One of the exquisite dinner tables inside the ancient milkwood forest (Angelique Smith Photography)
One of the exquisite dinner tables inside the ancient milkwood forest (Angelique Smith Photography)

Our dinner followed, cooked by Grootbos executive chef Benjamin Conradie. Here is a copy of his menu:menu

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Chef Conradie plates the first course (Angelique Smith Photography)
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Guests at my table, taking pictures of new friends (Angelique Smith Photography)
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1st Course: Klein Rivier Gruyere soup (Angelique Smith Photography)
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2nd Course: Trio of Langkloof rainbow trout (Angelique Smith Photography)
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3rd Course: Walker Bay poached crayfish (Angelique Smith Photography)
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Me, meeting new people! (Angelique Smith Photography)
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4th Course: Villiera and strawberry sorbet (Angelique Smith Photography)
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5th Course: Grilled lamb loin (Angelique Smith Photography)
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The star kitchen team, plating dessert (Angelique Smith Photography)
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6th Course: Chocolate flan with raspberry chiboust (Angelique Smith Photography)

The night was unforgettable – the food, the atmosphere, the laughter, the setting – and most of us made some lasting friendships with people who were complete strangers to us earlier that day. It was like being transported to a strange and beautiful planet where time and reality were completely irrelevant.

I can certainly recommend Secret Eats to anyone who wants to explore beyond the usual restaurant dining experience – locations and menus change all the time, as do the pricing range of dinner experiences. I can also recommend Grootbos as a destination – what a breathtaking place!

Keen to join SecretEATS for an evening?  Request your Private Invitation here: www.thesecreteats.com/request

Thank you Angelique Smith for the use of your beautiful photographs. And thank you to Yuppiechef for the R150 voucher gift surprise after dinner!

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