Walking into Reverie Social Table in Observatory one feels as though you are stepping into the private dining room of chef Julia Hattingh. Greeted at the door with a glass of Black Elephant Vintners MCC, one is encouraged to walk around and find yourself a place at the large 18 seater wooden table in the middle of the room. You are about to dine with a group of strangers which might sound daunting for some but exciting to those open to meet new and interesting people. I must admit I did feel a little shy at first but soon got into the swing of things with the help of the friendly hostesses and some more Black Elephant wines.
We had a really interesting group of people at our table, many were involved in food and wine themselves and others were just interested in exploring new experiences and of course were excited to see what Julia had prepared for us. Julia has plenty of experience having previously worked in the kitchen at Holden Manz and also for Margot Janse at La Quartier Francais.
Were were not disappointed with the 5-course pairing which included a watermelon and goat's cheese salad, steak tartare with coconut broth, crusted line fish with fennel and roe and beef fillet with mushrooms, potatoes, and jus and ended with a light apricot and mascarpone dessert. Julia introduced every course and paired it perfectly with a Black Elephant Vintners wine.
Midway we were given a breather, this was the perfect opportunity to explore the kitchen and to all gather in the back courtyard for a bit of a chat. Everyone was very relaxed at this point and it was more like a gathering at a friend’s house than at a restaurant. The rest of the evening was very jolly, we ate extremely well and all left as new friends.
