Exotic Oasis

with Award-winning chef Chantel Dartnall – voted SA’s Chef of the Year!

Eleven of us were honored with a private tour of the exotic Orient Hotel in Elandsfontein and six of us stayed on for the three hour degustation luncheon afterwards at its Belle Epoque-styled Restaurant Mosaic. (You other guys sure missed out!!!)

The Orient Hotel is an oasis of calm and beauty in the middle of the Francolin Conservancy on the outskirts of Pretoria. Vince and I had eaten there for Easter Sunday lunch and I was hoping to get back for another visit. And what a visit!

We were the only guests in the entire hotel. Chantal flew back especially from her retreat in Cape Town to open the Orient just for us!

We were led on a tour of the extensive gardens,

the celebrated Tienie Pritchard sculpture museum,

photo by Yolanda Macias-Cottrell

and the hotel's private screening room ...

WOW!

the patio balcony of the Marrakesh suite

We were given a peak into a few of the sumptuous guest suites!

Sommelier Germain Lehodey

We toured Mosaic's impressive wine cellar, one of the finest in the country, with some of the best and rarest wines from both South Africa and the world. Not surprisingly, it has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the Wine Spectator 2015 Restaurant Award for Best Wine Cellar in Africa.

Luncheon is served ...

... in the private dining room!

beetroot and sweet potato crisps decorated a branch

There were so many additional courses of amuse-bouches, intermezzos, and other treats, tastes and bites that we lost count!

Fish & Chips Mosaic-style

Mousse de Mer

A Creation of waterbuck venison, red ivory fruit preserve and sumac

Magic Mushrooms for dessert!

All I can say is WOW!