Foreword

Many years ago Lawrence and Derek opened Café

Carte Blanche as a petit bar. Lawrence at the time had
an antique shop next door called A Touch of Madness.
Soon word got out about this fab little place, he
incorporated the antiques and A Touch of Madness at
Café Carte Blanche was born.

A good few years later, Andrew and Lisa bought it from

Justin, the second owner. That is where our story begins.

We were there for three years and started finding that we

needed a little more room; it was just not big enough to
accommodate all our fantastic customers. We could
only seat fifteen for dinner, a few in the lounge and the
bar was really quite intimate.

We found a Victorian house right around the corner.

Renovated it to look the same, shuffled all the décor in
and opened our doors at the end of December 2001.

The thought of looking back was only to remember all the

great times that were had at that wonderful little double
story building fondly known as A Touch of Madness at
Café Carte Blanche.

Take some time to unwind and relax and we do hope

you enjoy your time here with us.

Andrew and Lisa

January 2010
Cape Winelands

“…there is something about driving through vineyards

during harvest time. There is a buzz in the air and a
busyness that is going to be bottled quite soon. The
forests, the mountains, the rivers all have a synergy we
dream of – inspiration flows from them. The weather was
closing in, a classic Cape storm…”
Greek Salad ≈ Arabella Chenin Blanc

Steamed Butterfish ≈ De Krans Chardonnay

Cheese Cake ≈ Monis Dry Sherry

chapter 1 ≈ beginnings

soup of the day - ask your waiter what is available

veg spring rolls – served on a bed of rocket woth

sweet thai chilli dipping sauce.

stuff’d shroom – one Portobello mushroom filled with

our sweet thai chilli salsa, topped with cheddar and
mozzarella; grilled and served on rocket with basil
pesto drizzle.

greek salad – feta, calamata olives and cocktail

tomatoes all on a mixed herb lettuce salad.

madness salad – bacon, pecorino, sun-dried

tomatoes, cucumber, onion and capsicum on a herb
lettuce salad.

south african salad – slivers of springbok carpaccio

pecorino shavings, served on a herb salad.

carte blanche salad - smoked chicken, cucumber,

mango coulis, capsicums on a mixed herb lettuce
salad.

salad extras -baked potato

tramazzini
bacon pieces, smoked chicken,
olives, feta
cocktail tomatoes, mixed peppers
The Midlands

“…when we got to the farm we were to stay, the drift was

flooded and we were forced to stop, drink getting-cold
flask coffee and wait. It was nature’s way of saying
you’ve driven eighteen hours, now stop and watch the
sunrise. Wow – it was stunning. Finally, we got to the farm
house and being so early, decided to walk up to the
waterfall. There I saw an Iron-age Furnace, a pair of
Black Eagles soaring high above and Yellow Trout trying
to jump up the waterfall to spawn. I couldn’t have asked
for a better introduction to Natal…”
Medi Meze ≈ Avondale Rose

Grilled Beef Rump ≈ Arabella Shiraz

Chocolate Cake ≈ Du Toit’s Kloof Muscadel

chapter 2 ≈ a lighter time

medi meze - feta cheese, calamata olives, cocktail

tomatoes and pickled cucumbers humus served with
a tramazzini. (share!)

a touch of madness - smoked chicken ravioli served

with a basil pesto cream sauce, topped with pecorino
and cashew nuts.

prawns – 8 tiger prawns pan fried with thai spice

lemon butter served with basmati rice. (for the more
feisty, try our Chilli sauce!)

risotto bacon – arborio rice cooked italian style with

bacon, mushroom and courgettes; served with a
sprinkling of pecorino.

tramezini – Mediterranean flat bread filled with one of

the following:

- springbok - with humus and peppers

- smoked chicken - with peppers and sweet chilli

- blt – bacon, lettuce, tomato

- brunch – bacon, 2 eggs and cheese

The Garden Route

“…it is always wonderful travelling up the East Coast. The

scenery is ever changing and when time you get to
Knysna, you feel like you have found home.

