Dragging a full-blooded South African to a meat-free lunch is as impossible as coercing his adoring sorry excuse for a Labrador into a bath tub, writes Avondale marketing manager Krige Visser.
So, into lentil land our wine troop had to venture when hacks Christian and Jane Eedes of Wine magazine, and columnist Neil Pendock and his artist companion Luan Nel, and organic wine importers Joost and Emmy Alferink joined Johnathan Grieve for an earth-saving lunch at
Catharina’s at Steenberg. Meat-free Mondays is an international drive to save the Earth one Monday at a time. Launched by Sir Paul McCartney, the campaign is endorsed, amongst other celebs, as diverse as wacky Woody Harrelson, punk “Creature” Siouxsie Sioux, and fresh-faced returning superwomen Kate Bosworth.
The production farm method of generating enough protein to feed the nations of the world places enormous pressure on scarce water resources and leaves a carbon footprint that puts King Kong to shame.
One day without meat on the menu or the table may just help to put the brakes on depleting the Earth’s resources.
The campaign highlights food as a tool towards sustainable living habits. Whereas restaurants around the world support the campaign, families are encouraged to embrace vegetarian meals at least one day of the week.
Catharina’s chef Garth Almazan is a sole culinary hero in South Africa, who decided to participate by offering lunch and dinner sans meat. Avondale wines are paired with the vegetarian dishes.
And while we sipped Avondale
Jonty’s Ducks and
Snow White , Chef Almazan served us vegetarian delicacies such as thyme potato gnocchi, terrine of grilled aubergine, caramelized onions and parmesan, wild mushroom phyllo tart and flourless chocolate cake.
Judged by the lack of patrons, the merits of meat-free Monday lunch at Catharina’s are still open for debate. Apparently the concept is better supported at dinner time. I’ll be back, that’s for sure.
And the township dog? Well, soon she’ll have to succumb to a diet of pumpkin and potato as she is losing her teeth due to malnutrition during infancy before she walked into our hearts from the streets of Cape Town.
