Orangerie

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A French Affair

French Bistro | $$

This lovely restaurant is bringing a sense of joie de vivre to the Franschhoek Valley with its French cuisine in perfectly elegant settings. Chef Nicolene has paired the classic balance of flavours with simplicity and her dishes are sublime.

Our journey begins with the steak tartare, a garden salad and the signature cheese soufflé. As simple as each sounds, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication and in this case is no exception. The food is just delicious and the service impeccable, haute cuisine without the finery. The best kind in other words.

Our gastronomic journey continued as we were served up a heavenly bouillabaisse and the duck breast with fennel, orange and coriander crust, crispy confit duck croquette, poached Chinese cabbage and duck jus. It is the kind of food that makes you happy to be alive. Ethically sourced, the bouillabaisse, in a sauce of saffron and orange is one of the finest ways to consume seafood and the duck, equally as magnificent, was the perfect balance of savoury, sweet and sour. An epicures dream.

For the pièce de résistance we ordered cake and sweet wine. The puddings were so delicious I have been dreaming about them ever since. The brûlée was light and creamy and the Tortuga rum cake, with coconut ice-cream and vanilla crumble, sweet and sumptuous. A definite case of "have your cake and eat it too".Utterly subliminal and if that wasn't enough, madeleines to take home.

Lunch is served everyday except Mondays or you can indulge in an afternoon high tea, served every afternoon from 2.30 pm onwards.

Epicurean moments, turned into memories.

lelude.co.za
Location | Franschhoek
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