The Barn at Old Mac Daddy is our communal hub where you’ll find our always helpful, super friendly reservations team, ready to welcome you to our humble slice of paradise, nestled lovingly within the rolling hills of the Elgin Valley... Furthermore, the Barn is the location of our restaurant where farm-fresh, wholesome food is served on the daily all in good company.

When you visit you'll also find the Barn boasts several shelves’ worth of books for all guests and visitors to pick up and enjoy.

The Barn has loads of communal lounging areas, which are perfect for some downtime with a good page turner in hand.

Because some of these books have been with us for some time now, we wanted to change things up a bit.

So, we decided to start Old Mac Daddy’s Big Book Exchange. 

We’re super excited to announce that Old Mac Daddy has been granted an essential services certificate. This means that we are now available and able to accommodate essential services workers.

So, if you are engaged in an essential service and operate in our neck of the woods (in case you didn’t know we’re in Elgin/Grabouw, Western Cape) you can come enjoy a stay in one of our unique accommodation options.

From quirky artist-themed Airstream trailer suites to our large self-catering villas, there’s a welcome escape awaiting you at Old Mac Daddy… not to mention all the wide open spaces and fresh countryside air!

The Details:

• All accommodation at flat rate per night of R995 per person
• Breakfast is included and will be delivered to your door between 8 - 10AM
• Complimentary coffee station available to use in your accommodation
• Proof of essential services and working in the area required: You will need to provide an essential services permit
• All bookings to be made via email 👉 info@oldmacdaddy.co.za or 🤳 WhatsApp 082 568 4632

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📝: Just a heads up that over the past weeks of lockdown, our onsite crew has taken advantage of the downtime to ensure the entire resort adheres to the strictest safety and hygiene measures. We’ve cleaned, we’ve sanitised and we’ve set up procedures to ensure that the health, safety and well-being of all visitors and guests are safeguarded at all times. This is, as always, our top priority.

During the current coronavirus quarantine measures taking place across South Africa (and indeed much of the world) a small team of Old Mac Daddy staff members has been locked down at the resort, making sure everything is kept in perfect condition to welcome everyone back... as soon as it's safe for us to do so of course!

While tending to necessary the maintenance and upkeep, the team has also been having LOADS of fun in the kitchen, whipping up some tantalizing treats and dishes many of which have included ingredients we've sourced right here in our veggie garden.

Here are 4 fine dishes out of Old Mac Daddy's Quarantine Kitchen:

Homemade chicken and spinach pie with fresh-from-the-garden spinach stem starter

 

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. ' . This lockdown is really bringing out the creative culinary flair in our management, who’re currently quarantining at Old Mac Daddy ‍ . Here Hulandi, our assistant GM, shows us how she made a chicken and spinach pie with a beer-battered spinach stem starter, using the spinach that was freshly picked from our veggie garden earlier today . . For the starter, keep the stems from the spinach leaves that are often just chucked in the bin . Then prepare a batter and cook as follows: . Mix 2 cups flour with your fave veggie spice . Then add half a beer or as much as is needed to create a pancake consistency batter . Dust the spinach stems with flour, dunk them in the batter and let rest for about 15 minutes... this is a great opportunity to enjoy a glass of your favourite Elgin Valley vino . Then take the battered stems and fry at high temperature until browned to perfection . Serve with a mayonnaise or any dip you like . . For the chicken pie: Take any recipe, add your fresh spinach and lots of love . . And for a vegan option omit the chicken but retain ALL the love . . We highly recommend you try this at home.. If you do make a spinach dish inspired by Hulandi’s please share and tag us @old_mac_daddy . . We’d love to see what you’re getting up to in your quarantine kitchen

A post shared by Old Mac Daddy (@old_mac_daddy) on Mar 31, 2020 at 10:40am PDT

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Smoked brisket with homemade Jack Daniels barbecue sauce

