2010 NATIONAL RESTAURANT AWARDS

Paula Mackenzie and Jackie Cameron at the Eat Out Awards 2010

THE CRITICS HAVE SPOKEN

Hail Hartford, national Top Ten Restaurant again. Two months ago, this little hostelry was voted the nation's choice by the South African public in the face of competition from two "World Top Fifties". On Sunday evening Eat Out celebrated the critic's "Top Ten" at a gala function in Cape Town. David Higgs' Rust en Vrede took top spot in both the restaurant and best chef categories, while Hartford House was the only KwaZulu Natal-based restaurant counted in the top ten. Notable absentees in what is an increasingly competitive line-up, include last year's winners, Le Colombe and Mosaic as well as the quite exceptional Green House. Considering the remoteness of our location, this is a signal achievement for Jackie Cameron, her sous chef, Elaine Boshoff and their kitchen crew, but it isn't a matter alone of where we are, it's what we are. It is a victory for our social consciences, a message to the world of what's possible in what might have seemed impossible circumstances. Your patronage and encouragement has revealed a new world to a community of people who never knew life beyond Mooi River before, to our service staff, the scullery team and even our gardeners. To Paula Mackenzie who's God given talent picks the wines, and to her fellow managers Scott Morgan and Emma Stephenson.

You see Hartford is different. It is different because it is not just about the cuisine; it's the only member of the Top Ten that combines a world class restaurant with a matching accommodation establishment. It's both a cultural and a philosophical experience, where luxury is part of the journey, but it isn't the destination. A place without pretence, yet comfortable beyond imagination.

COMFORTABLE BED-FELLOWS

Chef Jackie Cameron
(Photo : Land Rover / International Wine & Food Society / Hartford House)

OF LAND ROVER
AND THE INTERNATIONAL WINE & FOOD SOCIETY

Hartford was host to two completely diverse yet highly prestigious gatherings on the weekend. The one came in the form of two visits by Land Rover, who brought more than 59 guests to the hotel as part of a promotion of their exceptional new range of vehicles.

The other was the International Wine & Food Society, comprising some of South Africa's leading "foodies". Both, it seems were "happy campers", and judging by the compliments of the Wine & Food Society it was up there with the best outings ever. Katherine Reardon, Chairman, wrote :

"Jackie, your menu was superb and it was truly one of the finest functions that I have ever enjoyed in my 21 years of membership in the Society. The menu was a delight to us prior to the event. However, it was only at the actual dinner that we were able to appreciate the nuances and subtleties of the menu design.

Each course was a masterpiece and I will long remember the intensity of the mushroom soup with that Shitake Powder and the delicious pungence of the truffle oil. The loin of Springbok was perfectly presented and was so fresh and captivating. We were all very intrigued by the black lava salt!

I'm still salivating at the memory of the Salmon and your wonderful Midlands Beef was outstanding. Lastly, your delicious "Peanut Butter on Toast" was a complete triumph!

We were very impressed with the wines from Diemersfontein and the way each wine complimented the various courses.

Finally, thank you to you Paula and your team for providing us with such excellent service. It was a seamless affair and all the guests commented on the subtle and discreet service from your staff.

Thank you for making our Midlands weekend such a success - it was a real triumph thanks to Hartford House!".

LEOPARDS IN THE KZN MIDLANDS

Leopard
(Photo : Philip Mackenzie)

YOU CAN'T CHANGE A LEOPARD'S SPOTS

There are people who pay independent fortunes to find leopards and their cubs in the wild reserves of Africa. At Summerhill, we’ve long preserved the fauna and flora around us in conjunction with our neighbours, and we are the proud possessors today of a rich legacy and a deep diversity in the animals and plant types that characterize our environment.

Among the predator creatures that frequent our territory are Caracal (Rooikat), several packs of Jackal, the occasional Cape Fox, and Serval. We’ve been known in the district to have the odd rare visit from a Leopard, and our horse breeding colleagues up the road at Camargue Stud once suffered a loss of several yearlings as a result of their taking flight when a male of the species passed through their paddock several years back.

We don’t recall any reports of sightings on Summerhill though, so imagine our surprise on Monday evening when our hotel manager, Paula Mackenzie, spotted a female leopard and her three cubs on the roadside at the junction dip between our two properties, The Springs and Summerhill. What a sight, and what a pleasure to know that she should feel comfortable raising a family in our neighbourhood. Leopards are strongly territorial animals, and operate within a well defined range. They have been known to pitch up at the strangest places, but seldom venture beyond the kloofs and forests that provide cover for them during the day. There’s little that will prey on their cubs at Summerhill, and it says something for our conservation practices here that this lady should feel free to roam as she has, to our eastern most boundary.

Something for visitors to look forward to at Hartford House, as she’s likely to be in the vicinity for some time, while the youngsters grow up.

PRAISE FROM GERHARD PATZER

Gerhard Patzer
(Photo : Hotel & Restaurant / Hartford House)

GERHARD PATZER - GM HILTON HOTEL DURBAN

Gerhard Patzer, legendary General Manger of Hilton Hotel Durban, had this to say about his recent stay at Hartford House.

“I had a fantastic stay in your hotel and your staff are extremely friendly and the food was excellent. Paula showed me around your farm and I have to say it was very very impressive. Gill obviously enjoyed the stud farm section which made her weekend”.

PHEW! WHAT A FEW MONTHS.

Jackie Cameron and Paula Mackenzie with the Hartford House Team
(Photo : Leigh Willson)

"Please click photo to enlarge..."

HARTFORD HOUSE RESTAURANT

Top South African restaurant at the House and Leisure/Best of South Africa awards : a Diamond class (one of only two in KZN) Diner's Club winelist in the same month, as well as recognition by American Express (under master critic, Victor Strugo's direction) among the outstanding fine dining venues, and then a top twenty finish in the "Eat Out" accolades, including top two hotel restaurants. All in a matter of two months. Phew!

But last evening, Prudential conferred a new dimension on the Hartford Restaurant's standards of excellence, when it included Paula Mackenzie among the nation's Top Ten sommeliers. Paula already enjoys credit for the Diamond class wine collection, and this is rich reward for her remarkable dedication, her great intellectual passion and her insatiable thirst for wine. What would the world be without it!

And, at the end of an exhausting schedule, master chef Jackie Cameron, has nabbed a bit of "R&R" with her greatest admirers, the Kirschkes, Rainer and Gabi in George, where she's charging her batteries for those of you who'll be descending on us over the next few hectic months.