Last week I was invited to enjoy an evening of wining and dining at Liberty’s Restaurant at DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town located at Upper Eastside in Woodstock.
The occasion was held in the contemporary, elegant restaurant that forms part of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, Liberty’s, a chic space that offers an extensive a la carte menu and all-day dining.
The event was to be a tasting of Executive Chef Simon Kemp’s new fine dining menu featuring fusion cuisine and traditional favourites…
On assessing the 13 course menu laid out before me, I knew I was in for a treat!
The Menu
An array of delicious starters included…
A strawberry caprese salad with pesto and olive oil-dressed bocconcini, sweet basil leaves and balsamic strawberries.
Sticky pork belly with wok-fried veg, plum and cranberry Char siu glaze and crackling.
Creamy calamari tubes with cajun spice, lemon and feta.
Crayfish and prawn spring rolls with homemade chilli jam and fresh lime.
Springbok Carpaccio served with slivers of parmesan and truffle oil.
Peri peri duck livers flambeed with brandy and a smokey paprika cream and served with mini brioche.
It was nearly impossible to choose a favourite but my recommendation would be the calamari – possibly the best I’ve ever had!
The main meals on the menu…
Liberty’s Trinchado – tender rump pieces flambeed with brandy, chilli and smokey paprika and served with mini brioche rolls
Tataki seared salmon which was served over a pak choi, ginger and sprout salad with an orange and sesame seed reduction
A comforting risotto of asparagus, lemon and pea with parmesan cheese
All three were delicious and so different, however I would have to stick with my seafood and recommend the salmon as my most enjoyed tasting.
Dessert consisted of 4 mini delights and at this point in the evening it was sadly impossible to finish them all but I did do my duty and sample each!
The Ganduja chocolate pot with a hazelnut praline centre
The Lime meringue cheesecake parfait with pecan nut and shortbread sable, home made honeycomb, mini meringues, citrus anglaise and candied citrus peel (would suit the sweet-toothed among you!)
Mexican spiced coffee tequila creme brulee with tonka bean and chocolate, banana and caramel spring roll.
Flourless dark chocolate and rum nemesis with black cherry chantilly and walnut chocolate bark.
My pick? The chocolate pot was by far the most popular at the table and my favourite too! A decadent explosion of chocolate is hard to beat for this chocoholic!
Overall the menu was delicious from start to finish, each dish a new taste sensation. A useful addition to the menu is that each item containing meat or alcohol is highlighted and the kitchen are very open to catering to your dietary requirements, you just need to give them a bit of advanced notice. Another bonus is that the hotel gets many of their lovely fresh ingredients from their organic rooftop garden where many herbs and ingredients are grown!
“I can honestly say that every dish on this menu I want to eat, so it is very reflective of my tastes.” – Simon Kemp, Executive Chef
Here are few of the highlights from my meal at Liberty’s as captured on my Instagram feed (silly me didn’t pack my SLR camera!)
Liberty’s at DoubleTree by Hilton is located conveniently in Woodstock, just 6km from the CBD… the ideal spot to stop off for after work drinks or an early evening meal to avoid the traffic on your way home to the suburbs.
Contact Details
Tel: +27 (0) 21 404 0570
Web: www.capetownuppereastside@doubletree.com
Images: Kathryn Rossiter on Instagram
