A new taste at Cresta Fairgrounds

Lucy Kgweetsi | Tuesday June 24, 2025 09:00

 

This past Saturday, the Gaborone based lodge introduced a few new dishes to its restaurant menu, each served with a matching wine from Mowana Wines.

A small group of invited guests were treated to a tasting session that focused more on taste and pairing than on presentation. The dishes covered starters, pasta, grilled meat, vegetarian option and a dessert. Wines were poured alongside every course to match the flavour, texture, and weight of each meal.

One of the first dishes was a salad with prawns and chicken. It offered a mix of salty, sweet, and fresh notes and was paired with Domaine des île Sauvignon Blanc — a crisp, light wine chosen to refresh the mouth between bites.

Another starter, the peri-peri Amarula chicken livers, came with Kumusha Chenin Blanc. The wine balanced the creamy sauce while softening the spicy heat. “We didn’t want a wine that fades into the background,” said a Mowana Wines representative. “We wanted one that supports the dish,” the rep added. The quesadillas came in beef, chicken, and vegetable varieties. All three were paired with Arrogant Frog Chardonnay, a smooth white wine with light oak flavour, picked for its ability to work across different fillings. Two pasta options followed. The Pasta al Ragu, a hearty meat sauce, was matched with Alto Rouge, a red blend made to handle rich dishes. The seafood pasta, which included mussels, came with Seriously Old Dirt by Vilafonté, a heavier red wine often not paired with seafood, but chosen here to match the bold tomato base. “It’s not just about fish and white wine, the sauce matters too.”

The vegetarian course was a gluten-free veggie lasagna. It was served with The Collection Rosé, a dry, refreshing wine chosen to keep the pairing light but noticeable. From the grill came the Café de Paris fillet steak, topped with a butter-based sauce. It was paired with KWV Merlot. The red wine’s smooth texture and full flavour worked well with the soft, juicy steak. “This is where the food and wine really connect,” said one guest.

Before the tasting began, guests were offered cocktails, including Tequila Sunrise, Nasty Bartender, Chatters Island, and Cosmopolitan. These were welcome drinks only and not part of the updated menu. The wine selection and pairings were managed by Mowana Wines, who provided brief comments throughout the evening. Their team focused on matching the wine’s strength and taste to each dish without taking attention away from the food. All the wines served were from South Africa. Outside of the food and wine, Cresta Fairgrounds is also offering new deals for guests.

A weekend Special is available for P685.00 (room only). The hotel also has a Fun Stay Voucher Booklet on sale for P990.00. It includes one free night, a complimentary platter for four people, and a 30% discount on breakfast and drinks. The new menu changes are small but intentional. The hotel is not trying to do too much at once. Instead, it is taking a more careful approach, focusing on details like how each dish feels and how well it pairs with what is in the glass. Whether this becomes part of their regular service will depend on how diners respond but for now, the direction is clear.