Platform 62 was by far the biggest surprise of our weekend in McGregor and Robertson. What we expected to be a cavernous warehouse serving road stop food turned into one of the highlights of the weekend.
We visited Platform 62 on Sunday morning, our last day in the valley. Not entirely sure what to expect, we hesitantly made our way through the building. There was one thing we got right – the warehouse is indeed cavernous. The first section houses a selection of gifts, curious and books, before heading into a wine-lover’s paradise. As our itinerary had been quite full, we hadn’t always had enough time to purchase wine at our various stops. That was about to change.
Their wine boutique represents more than fifty cellars and offers over 500 wines from the wine farms of the Robertson Wine Valley area. They’re open every day from 09h00 – 17h00, meaning we could even buy wine on a Sunday. If you aren’t in the area, they also have an online store.
While wine was very much on our minds, we made the responsible decision to have breakfast first. Offering a simple menu, with traditional breakfasts, burgers, homemade pies and more, we took our seats outdoors under the trees. Encouraging a farm-like atmosphere, Platform 62 is also home to a resident pig and a large family of chickens. We made friends with chicks the size of our palms, with the help of corn given by the waitering team (for those who were wondering, as I was, the chickens are all safely kept and looked after as members of the family and will not end up in any pies).
On to the food. I was the problem vegan child throughout the weekend, with all establishments “warned” about my dietary requirements beforehand. While all tried to make an effort, some succeeded…and some didn’t. However, Platform 62 blew everyone out of the water. So much so that I gave the cook a hug and almost got pretty emotional.
When the team at Platform 62 heard that I’d be joining them, they started Googling for vegan recipes, stumbled upon a vegan food blog, adapted a recipe, tried it out on their family and kitchen team – all in preparation for our visit. Even if the dish was a complete failure, the sheer effort they put in would have endeared them to be regardless. However, the dish itself was a triumph. Sunflower seed and black bean patties on a chickpea pancake with wilted spinach and a chunky tomato sauce. It was delicious, hearty and an incredible breakfast. Just like that, with their chickens and all, Platform 62 stole my heart.
Two other members of our group ordered the same dish as me, with the rest split between the home-style chicken pie and the breakfast burger. No complaints. The hot chocolate also comes highly recommended, with a mug of hot, steamed milk accompanied by grated chocolate pieces.
After our breakfast, we went back to the wine boutique to stock up before our journey home. The team behind the counter are highly knowledgeable, which is particularly useful given the selection of wine you are faced with. Chat to them about wines you love or what you’re looking for and they’re sure to be able to recommend a gem or two.
This was followed by an informal brandy tasting – how else would we end breakfast? Trying different brands and ages with accompanying aromatics, ranging from lemon zest to fresh ginger, it was another unexpected highlight for the group.
We enjoyed our visit as guests of Platform 62, Robertson Wine Valley and Hot Oven Marketing. All images and views are my own.
What do you think?