Today it’s time to catch up with an old friend and try out a new restaurant. One of my favourite combinations of things to do. Roy and I went to school together and we’ve reconnected with the help of social media (gotta love that). We meet up when I’m in Cape Town to catch up and enjoy some of the delicious culinary offers the Mother City proudly serves – this time it was at Silk Asian Fusion.
It’s a beautifully designed, warm and welcoming sort-of space with a bar that’s begging to be visited. Nice cocktail list, too. Another time! Silk’s name is derived from the ancient silk route, and it serves an Asian Fusion cuisine in a tapas format. Our charming waitress explained that it’s only been open for two months and that it’s run by the same people that run La Boheme in Sea Point. One of our favourite restaurants as it happens so there’s a good start.
l love all forms of Asian food and I love tapas, another perfect match. The restaurant offers a combo of three dishes for R245 and as there were three of us it made sense that we ordered three at a time (one each) and made up a three-course dinner. Well, a banquet really, as it turned out.
What’s On The Menu
The comprehensive menu showcases a mouthwatering selection of dishes inspired by flavours and styles from all over the Asian continent and beyond. It’s a slightly problematic menu for me as I liked the sound of practically every dish. Seriously, it tested my decision-making powers to the limit. But that’s a good problem to have.
First up, the Peking duck croquettes – now there’s a good fusion. Crunchy little bundles generously packed with luscious hoisin-marinated duck and covered in light panko breadcrumbs. Served with sesame and soy dipping sauce they melt on my tongue. Big fan of hoisin duck and this is a great one.
The Yaki gyoza are beautiful little pork and prawn dumplings encased with the lightest of pastry and come with a sesame, ginger and chilli dipping sauce. So packed with flavour – and that dipping sauce is so good we keep asking for refills to keep handy at all times.
The fresh and delicate tuna tataki is sesame crusted and served with zesty daikon and green apple salsa and sesame ponzu dressing. Light with a slight crunch of texture and flavours that dance in the mouth. And don’t you love the plate?
And now for something completely different – tacos with a Japanese touch. Mini corn tacos are served with chasu beef which is slow-cooked in a Japanese style and mixed with spicy black beans, a rich, satisfying mix. The tacos are filled with salsa fresca and soured cream, perfect for cutting through that richness and adding creaminess and sweetness to these crunchy parcels of delight.
The bang bang beef is beautifully tender and saucy with bold flavours as you’d expect from this traditional Chinese dish.
Fried wontons are filled with lamb and coriander and served with crunchy pickled daikon salsa. The salsa’s continue to impress, the wontons are light and crunchy and the flavours of lamb shine through.
On To The Final Round
So now it’s time for our final trio. It’s been a challenge only choosing nine dishes. The little portions of pork belly have a sweet soy glaze and come on a bed of roasted cauliflower puree with a spring onion salsa. And the fabulously sweet fish is steamed in ginger and lemongrass and served on a bed of sesame soba noodles. These are surprisingly large portions as you can see!
Time for our final savoury dish. Lamb ribs that are charcoal grilled, basted with tankatsu sauce and garnished with Asian slaw. I love a lamb rib and don’t often see them on a menu and these were heavenly. Even though at this stage I was rather replete.
Still a little bit of space to fit in a pud – well between us anyway. We shared this gorgeous coconut creme caramel. The perfect end to a totally stunning meal.
I’m pleased to say Cape Town’s restaurantland is firmly back in my good books after last night’s experience. Tasty food beautifully presented in such elegant surrounds and fabulous service. That’s more like it. I can’t wait to head back to Silk for another round. Perhaps I should really put some effort in and try to sample the entire menu before I leave? Anyone wanna come with me and help out?
Today’s Price Point
The three-tapas special at Silk is R245. Tonight we enjoyed three of these specials, spread out over three courses as there were three of us. We had one dessert and the total price for food came to R805 (£36 at today’s exchange rate). For three of us – and we ate a lot! Great value.
Red wine starts from R284 (£13) a bottle and rose R192 (£8.60) a bottle.
