After a weekend of clouds and constant rain I was not anticipating to see the full moon at all on this long awaited evening of the Full Moon Dinner at ON19. But as we set out, a magical cosmic thing happened. The weather cleared completely and the golden full moon rose majestically over the Helderberg mountains.
Perfect pairing
ON19 (The Westin’s premier restaurant) looks out over the V&A Waterfront with the city as a backdrop through its impressive ceiling to floor glass windows. Last month Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate were the wine hosts for the evening showcasing their award-winning wines. The welcoming drink of their most popular Pinotage (made famous with their fusion of coffee and chocolate) converted even the non-red-wine drinker. Diemersfontein is based only 45 minutes away from Cape Town in the heart of the winelands in Wellington. Owner David Sonnenberg claims that one of the core reasons for their success is the rich soil in the area.
A mystical touch
Every month ON19 has paired up with astrologer Dianne Garven to give you a look into how the moon and the sun impact our lives and rhythms in addition to their five-course meal and wine-pairing. On every table was a personalised moon and sun chart (birth dates, places and times had been submitted beforehand). It was eerie to see how accurately the chart described the people at the table as well as myself down to key attributes. It left for a lot of giggles, sighs and comparisons which meant that the atmosphere in the room was abuzz.
New horizons
ON19’s chef de cuisine, Anerith Smythe prepared a menu that matched the cosmic theme of exploring new horizons with the cream of coconut and kohlrabi soup as well as the fish cacciucco being the highlights of the evening and warming the hearts of the Cape Town patrons along with the perfectly paired Diemersfontein wines. This was certainly a night to remember and such a great way to start the new month.
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Words: Claire Barnardo | Images: Supplied
