I enjoyed a Klein Zalze picnic, well more like a foodie adventure of note, in the area - and was slightly taken aback by how much it has changed over the past decade or so.

If you go down to Stellenbosch today, you're in for a big surprise. Growth is evident by the number of little shops and restaurants that have sprung up, giving this town a distinctive happening feel.

Heading out from Cape Town on a perfect, late summer’s day, the Winelands couldn’t have looked more stunning. All those urban stresses melted away as the views of the Stellenbosch Mountains surrounded me.

So what exactly do I mean by foodie adventure.

If you're clueless about the area but want to experience its culinary and wine delights without the hassle of planning an all-inclusive itinerary - then you may consider the concept of food & wine packages as heaven sent.

Kleine Zalze Lodge, set on a beautiful wine farm outside Stellenbosch has just such a winter package. If you didn't know, culinary travel is all the rage. Thanks to a sneak preview of the inner-workings of the establishment - I have the lowdown on what you can expect. Click here to check out the gallery.

Good food and good fun

I met exuberant chef Nic van Wyk over breakfast. There’s no doubt, the man is seriously passionate about his food. He’s also got a great sense of humour, so his in-depth culinary knowledge doesn’t weigh too heavily!

Nic believes in keeping it simple and allowing great quality ingredients to speak for themselves. Rather pan fry a perfect piece of fresh fish and serve with a squeeze of lemon than spend hours on complicated sauces to try and mask inferior ingredients. Sound advice indeed.

Our first stop was Sue Baker’s company Wild Peacock. Set high up in the mountains in an idyllic spot, it’s hard to believe that any work gets done here at all.

Sue’s number one rule when it comes to sourcing quality local produce is that only the very best will do. We tasted her bursting-with-freshness oysters and feasted on exotic cured meats, smoked fish, salmon and trout.

What a bonus for chefs and locals alike, to have someone of Sue’s caliber on their doorstep - look out the deli she's planning to open with her son in Stellenbosch later this year, complete with Origin coffee shop.

Olive versatility

Down a little pedestrian lane (which could easily be mistaken for somewhere in Europe) we found The Olive Tree.

The shop may be tiny but it boasts a fabulous selection of olive oils and vinegars. The wares of more than 30 oil producers are sold alongside smoked olives, olives and chilli, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and chocolate olives.

More taste delights

Back at Kleine Zalze Lodge, Nic prepares a light lunch of homemade bread, salad and delicious Pasta. No pudding because he knows what’s on the menu for dinner tonight - foie gras, which sparked some fascinating debate about its pros and cons.

The pace of the day is quite busy. Some relaxation time was most welcomed before the last item on the itinerary - how to combine the ingredients we had been introduced to earlier in the day.

But this is just a little taste of the treats in store in Stellenbosch.

Visit their website for more info.

Want to cook up a storm in the Winelands, click here.