South Africa, Paarl, 23 March 2023; FOLLOWING on from Grande Roche Hotel’s 30^th anniversary last year, this fine country hotel and restaurant makes for an ideal address to explore the Cape Winelands between autumn and spring this year.

The celebrated hotel, set within the Cape’s historic town of Paarl, presents attractive staycation promotions and delectable menus that appeal both to the domestic traveller and those visiting our shores.

Grande Roche Restaurant’s Head Chef Kevin Grobler has introduced a new offering that is available for both lunch and dinner and panders towards an in-vogue sharing plates experience. Chef Kevin’s dishes feature delicious flavours with provenence from seasonal produce sourced from nearby farms and is available as either 3-courses priced at R550 per person or 4 courses at R650 per person. “My team and I are super excited to launch our new Grande Roche Sharing Plates. It’s an ideal way to enjoy delicious food with family and friends at a festive table. We have created some really tasty dishes with inspiration from around the globe”, says Kevin.

Expect dishes including lip-smacking Pork pot stickers with chilli and sesame dressing; Fried zucchini bhaji, tzatziki mousse and dill dust; Calamari steak with sticky rice and gochujang sauce as well as Cape Malay mussels cooked in curried apricots and served with garlic naan. To end the feasting, choose with difficulty from a selection of delicious desserts including Lemon éclairs and Crème brûlée doughnuts.  Chef Kevin will be changing the dishes often so expect new taste explorations upon every visit.

Cape Malay Mussels, Curried Apricots, Garlic Naan + Grilled Calamari Steak, Sticky Rice, Gochujang Sauce, Sesame 

Not only does Grande Roche offer exquisite cuisine but for overnight guests the hotel’s generously spacious accommodation offers an elegant address set amidst vineyards and a mountain backdrop. Each room and suite offers its own unique ambience that celebrate both the indigenous flora and the farm’s rich history. Wooden beams and exposed thatch warmly encapsulate the rich heritage of Cape farms and Fynbos-inspired signature wallpapers provide a vibrant splash of contemporary colour.

Says Johann Bouwer, Director at Grande Roche Hotel and Restaurant: “Our #PearlofPaarl promotions were so in demand last winter that we’ve decided to reintroduce them and to also extend the longevity of the tremendous offering by including the autumn and spring seasons”.

The hotel’s ideal locality allows for a meandering stroll through the town’s Main Road, which happens to be the longest main road in South Africa with a length of 12.8 kilometers!. For those keen on the great outdoors, mountain bike trails, walking paths, championship golf courses, horseback riding and even hot air ballooning are nearby.

Pork Pot Sticker, Chilli and Sesame Dressing + Marinated Tomato and Basil Gnocchi 

Grande Roche Pearl of Paarl Package #1

·       One night’s accommodation for two guests sharing and accommodated in a Terrace Suite (Full English Breakfast included)

·       Sunset canapés and signature cocktail of the day

·       A four-course sharing plate dinner experience at The Grande Roche Restaurant

·       A bottle of Under Oaks estate wine to be enjoyed with dinner

Priced at R5 450.00, based on 2 persons sharing

Grande Roche Pearl of Paarl Package #2  

·       One night’s accommodation for two guests sharing and accommodated in a Terrace Suite (Full English Breakfast included)

·       Sunset canapés and signature cocktail of the day

·       A 4-course sharing plate dinner experience at The Grande Roche Restaurant

·       A bottle of selected Under Oaks estate wine to be enjoyed with dinner

·       A 60-minute couples’ massage

Priced at R6 950.00, based on two persons sharing

Both packages may be extended upon request, with additional dates priced at R3 500 per room per night. This includes the accommodation for two persons sharing and daily Full English Breakfast.  Both packages are available from 15 March 2023 until 30 September 2023 and subject to availability.

For dining enquiries, email restaurant@granderoche.co.za  or call +27 (021) 863 5100. Also enquire about the beautiful High Teas on offer by appointment as well as Chef Grobler’s monthly Grande Roche Food & Wine Celebration Dinners.

For accommodation enquiries including the Pearl of Paarl Promotions email info@granderoche.co.za.

The Grande Roche Hotel is located at 1 Plantasie Street, Paarl. www.granderoche.com

Follow the hotel’s journey via Facebook (GrandeRoche) and Instagram (Grande_Roche).

Terrace Suite 

EDITOR’S NOTES:

THE HISTORY OF GRANDE ROCHE

The land on which Grande Roche Hotel is built was first granted to Hermanus Bosman on 6 June 1717. Bosman arrived in the Cape in the employ of the Dutch East India Company and landed in 1707 after a spell in the colonies of Batavia (modern-day Indonesia).

While working amongst the farmers of the Drakenstein winelands he stayed with the Huguenot Abraham de Villiers on his farm Lekkerwyn, today known as Boschendal. He ended up marrying De Villiers’ eldest daughter, Elizabeth, and together they settled on the land granted as ‘Nieuwe Plantatie’, with permission to farm cattle and wheat.

Bosman was an industrious farmer, and soon added vines, orchards and vegetable gardens to the property. When Bosman died on 14 August 1769 the farm passed to his eldest son, Abraham, and over the years more vineyards, a wine cellar and additional buildings were added to the property.

The farm would stay in the Bosman name for more than two centuries, only leaving the family in 1929. After a succession of owners the property was converted into a five-star hotel in 1992, and has since become an icon of winelands hospitality. The new custodians of Grande Roche, Hansie and Theresa Britz, acquired the illustrious property in 2019 and have injected new lustre and significant investment that secures this much admired luxury Cape winelands hotel as a preferred destination of choice.

For Press and media assistance contact Ian Hamilton Manley via ian@publicity.co.za or call +27 (0) 82 826 0456.

#GrandeRoche #PearlofPaarl

ENDS/