The Cullinan Hotel recently opened Stella Cafe & Bar – a beautiful Parisian-inspired space, which is perfect for a relaxing lunch or to unwind after a long day at work. The bar opens onto a beautiful, sheltered pool deck – perfect for Cape Town, considering how many meals have been ruined because of that lovely wind which tends to pop up uninvited.
Chef Lindsay gave us a few recommendations and mentioned that he’s quite happy to alter the portion sizes depending on the the customer. If someone is about to head to the beach, he will add a lighter touch to his dishes and if they’re hungry, he will beef their meal up. The three of us decided to share lunch in a more tapas-style and the portions were adjusted to accommodate us. From the onset the entire experience had a fantastic personal touch.
to start
To get us started, we had two salads, which easily could have been served as a light lunch on their own. The Asian-style wok-fried chick pea & green bean salad really hit the spot, as each ingredient was perfectly cooked, and the dish was delicately seasoned, but still packed a punch. The crispy cos, pea and avocado salad was simple, yet decadent thanks to the light honey-mustard dressing.
our mains
For our mains, we we went with Chef Lindsay recommendations. The home-made chilli poppers with a hot and sour dip. These were an absolute treat. Small enough to fit into your mouth in one go, there was none of that awkward “cheese falling down your face” business that we all know too well. This Asian influence carried over into the slow-braised confit pork belly that was served with a fresh coleslaw salad, which balanced out the richness of the exceptionally tender pork. Lastly, we had the Kung Pau Chicken on Cauliflower rice; rejoice if you are banting. The “rice” was well made, it wasn’t at all soggy as can happen if not cooked for JUST the right amount of time. The chicken was deliciously tender, with just the right amount of heat, sweetness and that nuttiness you get from, yeah you guessed it, nuts. A very well-rounded dish.
something sweet
And because we clearly hadn’t eaten enough yet (please note the sarcasm font), we finished off the meal with three desserts. The Creme Brulee had its signature crisp topping, with a perfectly smooth custard below. I like my creme brulee mae the traditional way, but things got a little bit more exotic with the Turkish delight cheesecake, which was the right balance of rich and sweet, but not overpowering. But top honours goes to the Chocolate Torte with Pistachio ice-cream – give me an entire bucket and I’d be very happy.
The menu changes quite frequently as the chef likes playing with different ideas and flavours.. The portion sizes were right on the money (and as I mentioned, you can ask for more or less), making the dishes perfect to share. With plenty of secure underground parking, it’s a great place for lunch in a busy city centre. If you are looking for a venue for after-work drinks along with a light meal, Stella Cafe & Bar should be on your to-do list.
P.S.: Stella Cafe & Bar also has a short but very good cocktail menu; the Elderflower Gin & Tonic is delicious.
Directions to Stella
Cullinan Hotel
1 Cullinan Street
Cape Town City Centre
Cape Town
8001
021 415 4000
