On every first Thursday of the month, the restaurant Felderbock takes its guests on a culinary journey to the “Country of the Month”. The 4-course “Kulinarische Reise” menu is priced at 36 Euro per person (including aperitif), and reservations are compulsory.
After a delicious Italian outing in December, we dropped by again in January for another trip – this time to South Africa.
Culinary Journey: South Africa
When one thinks of Africa, images of wild animals pop up, so an Amuse-bouche of “Krokodilfilet mit frittierten Kichererbsen” – is an apt introduction to Felderbock’s South African menu. The well-seasoned white crocodile meat coated in a light batter and fried has a firm texture which is reflected in that of the accompanying fried chickpeas.
Felderbock does fish well, and the appetizer is no exception to the norm. With “Seebarsch im Filoteig“, we sampled perfectly-cooked bass nestled in between delicate, crispy sheets of filo pastry, topped with candied boiled peanuts, on a bed of fresh rucola. Did you know there is world-class bass angling to be had throughout South Africa?
The main course features “Straußensteak mit Bohnen und Süßkartoffelpüree” – an ostrich steak grilled to perfection, paired with curried green beans and a creamy sweet potato mash. Ostrich meat is protein-rich and low-fat, and the temperate climate of South Africa is well-suited for farming the world’s largest and heaviest bird.
Our journey ends on a sweet note with “Amarulaeis mit karamelisierte Datteln” – Amarula ice cream paired with caramelized dates. Amarula is a cream liqueur from South Africa, made with the fruit of the African marula tree, which is also enjoyed by elephants – the fruit, not the liqueur *lol*
Congratulations to the culinary team at Felderbock for presenting a menu which showcases the diverse flavors of the Rainbow Nation, from the highlands to the savannahs, to its vineyards!
Felderbock and South African Wines
This evening’s menu was well-matched with ASLINA wines created and crafted by Ntsiki Biyela, South Africa’s first black woman winemaker in South Africa. In 2004, a decade after apartheid ended, Ntsiki became the resident winemaker at Stellekaya vineyards. Today, she is the proud owner of her own brand of wines, named in honor of Aslina, her late grandmother.
We particularly enjoyed Ntsiki’s 2015 Sauvignon Blanc with our first three dishes, and her 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon washed down smoothly with the ostrich steak. You can sample these wines, along with her other creations at Vin Africa, located right next door to Felderbock.
Felderbock Hotel & Restaurant, Hauptstraße 26, 69226 Nußloch
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