Catharina’s Restaurant at Steenberg has a new chef in the kitchen.
Executive Chef Archie Maclean promises to break ground on the culinary frontier with a focus on exciting palates that draw on his ‘contemporary heritage’ influences
The new menu is interwoven with fresh indigenous ingredients Catharina (the restaurant’s 17th century founder) would have hunted, grown and prepared herself. By revealing hints of Catharina’s thrilling life in this sensory culinary narrative, Chef Archie brings the ‘contemporary heritage’ dictum to life.
Taking a leaf from Catharina’s adventurous book, Chef Maclean serves up contemporary comfort food, allowing guests to revel in the abundance of fresh produce, cooked simply and presented beautifully. The menu centres on simplicity, and lets the finest quality ingredients do the talking.
“When I started delving into the life of Catharina Ras, I just knew I had to include ingredients she would have served at her table,” says Chef Archie, whose menu is interwoven with unusual accents, like ostrich, crocodile and zebra and veld food not readily found elsewhere.
Experimenting with these ingredients took Chef Archie on his own journey of discovery creating some wonderful umami flavours by incorporating traditional staples such as chakalaka, maize meal and sour figs, making dining at Catharina’s a true culinary adventure.
“We want to take people outside their comfort zones, to try something new when they dine with us. Our guests need to leave in awe, having experienced something absolutely amazing,” Chef Archie tells Hospitality Hedonist
Catharina’s offers diners a 3-course à la carte menu as well as an 8-course tasting menu. Signature dishes include seared tuna wrapped in crisp salmon skin; salmon trout served with a horseradish and sour fig risotto; panfried crocodile tail; and grilled Zebra loin.
The tasting menu at R1 100 per person including wine, is interlaced with Archie’s more adventurous dishes, the à la carte menu also includes the more familiar for a quick lunch or informal dining.
Both menus are available for lunch and dinner and guests at the same table will be able to order from either menu.
Catharina’s Restaurant | +27 (0)21 7137178 | reservations@catharinasrestaurant.co.za