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. ' . Our lockdown crew at Old Mac Daddy have continued to express their culinary skills with another delicious dish, this time pipin' hot directly from the Barn smoker: . Brisket with homemade Jack Daniels barbecue sauce. . If you'd like to try something like this out for yourself during quarantine, here's chef Roy's recipe for the oh-so-smaaklik sauce: . ✅ ½ cup Jack Daniels ✅ 4 x cloves chopped fresh garlic ✅ ½ cup freshly chopped onion ✅ 2 x cups tomato sauce ✅ 1/3 cup white vinegar ✅ ¾ cup molasses ✅ ½ cup brown sugar ✅ 3 x tbsp Worcestershire sauce ✅ ½ x tbsp black pepper ✅ 1 x tsp salt . . And here's how you get your sauce going: . . Lightly fry onion and garlic for a couple of minutes. Then add the rest of ingredients. . Bring all to the boil and simmer for around 30 mins until it's all saucy and lekker. . That's it. Your homemade barbecue sauce is ready to smother atop your favourite meat, meat substitute or whatever else you'd like to try it with.. It goes with almost anything, it's just good! . . FYI: Smoked brisket regularly available at Old Mac Daddy, so if that's something you'd like to enjoy, be sure to pop on in to the Barn restaurant once we're back up and running. . . Photos and recipe by @roy_r_moore

A post shared by Old Mac Daddy (@old_mac_daddy) on Apr 14, 2020 at 6:53am PDT

Oh-so-comforting butternut soup with homemade bread

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. ' The culinary adventures in Old Mac Daddy's quarantine kitchen continue. Today our lockdown crew take us through how they prepared this hearty, wholesome and heavenly roasted butternut soup with homemade bread. . . For the soup you'll need: . ✅ Some sauteed onions in a little butter (or dairy free alternative) . ✅ 2 chopped butternuts, roasted . ✅ ½ teaspoon curry (if you like curry, if you don't just leave it out) . ✅ 300 ml chicken or veggie stock . ✅ 250 ml cream (or non-dairy alternative) . . This recipe is super simple. Literally just roast the butternut and once that's ready, chuck all the ingredients in a blender, whizz it up and daarsy ‍♂️ . . Feel free to fancy it up with some freshly chopped parsley and cream as garnish. . And here's how you make the bread: . Make sure you have the following ingredients: . ✅ 4 cups brown bread flour . ✅ 1½ packets yeast . ✅ Dash of salt . ✅ 2 tablespoons sugar . ✅ 50 ml oil . ✅ 300ml (or more) lukewarm water . Then: . ✅ Mix yeast with the 300ml luke warm water . ✅ Mix all ingredients and add lukewarm yeast-water mixture little by little to form a dough . ✅ Knead the dough about 3 to 4 minutes (dough should not be too sticky) . ✅ You do not have to use all the water . ✅ Leave to rest for about 30 minutes . ✅ Punch it down (this is a really satisfying part of the process - ENJOY!) . ✅ Then add to lightly oiled bread pan and leave to rest again for about 20 minutes . ✅ Finally put in oven for. 40 minutes at 180 degrees . . For extra flavour once you remove from oven, you can rub the top of the bread with a dash of butter or vegan alternative. . . Now for the most important part: Eat.. and enjoy! . . . Photos by @roy_r_moore

A post shared by Old Mac Daddy (@old_mac_daddy) on Apr 16, 2020 at 4:57am PDT

Apple season-celebratory Old Mac apple pie

 

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. ' # Old Mac Daddy's located right in the heart of apple country, literally surrounded by apple orchards on almost all sides. It’s therefore always exciting for us when the trees start bearing fruit… as is currently the situation . To celebrate the arrival of the sweet beauties in our Elgin valley home, our quarantine kitchen has created a special Old Mac Daddy Apple Pie recipe for you to try at home. . And we want to see your culinary creations. So, if you make an Old Mac Apple Pie please share an image or video clip of it with us & use # – Our quarantine kitchen crew will choose their favourite & the winner will win a Barn restaurant voucher to the value of R500 to be redeemed at our onsite restaurant as soon as it’s safe for us to re-open ️ . We’ll announce the winner on 30th April ‍♂️ . SO, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to the important bits. . For the pie filling: . ✅ 4 cups apples, peeled & diced . ✅ 3 cups water . ✅ 1 cup sugar . ✅ 1/3 cup corn starch . ✅ Cinnamon & nutmeg (to taste) . ✅ Pinch salt . ✅ 1 tbsp butter (or dairy-free alternative) . . When ready to begin here’s what to do: . ✅ Bring all the ingredients to a boil, by slowly adding the diced apples into the mix . ✅ Let simmer for about 40 mins, or until the apples are soft, but not mushy! . ✅ Once ready, let the appley deliciousness cool down to room temperature before putting in the fridge to marinate in its mouth-watering molecules . . Once the apple mix has finished doing its deliciousy thing here’s how to whip up that prize-winning pie: . ✅ Take some puff pastry & roll it out real good . ✅ Then put the pasty in the muffin pan & fill with pie filling . ✅ Brush with egg wash (or for a vegan alternative use 2 tbsp almond milk whisked with 1 tsp agave/maple syrup) . ✅ Bake in a pre-heated oven for about 25 mins . . En daarsy, there you have your Old Mac Apple Pie! Enjoy while they stil nicely warm with some ice cream or custard or simply grab one by the hand & munch as is

