Nestled in the folds of the Vrede en Lust wine estate, LUST Bistro & Bakery is definitely the place you want to be for a meal with a view. Competitively priced and with every meal prepped and planned by kitchen veterans, chefs Johan van Schalkwyk and Jean Pierre Smith, it’s a guaranteed drool-worthy experience.
By Roxy Greeff
Whether you want breakfast, lunch or a lazy cup of coffee, LUST has something for everyone. But let’s start with my favourite part, the bakery. Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved making bread and seeing (and smelling) all the divine artisanal options straight out of the oven. What grabbed my attention was chef Jean Pierre Smith’s sourdough, which takes a minimum of three days to make and is baked in the bistro’s wood-fired oven. And let me tell you, it’s totally worth it, and two slices weren’t nearly enough, especially topped with a generous smear of butter and the eatery’s artisanal bacon jam. Order the Ploughman’s Platter to try it for yourself.
They also have a wide selection of other loaves on sale, including a crispy ciabatta, a hearty rye and gluten-free options. There are also lovely cakes and other baked goods, straight from the oven nonetheless, that you can enjoy with a cuppa or glass of wine.
When we visited, Heather opted for the Peri Peri Chicken Livers, served with a slice of that yummy ciabatta to soak up all the goodness left behind.
As for me, well I went for the lamb burger (I almost always go for the burger), which comprised a succulent char-grilled lamb patty served on a Portobello mushroom and topped with provolone cheese, roasted red onions and a drizzling of chipotle-chilli mayo.
We were also told that we couldn’t leave LUST without trying their famous build-your-own wood-oven pizzas and (huge dilemma), we couldn’t decide what we wanted on a pizza to share. So chef Johan van Schalkwyk created a surprise pizza of bacon, rocket and blue cheese.
So if you are looking for a day out in wine country, make your bookings at LUST where you are promised not only great wine from the valley but also excellent food and an upmarket atmosphere that feels like home.
THE DETAILS
When: Monday-Saturday, 7:30 AM – 5 PM; Sunday and public holidays, 8 AM – 4 PM
Where: Vrede en Lust Estate, Intersection of the Klapmuts Road and the R45, Simondium Franschhoek
Contact: 021 874 1456; info@lustbistro.com
Website: lustbistro.com
FOLLOW THEM
Facebook: @lustbistroandbakery
Twitter: @LustBistro
Instagram: @lustbistro
