Who doesn’t love a good padstal? We’re hitting the road to find the funkiest farm stalls along the way from Cape Town to Clanwilliam. Here is a look at the first of four that we visited.
Written by Thys de Beer
Situated between Moorreesburg and Piketberg, on the N7 at the turnoff to Koringberg, is Desert Rose Farm Stall. We are welcomed by co-owner Karin Bester and her colleagues, Belinda Kriel, Dicolene September and the feisty black cat, Kit-Kat, essentially a biltong-loving clawing and biting little beast.
Tell us more about your farm stall
According to Karin, they would like to be the best farm stall on the N7, a shop window for Koringberg with a focus on hospitality and community. ‘We are the gatekeepers to the West Coast, Cederberg, Namaqualand, and beyond.’
How did you survive doing lock-down?
Desert Rose had to close for five months during lockdown but they kept on supporting their staff and the local community as best they could. It also gave them the opportunity to finish their restaurant renovations.
Belinda Kriel and Dicolene September
Post-lockdown has seen a busy N7 and South Africans who are limited with international travel are now exploring and rediscovering their own country. This is also partly due to the “semigrants” from other provinces moving down to the Western Cape and the best wildflower season in eight years in 2021.
What’s on the menu?
The filling Windpomp Breakfast should do the trick. They also have village pizza evenings and wind-down Fridays that sound ideal for the “kuierplek” for the local community and travellers alike. Looking at all the number plates from all over the world, including Oklahoma and Kuwait they seem well on their way.
Supporting the local producers is core to their philosophy. This includes West Coast wines from Nieuwedrift, Org de Rac and Wildehurst. They have also recently opened a butchery that stocks some of the best meat from the area.
Tempted to hit the road?
Desert Rose is a good pit stop to refresh if you are on your way to see the wildflowers in spring or en route to the Cederberg or Winterhoek mountains.
But, if you are looking to linger a bit longer, Wildehurst is a boutique cellar in the small town, which sells itself as ‘the biggest little winery in Koringberg’.
Pictures: George le Roux
ALSO READ
6 perky padstals between Johannesburg and Kruger National Park
