Was invited to the most amazing feast at Lupa last week – they celebrated their 1st birthday in true Italian style with lots of food, drink and good company!
The restaurant was set up to accommodate 100 people at 2 very long tables with shared platters, bowls and plates of food served the whole evening – and my word that food was delicious.
We started off with my favourite – antipasto platters laden with (amongst other things) foccacia, calamari, olives, cold meats, artichokes and frito misto – which is lightly tempura-battered courgette and it is frikkin insane – who knew courgette could be so delicious!? This is my favourite way of eating – platters with little bits of everything that can be shared, along with foccacia and lashings of olive oil and balsamic vinegar – I’m drooling again!
There were 4 more courses to go after this – needless to say we rolled back down the hill to Durban! Hats off to Chris Black and Guy Cluver and their awesome team for 2 of the best pizzas I’ve ever tasted. Pizza cooked in a wood fired oven with simple flavours and fresh herbs will always win the day and the margarita pizza was sublime, as was the gnocchi smothered in a rich tomato sauce, served with freshly grated parmagianno.
But the highlight and something I’ve added to my last meal on earth list – was the slow roasted pork belly with the best crackling I’ve ever tasted. I could NEVER be a vegetarian after tasting this, I think I ate 3 strips of crackling alone and I have zero remorse for doing so – it was so worth it! The pork was soft and succulent and whoever slaved over it all day needs a kiss!!! ;)
Lupa might be ‘up the hill’, but it’s a drive worth every kilometre for food this good. Whilst the feast was specifically for their birthday, their normal a la carte menu is highly recommended. If you live in Hillcrest you should already know about this gem, if not, make a booking. And if you’re down the hill, make the effort and make the trip.
We finished off with cassatta and tiramisu. Oh and homemade limoncello.
And then I exploded…
Contact 0317653059 for bookings or visit their website for more info
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