FOLLOWING the opening of its first two Halaal stores in Atholl (Gauteng) and Canal Walk, the third Col’Cacchio to be certified Halaal is at V&A Waterfront.
And by Halaal, they mean really and truly completely Halaal. In other words, it’s not just the observance of certain procedures and the elimination of pork products, but also the removal of alcohol. It’s a brave move for stores in big malls, but even though there has already been some loss of custom – specifically those who want their wine or beer – there has been a significant increase in diners who are delighted to have a popular restaurant that offers them food that is in line with their religious, moral and ethical beliefs. You can learn more here.
Despite the adjustments, the menu remains as extensive as ever: salads, light meals, main dishes and of course, dozens of pizzas and pastas. Col’Cacchio has always been able to adapt to and stay ahead of food trends, partly due everything being prepared in-house. Knowing the origin of every component of its menu items gives Col’Cacchio an elevated level of control and consistency over the new Halaal menu.
“Our strength has always been to listen to our customers and make them a part of the Col’Cacchio family. We hope that by converting these key locations into certified Halaal stores, we will continue to serve the communities we are proud to be a part of,” says Kinga Baranowska, co-founder of the Col’Cacchio Food Group.
Besides being Halaal, Col’Cacchio caters for vegetarians and vegans, gluten- or wheat-intolerant diners, as well as everyone who is carb or heart conscious.
We went for lunch this week, and I don’t know when last I enjoyed a salad as much; the Giardino (above) is a glory of greenery – lettuce, spinach, rocket, zucchetti, broccoli, ago and hardboiled egg, dusted with sesame seeds and drizzled with truffle yuzu dressing. My friend began with an Allentante salad from the light meals section of the menu – a pyramid of lettuce, roasted butternut, cranberries, basil, croutons, sesame seeds, and cucumber, dressed with vinaigrette. Boy, oh boy, were we feeling all healthy or what?
Pizza, pizza and more pizza – classics, gourmet, half and half, wheat-free, low carb…Col’Cacchio has them all, and more. My friend and I both zeroed in on the same toppings. She had the Morituri and Nacho Libre combo which, respectively, are seasoned chicken, macon, avo, feta, and roasted red pepper; and jerk spiced chicken, sour cream, home-made guacamole, tomato chilli salsa, and coriander. The complementary toppings are offered as a half and half but not on a low carb base. Which is why I had only Morituri. The low-carb pizzas are slightly smaller in diameter and served with a side salad so you can feel guilt-free on so many levels.
To finish, we shared a carb-conscious cheesecake (fridge not oven) topped with crunchy granola.
For more information, call 021 418 1265 or click here.
Col’Cacchio V&A has been certified by the South African National Halaal Authority: “The SANHA certificate / licence is an authoritative, reliable and independent testimony to support your claim as a manufacturer or operator that your products or foods meet Halaal requirements. Consumers have greater confidence using products which are certified by a bonafide, reputable Halaal certifying body.”
PHOTO CREDIT: BIANCA COLEMAN ©