We went walking in the forest searching for Elephants.

They seem to be able to hide behind a twig, ‘cos I still aint
seen one yet. On one of these walks we met a pair of
locals who invited us to join them for dinner. They did
warn us that they were vegetarian. Hey, we were up to
some exploring…”

Vegetable Spring Rolls Salad ≈ Buitenblanc

Portabello Shrooms ≈ Diemersfontein Pinotage

Carrot Cake ≈ Monis Medium Cream Sherry

chapter 3 ≈ herbivorous

mediterranean pasta - Cooled fusilli pasta and tossed

with basil pesto, olives, feta and baby tomatoes,
served on a bed of greens.

risotto - arborio rice cooked italian style; served with a

sprinkling of pecorino; choose one of the following:
• feta and sun-dried tomatoes
• mushroom, courgette and red capsicums

falafel pita - a pita bread filled with lettuce, tomato

salsa, humus and tzatziki.

filled butternut - half butternut baked and filled with

creamed spinach, served with a herb salad.

portabello shrooms -three big brown mushrooms filled

with our sweet thai chilli salsa and topped with
cheese and grilled.

falafel dinner - falafel balls on a salad bed, served

with humus and tzatziki, veg of the day.

Veggie Burger - falafel cake on a salad bed, and

tzatziki. Served with potato chips or wedges.
Cederberg Escape

“…we found the Orange trees in full blossom and the

sweet smell of them intoxicating. Our cottage was in a
valley near Driehoek. It was early afternoon and we went
exploring “Die Stadsaal” rock paintings. Steeped in history
and so peaceful now! We had built up quite an appetite
and decided to try something different…”

Cheese Platter ≈ Pongrácz

Greek Lamb ≈ Hermit on the Hill

Carrot Cake ≈ Monis Full Cream Sherry

"No more do we hunt in these hills.

The fire is cold. Our songs are quiet.
But listen carefully.
You will hear us in the water.

Look carefully.
You will see us in the rock”
chapter 4 ≈ in the middle

butterfish - fillet of butterfish that is steamed, with

fennel seed and lemon zest butter; served with todays
vegetables and rice.

hake - fillet of hake, pan fried or steamed, with

capsicum peppers and lemon zest; served with todays
vegetables and rice.

beef lasagne - traditional italian beef, tomato and

pasta layers, topped with mozzarella and cheddar;
served with a side salad.

lamb rogan josh curry - Tomato based curry made to

our own recipe. Served with basmati rice and sambals

thai green chicken curry - Chicken in a Spicy thai

sauce with aubergine and basil. served with basmati
rice.

beef ale stew - oven stewed with Guinness and served

on mashed potato

greek lamb - slices of slow roasted, butterflied leg of

lamb that has been marinated in garlic, herbs and
yogurt. served with today’s vegetables and rice.
Karoo Heat

“…it was hot and the road long and straight, but the most
interesting landscapes. You look a little closer and flowers
appear, little bugs, rock formations, a whole world; but
hot. You start seeing mirages on the horizon and the
beasts look like they have jelly legs and will melt any
minute. We stopped in Vic West to get supplies for our
night in Melton Wold, an oasis in the middle of the
dessert.”

Madness Salad ≈ Louisvale Chardonnay

Grilled Lamb Loin Chops ≈ Diemersfontein Cabernet

Malva Pudding ≈ Muscat D’Alexandrie

Put away your woes and worries for a week or so.

Turn out all disturbing thoughts and let your troubles go.
If you’re on holiday and have no work to do –
It will not restore you if your mind’s not resting too.

It is good to be at leisure in the sun to sit,

But it will not give you any lasting benefit –
If you have a lot of things you’re bothering about.
Problems came a-rushing in unless you shut them out.

It is not enough to get away from the routine.