A post shared by Old Mac Daddy (@old_mac_daddy) on Apr 20, 2020 at 5:04am PDT

What's next? Old Mac Daddy cookbook perhaps!

During the past couple of weeks of South Africa’s national lock down, there have been no guests, visitors or staff on site… other than the small management team manning the resort 🌼🌾

As you can therefore imagine and see from the video clip below, Old Mac Daddy has been even more countryside quiet than it normally is.

And while these sights and sounds of an empty resort are striking to say the least, we are very much looking forward to the day (hopefully very soon!) when we are able to welcome you back to Old Mac Daddy with open arms and wide smiles 🤗❤️

Until that day, please stay safe out there!

A couple of years ago we created a fun and interactive children's activity book that was sold for a nominal fee to guests and visitors at Old Mac Daddy.

The book is filled with a variety of Elgin and Old Mac Daddy themed games, like spot the difference, connect the dots and word search. Though we've since stopped printing and selling them, in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lock-down, we've decided to share it with you here, in a free downloadable format.

► DOWNLOAD THE ACTIVITY BOOK HERE ◄

Though these times feel extremely challenging and the uncertainty of what's to come can seem more than a little overwhelming, we think it's important to retain a certain lightness and sense of humour. Though tough it may be now, together we can and will get through this.

So, while you're isolated at home with the family and looking for something to do (for yourself or your kids) check out our Old Mac Daddy colour-in activity book using the download link above and unleash your inner child and get creative...

Illustrations by Oliver Whyte

At Old Mac Daddy we take the health and safety of our guests, associates and staff seriously. We are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization’s statements regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and following the guidelines from these agencies as well as local health departments and medical professionals.

In light of this, Old Mac Daddy has enhanced our cleaning procedures, communication and promotion of best hygiene practices. The lodge has been fogged with STERIFOG which kills all viruses and bacteria. This kills 99+ % microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, spores, dust and mites. It is organic and relative to other disinfectants, poses a minimal health and environmental hazard. Cleaning and wiping down of surfaces throughout the lodge is now being done far more frequently on a modified schedule. This includes all touch points in rooms and public spaces, including menus, banisters, tables, cutlery etc. Hand sanitising dispensers are accessible to all guests and visitors and can be found throughout our public spaces

For staff who have direct contact with guests, e.g. reception, guest relations and restaurant servers, we provide surface disinfecting products and hand sanitiser bottles and/or dispensers. For guests checking in, staff are asking guests to disinfect their hands upon arrival and sharing hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette tips.

Our managers have been provided with details of the CDC guidelines to share with staff during pre-shift meetings. Managers will ask staff to stay home when they are sick. Additionally, we have communicated directly to all staff regarding the necessity of safe hand washing and hygiene practices.

In light of confirmed cases linked to international travel, we are also requesting all of our guests and clients to perform a self-assessment of their health before coming to Old Mac Daddy.

The self-assessment we suggest is:

• Have you recently traveled internationally or had close contact with persons who have recently traveled internationally?
• Are you experiencing any symptoms like those of the coronavirus?
• If you feel at risk please contact the coronavirus helpline and/or a medical professional before your arrival.

The CDC’s Prevention & Treatment guidelines provide travelers with the best methods of protecting themselves against possible infection.

From the CDC:

“…CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases."

Please ready the following resource very carefully and let's all take the recommended steps to protect ourselves and others: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

In conclusion, we suggest that you help us keep the travel and tourism industry alive and strong, and instead of canceling rather join if you can or if possible postpone for a later date.