Imagine, if you will, a gourmet weekend of pure indulgence, spent in the best of company, at one of the most beautiful estates in South Africa.
Personalised rooms, carefully curated gifts, guided nature excursions, and impeccably styled tables – to feast your eyes (and appetites) on – were all part of ‘Sandy’s Gourmet Experience’, hosted at Kurland last month.
Once you’ve read about our guests’ experiences over the course of this special August weekend, you’ll know exactly why bookings for stylist, florist and caterer Sandra Wood’s next winter gourmet experience are set to fill up quickly…
The inspiration
Inspired by a Greek food and photography retreat that she enjoyed on the island of Ikaria, Sandra (‘Sandy’) Wood knew that Kurland Estate would be the perfect setting in which to recreate her experience on local ground and share her passion for food and styling with a group of like-minded souls. And so, her gourmet weekend on the farm-style estate was born.
Friday – Dinner at the Villa
Sixteen excited guests – from as close as Cape Town and Hermanus, and as far as Joburg and even Taiwan – checked into Kurland Homestead on Friday. They were welcomed with homemade delicacies (chicken pies and chocolate cake) and checked into their uniquely decorated, hand-picked rooms, complete with roaring fireplaces and beautiful gift boxes filled with local delights.
Come sunset, they were shuttled to the Kurland Villa to catch up over canapés and later enjoy a lavishly laid dinner table with Sandy and Baroness Di Behr, part of Kurland’s founding family.
Fresh cut flowers adorned the table, which was sparkling with the Villa’s silver cutlery and sophisticated red stemware, and classical music set the tone for a dinner to remember. The only things more impressive than the table settings were the delicious sharing platters that were served throughout the evening.
Saturday – Gourmet meals, fireside chats, food and floral demonstrations, and so much more…
Our guests were up early on Saturday morning to start the day with a full continental breakfast, hot cups of coffee, and refreshing glasses of bubbly that echoed the buzzing excitement of the day’s itinerary.
Kicking off the morning was a 2-hour fireside cooking demonstration in the Kurland kitchen of 7 of Sandy’s favourite dishes, cooked by herself and 2 chefs from Johannesburg. Thereafter, with their appetites thoroughly fired up, our guests enjoyed a presentation by renowned florist and creative director of Ecozest, Daniel Ferreira, who shared his love of flowers with some unique styling tips in setting up a citrus-themed floral arrangement. This was followed by an al fresco lunch outside in the courtyard, enjoying spectacular views of Kurland’s winter beauty.
The pace of the afternoon was set at every guest’s own whim – some spent a leisurely afternoon at the pool, while others happily trotted off to enjoy various luxurious spa treatments. Everyone convened at tea-time to indulge in Sandy’s team’s delicious clementine poppyseed cake, served on the veranda alongside copious pots of tea.
As the sun started to set, guests participated in guided wine tasing by Groot Poste’s winemaker, Lukas Wentzel, who is based in Darling. The farm’s ‘Pinch of Salt’ chardonnay and ‘Seasalter’ sauvignon blanc were firm favourites, and warmed guests up for a generous dinner of various curries at Katarina’s. The space looked as cosy as ever, decorated with autumn-coloured pumpkins, copper pots, long candles, and a roaring fire.
Sunday – Heritage, nature walks, oysters and bubbly, a unique cooking class and a country kitchen table lunch to remember…
After an impossibly perfect Friday and Saturday, our guests couldn’t imagine what Sunday could bring to round off the perfect weekend experience. As it happens, Sandy saved the best for last – an energising guided walk along Robberg Nature Reserve’s pristine coastline (the Witsand walk), before arriving at Gap beach for Champagne and oysters. Thereafter they made their way to Sandy’s charming beach house where she shared a delightful ‘Summer Entertaining’ cooking demonstration and lunch at her homely kitchen table, which was beautifully decorated with fresh cosmos and tulips.
At 3pm, our guests reluctantly boarded the airport shuttle with promises to return. Parting was indeed such sweet sorrow, with our beloved guests dancing around the table and shedding tears of joy.
Using Kurland as a base to show off the best of the area and indulge in the finer things in life proved to be a magical experience, and one that we’re looking forward to repeating next winter.
Stay tuned to our blog in November for more information on our 2025 gourmet winter weekend.
(All images Candice Searle Photography)