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Il Meloncino As someone suggested, “Close your eyes and you could be in Rome”. Open your eyes and you face magnificent Table Mountain, as seen from the comfort of one of Meloncino’s white sofas. Three imported chefs from the land of Prada and Peroni – Andrea, Luciano and Roberto – whip up a blend of contemporary cuisine while they teach local staff a thing or two about “Mamma’s cooking”. Expect home-made pasta with authentic Italian sauces, steaks and seafood from the charcoal grill, traditional wood-fired pizza and an extensive menu to choose from. In order to stay faithful to the original, various ingredients, such as cheese, coffee and wine are imported from Italy. Buon appetito!
Dit is weer tyd vir die jaarlikse Cape Times V&A Waterfront Wine Affair. Die geleentheid vind van Dinsdag 6 Mei tot Vrydag 9 Mei plaas en word daagliks tussen 17:00 en 21:00 op die Top Deck Breakwater-parkeerterrein gehou. Meer as 75 wynpiase sal oor die 300 wyne te proe aanbied, en daar sal talle gourmet-stalletjies wees met eetgoed vir feesgangers. Kaartjies vir die fees kos R70 per persoon en kan by Computicket gekoop word. Vir nog inlig inligtingk an 021 408 7600 geskakel of www.waterfront.co.za besoek word. WEN! WEN! WEN! Drie lesers kan elk twee kaartjies vir die fees wen. Ook op die spel is 'n ete vir twee ter waarde van R500 in die restaurant Meloncino. Om in te skryf, stuur voor Maandag om 10:00 e-pos met iou besonderhede na Njoernaal@dieburger.com. Slegs een inskrywing per persoon word toegelaat.
Talking Italian
Chris Harvie discovers a truly Roman restaurant at Cape Town's Waterfront. Roberto (not De Niro) was waiting, talking Italian. He showed us to our table and led us through the menu, rattling off the melanzanes and rotolos and radicchios with the indigenous skill of the Lazio-born and then said, in English, "Close your eyes and you could be in Rome." Well, not quite, Roberto. We could see Table Mountain and a harbour full of boats and the Colosseum, but he had a point...
Days like last Saturday are perfect for wandering around the V&A Waterfront, which is just what my mother and I were doing when we spotted Meloncino. The Italian restaurant, bar and pizzeria has occupied the space of the old Sports Café for the past seven or so weeks, curiously under the same manager. Anyone thinking they'd pop along to the sports club to watch the latest game would be quite startled to find this chic new eatery in it's place. Meloncino is beautifully fitted and has a classy air about it. We took a table outside overlooking the harbour and perused the extensive menu. Most of the dishes are listed under their Italian names, with English descriptions beneath, which required us to really pay attention to what we were about to order... |
reviews Wine Magazine's pizzeria review l Goodhope Radio audio review l The Good Weekend, 6 July 08 l The Cape Times, 27 June 08 l Weekend Argus, 31 May 08 l Die Burger, 2 May 08 l Sunday Times, 27 Jan 08 l CapeTowner, 24 Jan 2008 |
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Don't be put off by the overly trendy vibe. This is the home of Cape Town's best pizza: the Caldo (hot) Napoletana (R85). Italian flour creates this gently swelling Neapolitan base with a pronounced crust and perfect tomato/cheese ratio. Italian tinned tomato purée, basil, imported buffalo mozzarella and blistered cherry tomatoes complete the delight. Co-owner Paolo Carrara models the pizzas on his father's Roman establishments. You'll pay more, but pizzas here punch above their weight. Meloncino's standard pizzas use thinner Roman bases with quality local mozzarella and salsiccia or imports. Diners requesting a tomato base for cheese-only options are accommodated.
Natalie Becker reviews Meloncino on Goodhope radio. Click here to download "Dining-OUT with Natalie Becker".
Good food in Roman style Did you know there are enough restaurants and fast food outlets in the V&A Waterfront to warrant its own special restaurant guide? There are dozens of them, from hotel dining to take-away franchises and everything in between, representing just about evey cuisine in the world. Yet, when it comes to choosing a place for lunch or dinner, I hardly ever think of the Waterfront. It's a shame, because there are great places to dine. Perhaps it' just difficult for me to see through the haze of boys Ed Hardy, Jimmy Choo and Louis Vuitton...
Meloncino restaurant recently opened at the V&A Waterfront, bringing a genuine Italian flavour to our shores. The modern and stylish décor creates an “eclectic European vibe” where one can sip cocktails and snack on canapés, nuts and olives. As someone suggested, “Close your eyes and you could be in Rome”. Open your eyes and you face magnificent Table Mountain, as seen from the comfort of one of Meloncino’s white sofas. Three imported chefs from the land of Prada and Peroni – Andrea, Luciano and Roberto – whip up a blend of contemporary cuisine while they teach local staff a thing or two about “Mamma’s cooking”. Expect home-made pasta with authentic Italian sauces, steaks and seafood from the charcoal grill, traditional wood-fired pizza and an extensive menu to choose from. In order to stay faithful to the original, various ingredients, such as cheese, coffee and wine are imported from Italy. Buon appetito! [Meloncino will be broadcasting all the Euro 2008 soccer games live.]
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copyright meloncino 2008
