The Four Cousins brand is well-known throughout South Africa. Who can forget the introduction of the much-loved Four Cousins wine range back in 2000 with the release of the impressive 1,5l bottle? It isn’t surprising that today it is South Africa’s biggest selling bottled wine brand. But did you know that Four Cousins have added a brand emporium in the heart of Robertson? The restaurant and wine tasting centre has so much to offer foodie and wine lovers, not to mention other liquor ranges and non-alcoholic beverages.
Image credit – Four Cousins
“You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces. Just good food from fresh ingredients. – Julia Child”.
I absolutely love this foodie quote by the famous American author, chef and TV personality. At Four Cousins Restaurant, they don’t just do good food, but great food made from fresh ingredients, plus a whole lotta love (personally, I think that’s the secret element which makes each dish taste so heavenly!).
Since I’m an avid foodie lover, I was pretty excited to receive an invitation to experience some fun food pairings, along with a wholesome and delicious country lunch. Yes please, count me in!
Image credit – Four Cousins
So where does one even begin with discovering all that Four Cousins have to offer? Well, you can start anywhere your heart (and stomach) desires. We met up with the lovely Mira Weiner of Hot Oven Marketing and chatted over coffee before popping in to the onsite brewery. Until then, I didn’t know they made their own craft beer – did you? Only the best goes into crafting Boet Beer. It is brewed with state of the art equipment using the finest mountain water and the best imported malt and hops.
Image credit – Four Cousins
We moved through to the elegant tasting room for some fun food pairings. But not just any old food and wine pairings! These tastings have been taken to the next level and showcase their products beautifully.
Have a few non-drinkers and kids in your group? No problem! They are catered for with their own platters. The Zari Sparkling Grape Non Alcoholic wine range can be enjoyed with cheeses such as brie and smoked cheese, along with peri-peri cashews and cranberry nougat.
Kiddies can tuck into their Non Alcoholic Grape juices and some sweet treats such as fudge and jelly babies.
Image credit – Four Cousins
There are seven (yes, seven!) other platters to choose from – they really do cater to everyone’s tastes! My favourites included the Sparkling Wine pairing where the Four Cousins range of sparkling wine is paired with traditional Melrose cheese, Camembert and green fig on Melba toast (so yum!), strawberry meringue and pepper cheese.
Fancy something unique? Try the Fan Platter which features some of the famous Four Cousins wines paired with Rose Granita, biltong, fudge and chocolate – a delectable pairing indeed!
Image credit – Four Cousins
If you prefer something on the savoury side, then the Olyfberg platter is the one for you. Feast on award-winning Olyfberg products such as olive oil, balsamic vinegar, tapenade and olives paired with the Singles Range of wines.
Whisky lovers should try the Scottish Cousin Pairing, the newest addition to the Four Cousins Family. They are paired with sweet treats such as nougat, toffee and Sweetie Pie. Your tastebuds will be spoilt for choice!
While we were oohing and aahing over the tasty platters, who should come walking in but Bussell the winemaker, one of the Four Cousins. And yes, they are very much real. We chatted for a while and he took us on a mini tour of the Wall of Fame.
Here you can see the history of Four Cousins from their humble beginnings to the well-known brand it is today. I was delighted to see the original Sweetcorn Fritter recipe on the Wall (see my blog post for more information).
After feasting on such luscious pairings, I was starting to feel a tad full. But there was no stopping! We headed to the light, bright and airy restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooks the outdoor dining area. The contemporary interior is stylish and modern yet maintains a relaxed, country feel.
Image credit – Four Cousins
This family-friendly restaurant has a seriously yummy looking menu filled with loads of wholesome choices. Ok, so dessert may not be wholesome but you get the idea. For starters, choose from a variety of traditional flatbreads cooked in their authentic wood fired oven or freshly prepared salads.
Generous burgers, delicious pizzas, juicy steaks, fish, poultry and vegetarian dishes all feature on the menu. I must say, with such tempting choices, it’s pretty tough to narrow it down to a starter and main course. After much debate amongst ourselves, we were finally ready to order.
The Tempura Prawns served on a bed of roasted creamy corn was so yum that I just couldn’t get enough. Other popular choices were Deep Fried Camembert and Pulled Pork.
The ultimate dish for me was my main course. I’m a sucker for Crispy Pork Belly and Four Cousins know just how to make it with perfect crackling. It paired beautifully with the Van Loveren Christina Shiraz 2015. The Chicken Stack and Karoo Lamb Chops proved to be winners as well.
As usual, I had no room spare for dessert (sigh!). This was really unfortunate as the desserts looked amazing and deliciously decadent! The Sorbet Selection was nice and light, while the Chocolate Fondant and Crème Brûlée both got the thumbs up from my fellow diners.
I could go on and on about what a fun and fabulous time we had nibbling on all sorts of goodies at Four Cousins, but you really have to try it out for yourself! Round up a bunch of friends or make it a family outing, but definitely plan a trip out to Robertson as soon as you can. It’s an easy day trip from Cape Town (about two hours each way). Just make sure you have a designated driver.
Or make a weekend of it and stay in the Robertson Wine Valley. Bookings are a must as this popular establishment is much loved in the valley and surrounding areas. I can highly recommend spending a few enjoyable hours of feasting, drinking and chatting. The kids can safely play in the enclosed outdoor area while your tastebuds thank you for the appetizing treats!
Image credit – Four Cousins
Have you been or are you planning to go soon? I’d love to hear from you, so please share your experience and foodie photos in the comments below.
In the meantime, I’m trying to figure out just how soon I can get back to Four Cousins 😉
Please note: I enjoyed the meal at no cost for review purposes thanks to Hot Oven Marketing and Four Cousins. All views and images are my own unless otherwise indicated.
