Because Christmas in South Africa usually means cooking up a storm in a hot kitchen at the height of summer, many of us don\u2019t get to enjoy a Christmas holiday and are left completely burnt out with frayed nerves!<\/p>\n
This year, why don\u2019t you lose the stress and put the jolly back into Christmas by heading to the beautiful Midlands and a culinary delight accompanied by award-winning wine from the Granny Mouse top wine cellar.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re planning a short stayover, or just coming for the day, Granny Mouse Country House & Spa is just 90 minutes from Durban and a friendly neighbour of Pietermaritzburg, right in the heart of Balgowan on the Midlands Meander route.<\/p>\n
This year, the culinary artists at the Mouse House have created a casual bistro choice Christmas lunch menu.<\/p>\n
To get the taste buds all in a jingle, there will be welcome drinks on arrival from 11am, and then that\u2019s when the Christmas celebrations can really begin.<\/p>\n
The menu kicks off with the following starters: peri-peri chicken livers, in a creamy peri-peri<\/p>\n
chipolata sauce with marinated red peppers topped with sambals & served with toasted ciabatta; duck phyllo rolls (confit shredded duck, mixed with fresh coriander & peanuts, wrapped in phyllo pastry served with Asian slaw & n\u01b0\u1edbc ch\u1ea5m sauce served with veg & a side of your choice); camembert (panko crumbed camembert served with caramelized red onion, honey roasted nuts & seeds, cinnamon & star anise syrup & toasted ciabatta) or moules mariniere (classic French style mussels cooked with white wine & garlic finished with fresh cream & parsley served with brioche bun.<\/p>\n
There is a large, scrumptious selection of mains; mushroom salad (deep fried mushrooms with feta, mixed peppers, croutons, olives, mixed greens, and a fresh tangy lemon vinaigrette); butternut gnocchi (roast butternut cream, cherry tomatoes, toasted pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, caramelized red onion, red peppers, sundried tomato & Danish feta); prawn aglio olio (saut\u00e9 prawns flashed with white wine, lemon juice & zest, onion, garlic, leek, cherry tomato, fresh herbs finished with a drizzle of olive oil) or kingklip (served with a choice of two sides).<\/p>\n
The grills for the meat eaters are on point with a 200g fillet, 21-day aged sirloin, lamb chops or chicken schnitzel. The sides offered are chips, mustard and leek mash, roast veggies, side salad and an assortment of sauces being pepper, cheese, mushroom or garlic and herb.<\/p>\n
For the sweet tooth, and what a way to wrap up a fabulous feast with family and friends, is a trio chocolate mousse (with an espresso sorbet\/granita & br\u00fbl\u00e9e banana); churros (with chocolate sauce, pumpkin spice caramel and crushed Oreos); strawberry & Pimm\u2019s Eton Mess (with strawberry citrus Swiss roll, pavlova, Pimm\u2019s whipped cream, strawberry coulis and fresh strawberries), or an ice cream trio with a splash of alcohol.<\/p>\n