Fine dining comes to Hartbeespoort with brand-new restaurant 'Doolshe'

If you're a Joburger looking for a fine dining experience away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Anna Trapido says she's found just the place.

The food anthropologist made the 45-minute trip to lunch at the just-opened Doolshe Restaurant & Wine Bar in the Hartbeespoort area.

This drive is well worth it simply to enjoy the beautiful location, she says -  'It's got fantastic views of the Magaliesberg mountains and is set amid beautiful old shaded trees.'

Doolshe is helmed by chef, restaurateur and artist extraordinaire Lientjie Wessels, which in itself promises an interesting experience.

"There are so many people that pack into Hartbeespoort on a weekend and really there's a dearth of interesting restaurants - Lientjie is the executive chef and she is a really idiosyncratic, eclectic chef so you'll definitely have a unique experience."

Trapido describes what you can expect as 'Lientjie food' - eclectic, but ultimately what feels to her like modern South African food.

"The portions are generous and always with what I think of as a very South African flavour - the sweet and the savoury, like for instance apricot with snoek. But it really is an idiosyncratic journey in that there are Middle Eastern ingredients (tahini, harissa, orange blossom water), also Asian ingredients...  and always some Italian elements... but this is a world citizen who has a profoundly South African flavour repertoire."

On the menu for Trapido and her Friday lunch partner was a 'lovely' olive and fig tapenade with flatbread as a starter. For the main course she opted for roasted cauliflower with roasted chickpeas and a tahini sauce, while her meat-loving friend ordered lamb chops with Za'atar roasted veg and a rose harissa yoghurt. The pair shared an orange and polenta cake with a zesty Chantilly cream for dessert.

She describes the foodie experience as 'jolly good', and something they could not have had anywhere else.

Adding to the visual treat is the fact that Lientjie Wessels also paints her own plates, which are for sale in a decor store upstairs.

Trapido also highlights the top-notch wine list which features boutique wineries and 'a very reasonable markup'.

Doolshe is open Thursday-Sunday, and is located off the R512, just opposite the Lion & Safari Park.

To listen to Anna Trapido in conversation with Nokukhanya Mntambo  on 702's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below: