This beautiful new restaurant in Umhlanga takes fine dining to a whole new level – a spiritual level.
At the Umhlanga Village, known for the best local dining spots, I noticed a new restaurant that presented itself as unique compared to the rest. The sign read, “Kali”, known in Indian culture as a fierce and feminine energy, otherwise called the Divine Mother. To the famous restaurateurs Kim and Pashi, the name attests to their mothers, grandmothers, aunts and cousins who resembled the many hands of the Goddess.
Their story began 10 years ago when the foodie met the chef, and their relationship has taken them worldwide, learning different cultural cuisines. Their passion for food inspired them to participate in the television show My Kitchen Rules South Africa Season 2, and they were the proud finalists!
This wealth of experience taught them how to use their spice to produce entirely new dishes. Kali serves pan-Asian fusion cuisine in an authentic atmosphere. Upon entering via the red carpet, I was moved by the art, which is their own take on renaissance art – with vibrant colours and graphics of people representing their definition of inclusivity. The art adds a pop of colour to the dark theme of the restaurant, architecturally designed to suit intimate experiences.
The food presentation is out of this world. Their ‘tantric tapas’ speaks for themselves! The team enjoyed a variety of dishes, from Original Pani Puri, Beef and Salmon Tartare to Lamb Raco, Chicken Bao and more! The Original Pani Puri was so interesting. It was served as a crispy chickpea ball filled with sambal and placed on a shot glass half-filled with ginger pani. You had to eat the chickpea ball first and drink the shot before swallowing. The combination was simply divine. We were delighted to meet Head Chef Owen, who came to check on us. We were simply in awe of the kitchen’s incredible work!
Depending on your taste palette, Kim and Pashi recommend dishes to explore your senses, offering you an ‘out of body’ experience. The Prawn Betel Leaf as the starter: a tempura leaf with poached butter prawn, masala cream, tamarind and green chutney. For the main course, they recommend the Crab Linguine, which is pulled crab meat cooked in Jameson peri-peri, giving you the best of sweet and spicy! If you’re looking for a fusion of flavours, you should try the Duck Bao, which is steamed and served with the sweet and salty taste of hoisin sauce, savoury gochujang sauce, with cucumber, peanuts and relish. Finish off on a sweet note with their celebration of corn desserts.
It was an experience I’ll never forget – I tasted fantastic new flavours created by this incredible duo.
The next time you plan to eat in Chartwell Village, give them a try. You won’t be disappointed. They have some exciting events lined up for the future. Follow their social media platforms and keep a lookout. Kim and Pashi invite you to join the spiritual food experience only at Kali!
Words: Toni Savannah Reddy