If you love great food and a relaxed environment, then you will certainly want to check out the French menu that is currently being hosted by the team at Bistro Dolce Vita in partnership with well-known restaurateur Claudette Gourjux.

Claudette has an impressive pedigree when it comes to authentic French cuisine. Good news is that this Lyon born restaurateur will be presenting her food at Morningside’s Bistro Dolce Vita from Monday, November 4 to Thursday, November 7 from 18:00 and Monday, December 2 to Thursday, December 5 from 18:00.

I went through this week to check it out, and have to say that I really had the most stunning meal, and the authentically French dishes were prepared and presented with love and pride.

The menu is below, with my recommendations (of what I had and also tasted from others)…

Starters

Tatin de tomates cerises et son pistou (tomato tart with pesto)
Vol au vent d’escargots au Riesling (snails in puff pastry) – rich but delicious.
Mousse de truite saumonee fumee (smoked trout mousse) – I had this one, so good
Soupe a l’oignon Lyonnaise (French onion soup)

Mains

Filet de boeuf forestiere et pommes frites (Beef fillet with porcini and French fries) – beyond incredible!
Entrecôte Café De Paris et pommes frites (Sirloin with Café de Paris butter and French fries)
Filet de poisson du jour sur fondue de poireaux, beurre blanc (Fish fillet in a beurre blanc sauce) – plain but tasty
Supreme de volaille à la provençale (Chicken breast in a provençale tomato based sauce)
Flan de courgettes et carottes au cumin (Carrot and courgette bake)

Dessert

Ile flottante et son caramel (Floating islands)
Mousse au chocolat noir, coulis de framboise (Chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis)
Mille-feuille Napoleon aux fraises (Puff pastry with strawberries)
Poires “Haeberlin” (pears with zabaglione and pistachio ice cream)

Says Gourjux: “I have spent my career promoting French food. We opened Les Delices de France as I wasn’t happy with the standard of authentic French cuisine in this country. Since it has closed, I have missed interacting with my customers, so I am delighted to be back to showcase my food and reconnect with diners.”

Bistro Dolce Vita is owned and run by Chef Jackie Righi-Boyd and her husband Clayton Boyd (the owners of Craighall’s popular Dolci Café, which is regarded as one of Johannesburg’s best Italian restaurants) as well as their partner Sergio Caon, who previously owned and ran Treviso Café in Craighall and who still operates a thriving boutique sourdough bread business.

A: The Regent complex, 21 West Rd South, Morningside

T: 011 581 0232.

Monday to Thursday 07:00 – 20:30; Friday 07:00 – 16:00 and Saturday and Sunday 08:00 – 14:30.

Find out more on the Bistro Dolci Vita website here…