You must find an inward peace and make your mind serene….
Do not let your thoughts go working down the same old tracks
Give your brain a holiday. Stop worrying. Relax. Patience Strong
chapter 5 ≈ over the fire

all steaks are hand selected and of exceptional

quality. please advise your waiter how you would like
them grilled: rare, medium rare, medium or dead. we
recommend rare or medium rare. served with today’s
vegetables and your choice of wedges, chips, rice or
baby potatoes

beef rump (300g)

kudu loin (300g)

karoo lamb chops(300g)

chicken and apricot kebabs (200g)

chicken fillet (200g)

pork belly ribs (500g)

sauces –
choose any of the following to add to your grills:
mushroom, madagascan green pepper, monkey
gland, chilli sauce, garlic (sauce or butter)

burgers –100 % pure beef patti or chicken fillet grilled

to prerfection and served on a bun with lettuce,
tomatoe and cucumber.

sauce burger: choice of monkey gland, mushroom,

cheese, green pepper
grated cheddar and mozzarella cheese
bacon & grated cheese
The Kalahari Sky

“…it was there that we found ourselves captivated by the

rich orange sand and the sun setting behind the
Kameeldoring. The landscape looked like it was on fire. Such
an experience we never expected.
That evening our guide set camp and we dinned under the
stars. He chose a menu to compliment our surroundings…”

South African Salad ≈ Avondale Snow White

Grilled Chicken Fillet ≈ Louisvale Chervant

Cheese Platter ≈ De Krans Tawny Port

“A place where your heart gets

trapped in the whistling rat‛s
burrow and between the claws
of the black mained lion.

There where your heart cries

the endless song of the black
korhaan and where your spirit
runs over busmangrass and
doornboom, there lies the
place, the temple that we call
the Kalahari”

Elizabeth Meyer
chapter 6 ≈ the end

cake selection:
(we bake all our own cakes to ensure only the best
quality and freshness.)

chocolate – a rich mahogany cake with butter icing 28

cheese – plain baked 28

carrot – with a lemon zest cream cheese icing 28

All cakes served with your choice of ice cream or

cream

malva pudding – hot sponge pudding, doused with a 28

cream, butter and sherry sauce, served with cream or
ice cream.

ice cream and choc sauce – say no more !!! 28

irish coffee - whiskey or coffee liqueur 20

don pedro - whiskey or coffee liqueur 23
The Milky Way

“…you really must want to go to Sutherland as there is only

one long road in. It was New Year’s Eve and we wanted
peace and tranquillity. We found it! As the darkness crept
in, the stars appeared in grand splendour. You felt that if you
reached up to touch the stars, you could hold on to your
own piece of heaven…”

Salmon Salad ≈ Arabella Sauvignon Blanc

Grilled Kudu Loin ≈ Diemersfontein Pinotage

Cheese Platter ≈ The Wolftrap

“A strong-willed girl became so angry when her mother would not give her any of a delicious roasted
root that she grabbed the roasting roots from the fire and threw the roots and ashes into the sky, where
the red and white roots now glow as red and white stars, and the ashes are the Milky Way. And there
the road is to this day. Some people call it the Milky Way; some call it the Stars' Road, but no
matter what you call it, it is the path made by a young girl many, many years ago, who threw the
bright sparks of her fire high up into the sky to make a road in the darkness.”
epilogue

tea – ceylon, rooibos, earl grey, peppermint, 10

camomile, citrus soother, honeybush, lemon

filter coffee (regular or decaf) 11

espresso 12
double espresso 19

cappuccino - single shot of espresso with steamed 17

milk and capped with froth

caffe latte - single shot of espresso with steamed milk 17

dark hot cholate- with a marshmellow! 18

choccochino - hot chocolate infused with espresso 18

Milo - steamed milk with Milo 18

puka chai – spicy Indian milk tea. hot or cold 22

lipton iced tea – lemon or peach 18

appletiser / grapetiser 17

trufruit juices – fruit cocktail, mango orange, orange 18