JOYFUL DINING
JAN Franschhoek Season III is in full swing at La Motte
One of the cornerstones of JAN Franschhoek is the family-style dining experience. That feeling of togetherness as you share good food, world class wines and great stories with friends (and strangers who become friends) is hard to beat. Add to that the remarkable location – in the centuries old Veepos cottage in the middle of a lavender field on the spectacular La Motte Wine Estate – and you have a meal that turns into a bucket-list occasion.
JAN Franschhoek Season III is in full swing, and one of the most inspiring elements when we are planning each season is deciding which La Motte wine to marry with each of our dishes to enhance the appreciation of all our locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. One of this season’s favourites is the 2024 La Motte Vin de Joie Rosé. Our shared dining experience is all about cultivating joy – as is this delicate rosé. With its well-defined notes of nectarine, melon, rose petal and Turkish delight, it is wonderfully versatile and perfectly captures the essence of joyful gatherings.
Heading up the team at JAN Franschhoek is Chef Lara van Heerden – she takes us into the kitchen at Veepos and fills us in on all the seasonal attractions.
What can guests expect from JAN Franschhoek Season III?
Chef Lara: After a successful first and second season of JAN Franschhoek, Season III captures the best of both seasons, with some new elements, ideas and surprises.
The setting on La Motte wine estate is truly unique – how does this influence the food you serve and the atmosphere you create?
Chef Lara: I really believe that you can taste the joy and happiness a chef is feeling when they prepare your meal. We are so fortunate to work in such a special kitchen, tucked away between the lavender fields. I am constantly reminded of this every day when I walk down the path towards the Veepos building. The setting also evokes a sense of wonder in our guests as you can only access Veepos when dining at JAN Franschhoek – our guests are the only ones who truly experience the essence of this very special location in Franschhoek.
What’s this season’s fan favourite?
Chef Lara: So far, I think it is safe to say that the “pap en slak” is definitely a highlight on the menu. This quirky little dish is built in layers, starting with rich pulled lamb, followed by silky smooth cheesy pap, then a pop of colour with green gremolata, and topped with garlicky snails – delicious every which way.
And this season’s hero ingredients?
Chef Lara: We really make it our mission to only use the absolute best ingredients, sourced from our trusted suppliers whose vision and ethical values align with ours. This means the menu evolves during the season, based on seasonal produce and ingredients. So far, the hero ingredients have been artichokes, quails, trout, lamb and snails. Sourcing local produce is of utmost importance when creating our menu – local produce goes hand in hand with sustainability, seasonality and also supports the community which we form part of. We have incredible suppliers, whom we have formed great relationships with, and they dedicate their time and efforts to produce and source the best possible ingredients for us – from our fruit and vegetables to trout, olive oil, lavender and honey.
La Motte wines are a key element to the whole JAN Franschhoek dining experience – how do they inform and complement the ingredients you choose and the food you prepare?
Chef Lara: JAN Franschhoek is a beautiful collaboration between two big names – JAN and La Motte. They are two brands that have come together to showcase what they do best, by collaborating and creating an authentic experience where the food and wine complement each other, working hand in hand to deliver an unforgettable experience for our guests while staying true to the brands themselves. La Motte wines are synonymous with the highest quality – they’re multi-award winning, intricate, and well-balanced in every way. This makes it an absolute joy to pair them with each dish that we create.
La Motte’s Vin de Joie Rosé is a joyful wine that captures the essence of the JAN dining experience. What role will it play in Season III?
Chef Lara: I believe every day is an opportunity to celebrate life, with great food and exceptional wine, and the La Motte Vin de Joie Rosé makes this a really effortless and achievable experience. From its beautiful colour to its unique tasting notes, you can’t help but experience pure joy when you drink it – the name says it all. This wine forms a perfect pair with trout, a beautiful ingredient which Franschhoek is well known for, and which is perfect for a lighter summer dish. We are currently working on a new trout dish, and the Vin de Joie Rosé will most definitely be joining it soon.
JAN Franschhoek captures the essence of joy that is experienced when sitting down and sharing a meal with friends and strangers. How important is this to the dining experience?
Chef Lara: JAN Franschhoek is a small restaurant where we can only welcome 18 guests at a time. During the experience our guests take a seat at our long table and interact with fellow guests from across South Africa and all over the world. Our guests are also invited into our very small kitchen, to see where every element of every dish is prepared by our kitchen team. Here we are also inspired by the stories that our guests share with us, as well as the memories that this experience evokes in each and every one of them. JAN Franschhoek is more than a restaurant, it’s a place where we create an experience for our guests, filled with abundance, delicious food and excellent wines. When all these elements come together, I really believe that this experience captures the absolute essence of joy.
The main course is served family style – how important is this in creating the JAN Franschhoek experience?
Chef Lara: Our menu is designed to bring our guests refined, fine dining dishes, without being intimidating. However, when the main course is served – kook kos – this course breaks the fine dining streak. Although it is still refined and beautiful, it is an honest, delicious and memory-evoking course which every person around the table can relate to – whether it is a childhood memory, or a dish that reminds them of a loved one. It brings people from all walks of life together, to share memories and relate to each other, finding common ground. For me, kook kos is exactly what JAN Franschhoek embodies. It is an ode to a Sunday lunch, where abundant food is prepared – which takes time, effort and lots of love – which is then shared with friends and family. Served alongside special wines, it evokes beautiful, cherished memories, but also creates beautiful new memories that our guests can cherish forever.
