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There are tons of reasons to head to the tres magnifique French bistro in Linden that is A la Bouffe, but one of my favourites is certainly because they host the most divine pairing evenings. Last Friday, I was lucky enough to attend their fabulous gin pairing dinner with a friend of mine. Being a gin enthusiast of note, you can only imagine how excited I was – and you can be assured that I wasn’t disappointed!
A la Bouffe means 'come and eat' in French slang, and is a family-run restaurant that offers authentic French cuisine that’s prepared by multi-award winning French Chef Patron, Romuald Denesle. Romi, as he’s more affectionately known, has worked in Michelin star restaurants abroad, and is tremendously passionate about what he does.
My friend and I arrived at A la Bouffe and were instantly delighted by the intimate atmosphere. I think the best way to describe it would be as a Parisian café kind of vibe. We took our seats at a table near the bar, and were welcomed by Romi himself who handed us a tantalising welcome drink, which was some wonderful gin concoction garnished with lemon rind.
Before the first course of the three-course dinner was served, we were provided with some interesting information on the brand of gin, Inverroche, that we’d be sipping on throughout the night. For if you didn’t know, Inverroche is a local gin made with Cape fynbos, and really is of superior quality! Soon enough, our first drink of the evening arrived with a bread basket, which was simply to-die-for. I’ll admit – I’d return to A la Bouffe for the French loaf alone.
Then came the first course – a starter portion consisting of périgord ham, rocket, goat’s cheese and fig. Both stunningly presently and a perfect mix of flavours, I enjoyed every mouthful. The ham itself was just decadent, and the goat’s cheese incredibly creamy and delicious. Paired with the Inverroche Verdant, I found this course to be spot-on in every way!
For mains, we were then served a loin of venison with red cabbage, salt baked beetroot and walnuts, accompanied by a glass of Inverroche Amber. I’m not really a red meat eater for ethical reasons, but I couldn’t resist tucking into this tender dish, which was sublime. I especially loved the different textures of ingredients. As for the gin, this was by far by favourite – it presented delightful notes of orange and rosewater, which made for a very refreshing drink.
Last but not least was the dessert; a tasty date, ginger and orange cake, served with a cinnamon and cardamom sauce. While it was simple, I found it to be exceptionally tasty. The cake itself was fresh and fragrant, and the sauce was fantastic! Served with a glass of Inverroche Classic, this course was the perfect sweet ending to an outstanding meal.
At A la Bouffe you can expect nothing less than the crème de la crème – the food is exceptional, the service is attentive and friendly, and the ambiance is just perfect for an intimate lunch or dinner, a date night, or a French feast with a group of friends. To keep up to date with A la Bouffe’s future pairing evenings, pop them a mail asking to be added to their mailing list.
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