It’s that time of year again – Societi Bistro’s holding their now infamous Tour Through Italy!

This is how it works: Each week for ten weeks the restaurant creates a special three-course menu paired with carefully selected wine that’s inspired by one of ten different region in Italy. It kicks off tomorrow in Siciliana and works its way around the country, eventually ending up in Veneto and Fruili-Venezia Guilia.

To celebrate the new menu, Societi invited a bunch of media as well as friends of the restaurant to come and try a selection of what’s cooking. Of everything I tried, as always, I most enjoyed the simple elegance of chef Stefan Marais’ Bistecca alla Fiorentina, grilled T-bone steak served with a squeeze of fresh lemon. The meat literally melted in my mouth. Another goodie? The Cape fish of the day served with Caponata, a tangy eggplant relish. This was my foodie friend Robyn’s favourite dish.

I’ve never been big on ordering desserts in restaurants. For the most part, I find them dull and overpriced. I’m a bit of a ‘stuff it, I’ll rather pick up a slab of Peppermint Crisp’ on the way home kind of girl. But when it comes to Societi – hot damn, do you really want to order dessert. Their tiramisu is basically three shots of booze with a dash o’ dark, fully saturated sponge which is just the way I like it. And as for their chocolate gelato (served in a sugar cone, but of course) it actually tastes ‘sticky’ and you won’t want to stop after just one. In fact, I may or may not have had three of these in a bid to ease the pain caused by Clouds ‘Bitchface’ Drummond who told me I looked old and tired that day. (Love you Clouds. Hate you Clouds.)

Wine-wise, I tried several but most enjoyed region 1’s Terra del Capo Pinot Grigio. It’s crisp, ‘minerally’ and nice and light, all of which make it very easy to drink. I was thus thrilled to receive a bottle as a gift upon leaving along with a goodie bag filled with all the ingredients needed to make spaghetti alla puttanesca from Flat Roof Manor vinos. Oh, but the radness didn’t stop there…  I found myself surrounded by several Luddites who don’t appreciate the awesomeness that is anchovy so I made a point of ferreting the bottles out of their bags and am happy to announce that I’ll be eating anchovy-riddled pizza and Caesar salad possibly until 2015.

Anyway, if you’re looking to enjoy a delish Italian meal with carefully considered wine in Cape Town’s cosiest, friendliest, most winterlicious l’il bistro, Societi is where it’s it.

Love, love

Leigh

To view Societi Bistro’s Tour Through Italy menu get clicky clicky over here. To make a booking, give them a shout on (021) 424 2100.