Tasty times at Tuk Tuk Microbrewery

 5 April 2024

 

TUK TUK MICROBREWERY

14 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek

 

It was a dark and stormy night when we arrived at Tuk Tuk Microbrewery, No, really, it was already dark and the Western Cape was beginning to get to grips with the cut of the jib of the early stages of what would become an intensely windy weekend. It was the evening of my 65^th birthday and we were in the mood for pub grub, so to speak, having postponed the grand birthday dinner to the following evening. 

 

We were on a weekend breakaway with the Yorkies (they do get around) and had planned on bringing them with us, as Tuk Tuk is dog friendly, but there was no way we would be sitting outside tonigh.t The dogs stayed behind in our rented farm cottage and probably thought we were bonkers to  venture out in a howling gale while they stayed cosily tucked up in their fuzzy beds.

 

The joint was packed to the rafters when we arrived at 19h30 (it’s a small space and obviously nobody was keen on lurking outside), so we were pointed to the bar pending a table opening up. We promptly ordered bubbly to tide us over for what seemed to be likely to be a long wait, as we were in a queue for a free table and it seemed that we’d be forced to dine at the bar counter until some very kind and generous patrons, who’d finished eating and were simply lingering over drinks, offered us their table. 

 

Tuk Tuk isn’t quite a pub, despite the brewery connection, but more of a contemporary bistro, with lots of dark wood, brass, plenty daytime natural light from huge windows, and the stainless steel brewing vats behind glass in the background.

 

The meal was indeed quite simple: nachos for 1 (R145), the Al Pastor roasted pork belly tacos (R155) and churros (R80), three plates for sharing. The short version of the story is that each plate was superlative.

 

The nachos comprised of generous quantities of delicious cheese, sour cream and guacamole, offering the yummy creamy contrast to the crunch of the tortilla chips. If this dish is intended as “nachos for 1,” that one needs to have a gargantuan  appetite.

 

The nachos were a bravura example of a simple dish elevated to elite levels of scrumptiousness. If we’d  known, we would’ve left off the tacos and ordered two bowls of nachos.  Gluttony is a sin, but what a marvellous sin it can be.

 

There were three tacos, with masa harina tortillas and sumptuously tender and flavourful pork, crackling, salsa verde, guacamole, pineapple salsa shaved cabbage and fresh jalapeños.

 

Neither of us have a yearn for burn and we removed almost all of the jalapeños on these two dishes.

 

The second highlight of the meal was the absolutely sublime churros. Not to be boastful, but we’ve eaten churros in Spain (where it’s not always wonderful) and in South Africa (where it’s generally so-so at best) and the dish that Tuk Tuk brought to the table is up there with the best we’ve had.

 

These, clearly home-made, churros had lightly crisp crusts,  with a fine dusting of sugar and were super creamy on the inside. Utterly delectable. This is a Michelin starred quality dessert. We didn’t know whether to eat faster for the everlasting rush or to eat slower to make them last until dawn.

 

The churros were served with a hot chocolate dipping sauce (whereas I would’ve preferred a cup of hot chocolate) and a small jug of crème Anglaise.  Both superbly complemented the churros.

 

Tuk Tuk is a grill house with attached brewery and the fare generally seems unpretentious and basic, but if these unpretentious dishes are as well prepared and offers so much culinary joy, the simple pleasures of a three course hearty meal are far more satisfactory than a tasting menu of eleven courses, replete with foams, reductions, gels, slivers, morsels and titbits, with an Asian influence.

 

As birthday meals go, this was a good one.

 

The bill (including two glasses of bubbly, one of white wine and two coffees) came to R576,00 before tip. A bargain for top notch nosh.