La Cucina di Ciro, in a beautiful old Victorian home in Parktown North’s 7^th Street, is one of the finest restaurants in South Africa.

La Cucina di Ciro

 La Cucina di Ciro, meaning the kitchen of Ciro, is the love child of charismatic chef Ciro Molinaro. After years of battling rapacious landlords (who he refers to as the parasites of the world) in the area, he has finally acquired his own premises from which to continue weaving his culinary magic. And what a spellbinder.

First there is the deep, breezy verandah with its cobbled floor that is perfect for those long summer lunches or romantic, candle-lit dinners. This leads into three tastefully decorated rooms with pressed ceilings, which give the feeling of an elegant home-away-from-home. All the tables are bedecked with white cloth with a bowl of white roses in the centre; the colour provided by works of art on the walls and a beaded red chandelier. In the main hall is a blackboard that suggests, ‘Let them eat cake.’

Ciro Molinaro

Ciro Molinaro has been on the Johannesburg food scene since the 70s when he trained as a chef at The Carlton Hotel, which was then in its heyday as the city’s leading hotel. After this he cooked his way around Hungary, Italy and France, where he worked in a three star Michelin restaurant.

What he learnt from his apprenticeship and travels he has combined into his own style that incorporates his Italian roots, French cuisine and a touch of the Mediterranean. At the heart of his reputation as one of Jozi and Mzansi’s foremost culinary artists is his insistence on using only the best, freshest organic ingredients.

The Menu

La Cucina di Ciro is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Tuesday-Sunday. Ciro is an adherent of ‘slow cooking’ and as everything is prepared fresh this is a place for relaxing and enjoying, though those in a bit of a rush will be catered for when he opens The Backyard deli on the premises in November.

The menu changes every month to get the best from seasonal ingredients, so you’ll always be able to find something different to dazzle you. And vegetarians are fully catered for as Mediterranean cuisine lends itself to this. ‘Most restaurants treat vegetarians as an afterthought, but they do so at their peril as there is growing demands from this segment,’ says Ciro.

Breakfast

 The breakfast menu is innovative and divine. Here you will find anything from deep fried pear rolled in muesli batter served with thick yoghurt and honey and dusted with cinnamon sugar to Spanish frittata with roasted onions, peppers and spicy Italian sausage.

I like the smoked salmon rolled in a phyllo triangle with poached egg served with a turn of black pepper on creamed spinach. Then there is the potato and chive pancake topped with mushroom, sautéed spinach and grilled tomato and poached egg gratinated with a tomato parmesan hollandaise.

Lunch & Dinner            

Ciro’s is renowned for its homemade pastas, breads and pastries. There is spring pasta tossed with fresh green asparagus and almonds drizzled with lemon and olive oil; and linguini tossed with fresh strawberries and freshly ground black pepper.

You might want to try the smoked chicken and herb mayo salad tossed with orange segments, avocado, sweet corn & pistachio; or the fresh line fish oven baked with sun dried tomatoes, capers, olives & fresh basil. A personal favourite is the roast duck with an orange glaze served with plump raisons in a light amaretto jus.

Then there are the heavenly desserts. Here you can indulge in meringue roulade filled with chocolate mousse; pineapple & coconut milk ice cream served with a brandy tuille; wild berry & grappa sorbet; and chocolate ice cream garnished with chilli.

Outside Catering

La Cucina di Ciro also caters for small functions and parties. They work to what you want and provide everything from food to drink and waiters. They also do prepared home meals for those wanting that special dinner party.

This is a brilliant restaurant, which should be central to your going out plans. It is hugely popular so booking is essential.