Who said hearty meals could only be enjoyed in winter? Whether you’re indulging in a beautiful three-course meal in the comfort of the plush Clico dining room, or feasting under the early evening stars, Clico has it all.

With the welcome change in season, and in the spirit of all things new, Clico Guest House is proud to announce its new and delectable spring menu created by in-house chef, Sean Ackerman.

Combining the fresh flavours of spring to create wholesome dishes, Clico’s menu can only be described as inspired.

Inner city haven

Inspired by the dream to create an inner city sanctuary, Clico Guest House opened its doors to tourists and corporate travellers just two years ago.

Owner Jeanette Schwegmann and partner Sean Ackerman had a vision of providing guests with a unique, homely experience, personalised service and delectable homestyle cooking.

Previously a family home, the Clico building was close to 60 years old when Jeanette bought it. Over the course of a year and a half they renovated the house to include a second storey and five additional rooms, as well as the present dining and kitchen areas.

The name of the guest house was inspired by the world-renowned French champagne, Veuve Cliquot. As Sean recalls, “Jeanette and I were at a dinner party one night and we had just decided to open a guest house, when one of our friends suggested we name it after Jeanette’s favourite champagne, and it evolved from there.”

Once the structure had been completed in August 2006, Jeanette consulted with interior designer Pieter Breytenbach to create an ambience which Jeanette describes as “warm and inviting, but not stuffy and pretentious; a place where you’d feel comfortable kicking your shoes off or flopping onto a couch to read a magazine”.

Complementing Jeanette’s flair for design, Sean – who had previously worked in and managed several prestigious hospitality establishments locally and internationally – took on the role of head chef, providing guests with an unforgettable culinary experience to suit every palate. Creating stylish seasonal dishes complemented by matching wines is his forte. “My menu is rotated frequently according to our guests’ requests, availability of seasonal fruit and vegetables, and sometimes according to how I feel on the day. I believe that dining should be a holistic experience, not just a meal,” adds Sean.

Since its beginnings, the guest house has grown in popularity and demand, and Clico has had to expand its staff complement to include a trainee chef and two additional front-of-house employees. Together with the Clico team, Jeanette is working towards expanding the business again by catering for the increasing demand for special events like small conferences and intimate weddings. “Clico is an ideal venue for ladies to hold their monthly book club get-togethers or to meet for Sunday brunches,” says Jeanette.

Creating a local haven where people can escape the stresses and routine of their hectic lives has always been Clico’s primary motivation. “I remember one guest commenting after an overnight stay that she felt as if she had been away on holiday. Sentiments like these serve as an affirmation that all the hard work we have put into creating Clico continues to be worthwhile,” adds Jeanette.

Recreating tranquillity

Creating a tranquil environment where guests can retire after a long journey or a rough day’s work takes more effort and care than meets the eye.

Bringing together the warmth of colour and texture – from furniture to art – creates an intimate space and allows the mind to unwind and the body to relax. These finer details can easily be overlooked, but Jeanette believes they are vital elements in creating a welcoming and peaceful environment.

First impressions on arrival at Clico confirm that Jeanette has struck just the right balance between home comfort and style, by careful selection of art which serves to enhance the decor of the guest house.

The artworks on display at Clico provide an important link between the ambience of the guesthouse and its design intent – to create a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. Drawing on the character and decor of each particular room, art has been specifically chosen to enhance these subtle nuances.

Clico has adopted a Proudly South African philosophy by only featuring the art and sculptures of local artists.

When the guest house first opened, Jeanette took particular care in sourcing pieces which fitted into the homely style of the guest house. “We spent a whole day at Anton Smit’s gallery, which is a huge garden containing all his sculptures. I immediately fell in love with the “ladies”, particularly a stunning one lying on a plinth as you drive in the front gate. I could visualise guests arriving and wanting to experience the same peace and tranquillity which she radiates.”

Clico has oil paintings by Danie Smit and Derek van Rensburg, as well as gorgeous sculptures by Audrey Rudrich, which have been fashioned out of palm bark, on display.

Clico spring exhibition

Local South African artists will be joining the Clico team on September 7 for a special spring day celebration and art exhibition.

Artists will be exhibiting several of their pieces at Clico from 11:00 in the morning until 17:00. The bubbly will be flowing and snacks will be served by Clico’s very own Sean Ackerman.

Entrance is R75 a head, so diarise the day and enjoy viewing original South African art and warm South African hospitality at Clico Guest House. To book your ticket, call Clico Guest House on 011 252 3300. Pre-payment is required for catering purposes.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
– Virginia Woolf