It’s All About Flavours and Fusion on Kunjani’s Summer Menu

A menu bursting with lively flavours fusing African and European cuisine is an invitation to live the good life at Kunjani in Stellenbosch, where fine wines and sleek contemporary design meet passion and warm hospitality.

The contemporary restaurant in Stellenbosch’s Bottelary Hills owned by the husband-and-wife team of South African Pia Watermeyer and German Paul Barth focuses on local, seasonal and sustainable produce in innovative dishes that reflect the African and European influences of both owners and Head Chef Lamek Mnisi.

Expect to see Karoo lamb meeting Italian polenta and South Africa’s favourite chakalaka relish on Chef Lamek’s summer menu from 1 November, along with traditional German charcuterie paired with local artisan cheeses, a Mediterranean-style salad of octopus marinated with tropical mango, and desserts making the most of summer’s bounty of berries and fruit.

Kunjani takes its name from the isiXhosa version of the typical South African “hello, howzit?” greeting between friends, and the restaurant has a devoted following of friends united by the universal language of wine, who return regularly for the personal and attentive service, food prepared with passion and generosity, and relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

“Kunjani is all about warmth, character and soul, and visitors experience this from our warm welcome through to the passion that goes into our food, wines and service. We aim to delight with contemporary dining in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that inspires long lunches with lots of laughter, conversation and sheer enjoyment of the good life,” says co-owner Pia Watermeyer.

Guest can enjoy dining indoors in the colourful and cosy interior with its cutting-edge contemporary African design or outdoors on the deck to take in sweeping views over the working wine farm and the mountains beyond.

Kunjani’s own wines are served by the glass or bottle, and wine tasting is available from Friday to Sunday.

Chef Lamek continually adapts the dishes on offer and dreams up new creations, so regulars are sure to find something new to try on the seasonal menu, which always features Kunjani’s popular gourmet wood-fired pizzas.

The new summer menu tempts with bountiful flavours in intriguing combinations – local cob is oven-roasted with fennel and parmesan, spicy North African harissa spikes up a vegan crispy polenta cake starter, French bouillabaisse is made with local seafood while South African venison receives a European-style herb crust.

Desserts see summer berries mixing with exotic fragrant cardamom, apple tarte tatin meeting black pepper and berry sorbet, and chocolate lasagne infused with citrus.

Creative vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available.

Kunjani Restaurant is open Fridays to Sundays for breakfast from 08h30 to 10h30, and lunch from 11h00 to 16h00.

Find Kunjani at 90/20 Blumberg Drive in Devonvale, Stellenbosch. Call +27 87 630 0409 for bookings, email info@kunjaniwines.co.za, or book online via Dineplan.