There aren’t many venues in Cape Town which cater for the modern day ‘wine and dine’ crowd. Our man on the ground, Steviemyboy, took young Sophie for a spin and found just the place..

Pulling back the Pink curtain.

My chauffeur quietly announces that we’ve arrived at the Mount Nelson Hotel from the front seat of our Black Merc SL.

I feel a tinge of guilt when my cellphone (on silent obviously) informs me that this part of the evening cost me less than a family sized pizza (thanks Ubër). I neglect to share this information with my date (let’s call her Sophie).

We are here as guests of Morêson Wines and the Planet restaurant at the MNH to enjoy an evening of fine wines eloquently paired with a five course dinner.

The Mount Nelson Hotel (also known as the Pink lady) is awash in Flamingo hues and her immaculately starched staff flash their perfect white smiles and steer us toward the Planet restaurant. The milky way inspired carpet leads us along crystal encrusted corridors and I feel as important as an MP at the opening of a galactic parliament as we are ushered to our table.

We are greeted by the precociously talented Dane Friedman, heir to the Morêson wine estate. His boyish confidence undermines his obvious proficiency as he dissects the elaborately named varietals like ‘Dr Reason Why’ and ‘Knoputibak’ (prenounced no-put-it-back). The audience roars their approval as glasses of the delicious nectar are drained.

Watching Dane recount his enthusiasm for the grape is like watching a juvenile Steve Erwin and the bottle in Danes hand becomes a Great Green Cane Toad (woah!……. wait a second here, what else was in that sublimely delicious starter of house cured cold-smoked Salmon trout encrusted in heaven? or Perhaps the Dr Reason Why unwooded Chardonnay is starting it’s magical effect). Either way Sophie is loving the vibe as she squeezes my leg under the table.

The night swirls away merrily as glass after glass of perfectly paired (like I’d know anyway) wine grace my simple gut and the clear realization that I am going to get luckier than those Daft Punks hits me like a warm berg wind on a summer stroll.

I wake up 10 hours later and Sophie is a purring quietly next to me in a deep and obviously satisfied slumber. I love Cape Town. I love the fact that for the price of a boys night out on the prowl I can live like a Lion in a small jungle behind the pink curtains of the cities most loved hotel, even if just for a night.

Beautiful!

Beautiful indeed!

Check out the pics below (including one of the famous Rudi Liebenberg – the genius behind the culinary delights they serve) and make sure you get your name down for the next Wine & Dine evening at the Mount Nelson.

CLICK HERE to Wine & Dine at the Mount Nelson