Taste - April 2010


Restaurant of the Month - Wild Woods
The first thing that strikes you as you enter Pete Goffe-Wood's new restaurant in Hout Bay is the huge gammon on the bar couner. It's by Lucas Jamon of Prince Albert, and Pete will happiy slice you a piece of this dry-cured ham as you sip your first cocktail of the day.

Though the venue is quite small, Pete has made optimal use of the available space. On ground level is an Italian family-sized table next to a huge fireplace. One level up, and leading from the bar, is a bright yet comfy seating area that extends to the open patio with great views over Hout Bay Harbour.

The thinking behind Wild Woods was to create a place where families can come and enoy Pete's regional, honest cooking. The menu changes seasonally and everything, from the bread and ice cream to the cured duck breast, is made from scratch. Other ingredients are sourced locally, such as buffalo mozzarella from Buffalo Ridge and beer from Jack Black Breweries.

The kiddies menu has all the usual suspects - read fish'n chips and mac 'n cheese, while adults are treated to free-range chicken liver parfait with toast and onion marmalade, rare grilled hanger steak with caramelised shallots and red wine jus, or Pete's signature pan-fried angelfish with mussles and saffron (pictured here). Desserts include grappa panna cotta with raspberries and a chocilate pot with malt ice cream. All meals are excellently priced, as is the well-chosen wine sleection.

Find Wild Woods next to the Chapman's Peak Hotel on Main Road, Hout Bay; tel: (021) 791-1166