There are a handful of 'must do's when you visit — or live in — Cape Town, and one of them would definitely be a visit to The Twelve Apostles on a sunny day.

And there can't be a more romantic place to spend a summer's evening than on the patio of their fine dining restaurant, Azure — fixated on the horizon as the light fades and candles are lit in anticipation...

Azure also has a tantalising new summer menu, which is one more reason why a visit this summer is a must.

I was lucky enough to sample their new menu on a stunning summer's day, a languorous lunch hosted by their chef Roberto de Carvalho, along with Luvo Ntezo — The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa's dedicated sommelier — who had paired some of the fine wines which Azure offers with this crisp new menu.

A testament to their choice of wine, and Luvo's passion and dedication, are the awards that Azure has received for their wine list over the years, with Awards of Excellence in both 2005 and 2007, and a Platinum Award in 2008.

Refreshing starters

From their starters menu, we tried four dishes: West Coast Crayfish Bisque, Grilled Asparagus Caprese, Gravlax of Scandinavian Salmon, and Mushroom Spring Roll.

Their classic West Coast Crayfish Bisque — crayfish soup with wild fennel, diced crayfish, white wine, cape Alambic brandy and double cream served with prawn-sesame-ginger toast — is probably the best version of the dish I've ever tasted...

The Grilled Asparagus Caprese — warm crisp asparagus spears served with a sweet cocktail, rosa tomato and creamy buffalo mozzarella stack, homemade basil pesto, balsamic reduction and a garlic crostini — was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, the fresh basil drawing out all the flavours of the dish.

The Gravlax of Scandinavian Salmon also didn't disappoint, a tasty combination of cubed homemade cold cured Scandinavian salmon topped with a poached quail egg, and served with cucumber ribbon salad, chopped capers, diced red onion and dill crème fraîche — it makes a wonderfully refreshing starter on a summer's day.

Then there was the Mushroom Spring Roll — a combination of flavoursome sautéed Shiitake, oyster, button and Portabella mushrooms with fresh chives, shallots, garlic and herbs, wrapped in crispy spring roll pastry served with sweet Indonesian soya sauce. Heaven for any mushroom lover...

Luvo chose three wines to complement these starters; namely the Constantia Uitsig Chardonnay 2008, Bouchard Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc 2008, and the Jean Daneel Chenin Blanc 2006.

The Constantia Uitsig Chardonnay has no trace of wood, and a noticeable simplicity about it, and certainly was a lovely choice.

The Bouchard Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc has more of a tropical feel, with good minerality and a zest of grapefruit, making it the most ideal wine for the occasion — a hot summer's day.

The Jean Daniel Chenin Blanc originates from Napier and is also light on the wood side, and definitely gets a thumbs up.

After the starters we were served Rooibos and Fynbos Honey Sorbet to clear the palette — a truly South African taste sensation.

Local is definitely lekker

When it came to the main courses, rather astonishingly, the Cape Malay Chicken Curry and Oven Roasted Fish of the Day were both winners — far surpassing the Namaqualand Springbok Medallions and Crispy Oven Roasted Duck.

The wines Luvo chose for these dishes were Bouchard Finlayson Kaaimansgat 2007, an elegant chardonnay characterised by well-aged fruit; the Bellevue Malbec 2006, a dark plum colour with a minty edge; and the Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak 2006 which hinted at berries and raspberries.

The Oven Roasted fresh Fish of the Day, was set on spinach and ricotta panzarotti with a grilled vegetable skewer; accompanied by chunky prawn, tomato and smoked Spanish paprika sauce. The fish was so succulent and cooked to perfection, with all the flavours coming to the fore after just one bite.

Usually a favourite of mine, Azure's version of Springbok Medallions, did not stand out at all, but the maize-meal roasted butternut tower it rested on did — a splendid and tasty touch of local.

If you're a fan of Cape Malay Chicken Curry, then make Azure your summer home, as they must have some secret ingredient that nobody else in the city does. These tender chicken strips cooked with onions, garlic, fresh ginger, chilli and homemade curry powder, served with spiced steamed basmati rice will have you begging for more...

Lastly, the Crispy Oven Roasted Duck wasn't really notable — slow roasted duck served with roasted potatoes, and pan-fried vegetables, it was your standard fare, but fair enough.

The afternoon passed swiftly and unfortunately I had to leave without dessert, which was probably a good strategic move for my waistline.

But with Buchu Crème Brûlée served with coconut macaroons; Dark Chocolate Pannacotta; their own style of Baked Alaska (made with honeycomb ice-cream covered in delicious meringue); and the Summer Fruit Plate served with Greek yoghurt and lemon sorbet on the menu, I will most definitely have to go back.

So come on, if you haven't already, head to the Twelve Apostles for a mouthful of summer.

Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town. Contact them on +27 21 437 9000 or visit www.12apostleshotel.com