A picturesque road trip out to the Spice Route in Paarl reveals a new food-lovers destination on the sun-soaked wine estate. 27restaurant has opened and is serving delicious and classic, honest food. Behind the stoves is former Bread and Wine chef Neil Jewell and running the show at the front is his famous-bread baking wife, Tina. Together with chef and restaurateur Liam Tomlin, the Jewells are offering a menu with a focus on the farm-to-table ethos. All ingredients are locally sourced, with some being grown right on the farm like the organic Red Angus beef from Charles Back’s own herd. Neil regularly updates the seasonal menu and puts an emphasis on creating dishes inspired by simplicity, where the hero ingredient shines. Think sticky short rib and gnocchi, pork and bean cassoulet, fresh fish dishes, handmade cheeses, pickles and vinegars and his hand made charcuterie. Neil uses Spice Route wines in his charcuterie and now sells a variety of these cured meats in his own shop on the estate called Jowls. You can stop by for a charcuterie tasting platter, and pick up some garnishes and preserves for home, before lunching at Jewell’s with the magnificent view of the Simonsberg mountains in the Paarl valley below.