{"id":13657,"date":"2021-05-28T11:09:48","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T09:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/?p=13657"},"modified":"2024-05-28T11:40:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T09:40:41","slug":"flavours-of-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/blog\/2021\/05\/28\/flavours-of-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"Flavours of Italy…"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the quaint, red and white checked tablecloths and handwritten chalkboard menus don\u2019t give it away, the name of this beautiful new restaurant and deli certainly will\u2026<\/h3>\n

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When you say it out loud, you can\u2019t help but do so with a hint of an accent. It\u2019s a beautiful Italian word that flows off your tongue \u2026 Abbiocco. The word, which is also the name of Burnedale Farm\u2019s delightful new, alfresco pasta bar and deli, means \u2018the sleepy feeling you get after a big meal\u2019. Owner Coenie Kruger describes it as \u2018a carb coma\u2019. This may be our new favourite word.
\nWith more than 20 years of restaurant experience behind them, Coenie and his partner Johan Hurter opened Abbiocco just over a month ago after moving to the Ballito from Cape Town.<\/p>\n

\"\"Coenie, who takes on the role of head chef, is passionate about serving authentic Italian food. He started his culinary career working for and learning from an Italian chef at a small restaurant in Wynberg in Cape Town. Coenie and Johan eventually bought the restaurant and ran it for the next eight years, with Johan overseeing the front of house (and whipping up the odd delicious desert!).<\/p>\n

From there they took on a slightly bigger challenge, opening a guest house and restaurant in Riebeeck Kasteel, north of Cape Town. This became their passion project, which they lovingly owned and ran for the next 13 years. When they took a trip to Thailand on holiday at the beginning of last year though, they had no idea what would unfold. Lockdown was imposed while they were away and they ended up being stuck in Thailand for the next nine weeks. They had to close the restaurant and guest house.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve been coming to Ballito on holiday for a few years now, and every time we came, we fell more in love with it. When we came down in November last year we decided to stay. The area has grown, the climate here is wonderful and we\u2019ve always wanted to live near the ocean.\u201d
\nWhile looking for a premises to open a restaurant, someone suggested they have a look at Burnedale. There were two shop spaces available next to each other and it was perfect for what they were looking for.
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Abbiocco is all about classic, Italian flavours and ingredients. The alfresco seating area, surrounded by trees and greenery, provides the perfect backdrop to enjoy a delicious bowl of homemade pasta and a good glass of wine. The menu, which is written up on the chalkboards daily, usually comprises an Antipasti Platter (which allows you to taste a variety of authentic Italian items) and a selection of pasta dishes (think tagliatelle with pulled short rib, gnocchi with spinach and ricotta and traditional beef lasange \u2013 all made from scratch each day). Their signature Osso Buco and Melanzane dishes are both must-tries! They even make their own ice cream, with fabulous flavours like Blueberry and Peanut Butter (and you can buy tubs to take home!).<\/p>\n