Horizons - Gourmet Picnics in the Natal Midlands

You can enjoy Horizons gourmet picnics on site or collect a picnic to take on your meanderings to the many attractions in the Natal Midlands area. Horizons offers a number of view sites amongst our lawns, gardens and trees in the 11 acres, with a choice of spectacular outlooks of Giant’s Castle rising to nearly 3000 metres in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg World Heritage site, the hamlet of Rosetta, the Mooi River and the rolling hills of the Midlands.

Couples can sit at intimate café tables and chairs, while for groups there are long tables available. There’s also the traditional picnic on rugs with specially developed, low, Japanese style tables – but all in style. Napery, glasses, crockery, cutlery and ice buckets for the wine are the order of the day. The rugs and cushions offer the perfect way to soak in the mountain air with a coffee and liqueur.

Even on the cooler (and sometimes freezing) winter days Horizons will offer an inviting ambience by using a novel approach. Picnic spots will have their own outdoor fireplaces alternatively picnickers can retreat to the bar cafe area with its linen bedecked tables, cosy fireplace and picture view windows.

The wine list features a selection of boutique and popular estate wines. Start with a half bottle of methode champenoise to celebrate life. Follow that with a wine chosen by the owner and a choice of beers including those made by local breweries. There will also be a selection of liqueurs and other drinks.

Ian and Athena Robinson have travelled extensively and lived in many parts of the world, savouring some of the finest and most diverse examples of gastronomy. Many of these cultural influences can be found in the gourmet picnic experience at Horizons.

The food blends local and regional South African ingredients and recipes with international influences. A basic picnic basket is available and will contain fresh baguettes or farm loaves and a number of treats. These will depend on the fresh ingredients available in season.

You may enjoy insalate di mare, prawns in chilli butter with garlic, ginger, sun dried tomatoes and cashews, salmon tartar in cucumber with horseradish vinaigrette, turkey breast with smoked trout pate and mustard sauce, bresaola with parmigiano grana padana and rocket drizzled with olive oil, lemon juice and black pepper, or on cooler days, curried pumpkin and shellfish bisque or baked curried crab.

The region produces some of the best vegetables. You can look forward to melanzane, mealie pie enlivened with puttanesca (a rich, spicy tomato based sauce), chilled cucumber soup (one of our favourites!) or fresh pea, baby spinach, mint, garlic and feta salad.

The menu will change to reflect the season, with more robust, hot dishes in the cooler months, and lighter, more refreshing recipes for the hotter months.