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| |  You can enjoy a French dish just about anywhere in South Africa's big cities | |
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South Africa’s dedicated French restaurants tend to be in the upper price bracket, but are excellent in every way.
One of the most highly acclaimed restaurants in any category is La Colombe, situated on the glorious Constantia Uitsig wine estate just outside Cape Town. This unique establishment has won multiple awards for its Provencale-style haute cuisine with South African touches. Chef Franck Dangereux was raised on the French Riviera and worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris before moving to South Africa . He praises the quality of food here and loves experimenting with classic sauces combined with unique South African ingredients. One of his specialities is traditional Provencale Bouillabaisse made with South African varieties of fish. Oprah Winfrey, Juliette Binoche and Ridley Scott all eat at La Colombe when in South Africa .
Another of Cape Town’s finest is Bon Appetit in Simonstown, situated in the grand old British Hotel. Brittany-born, Michelin-star-rated chef Manu Guillet is known for his innovative food, such as Camembert and macadamia crème brulee and rabbit ravioli.
Francophiles revel in the town of Franschhoek, in the Capewinelands. Founded by French settlers, the town holds an annual Bastille Day festival and is home to some of the finest French restaurants. One is Le Quartier Francais - consistent award-winner for its simple French fare prepared with great attention to detail. Another is La Petite Ferme, on the wine farm of the same name overlooking the exquisite Franschhoek valley, (where the boutique wines produced just metres away are as good as the food). French classics are given an African twist, for example cassoulet of guinea fowl confit, braised warthog and traditional South African malva pudding with an orange and cinnamon crème anglaise.
Auberge Michel in Sandton was the first restaurant in the country to receive a five-star rating by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. Chef Frederic Leloup, another Michelin-trained import, likes to spend time with his suppliers to ensure freshness and quality, and the results show. Organic products are used throughout, and the restaurant’s separate pastry kitchen produces a feast of sweet delights.
One wouldn’t expect to find a French restaurant in the country town of Bela-Bela, so L’Orange Bleue at the Thaba Pitsi Nature Reserve comes as a pleasant surprise. Serving both Belgian and French dishes, the restaurant nestles at the foot of the Waterberg mountain and offers gastronomic delights in an African bushveld setting.
Pretoria’s La Madeleine established fine French dining in South Africa. Twenty-one years later Belgian-born Daniel Leusch still serves sumptuous fare (his pine resin and honey ice cream is much in demand) in this unpretentious restaurant.
In KwaZulu-Natal , Lynton Hall in Pennington is a romantic venue overlooking beautiful gardens. Chef Richard Carstens moved from Franschhoek to delight coastal dwellers with his fresh food and inspired sauces.
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