{"id":10431,"date":"2010-07-25T10:19:14","date_gmt":"2010-07-25T08:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=10431"},"modified":"2010-07-25T10:19:14","modified_gmt":"2010-07-25T08:19:14","slug":"restaurant-review-la-petite-tarte-retains-french-recipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/restaurant-review-la-petite-tarte-retains-french-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Restaurant Review: La Petite Tarte retains French ‘recipe’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>La Petite\u00a0Tarte has been a favourite for the last eight years, but I had avoided it (and everything else in that area) for the last two years, given the building work for the new Cape Quarter.\u00a0 I returned on a post-World Cup glorious summery winter’s day, to discover that little has changed at the French pavement cafe’, other than the ownership.<\/p>\n

The French model Jessica started La Petite Tarte, and she sold to the Italian Christiane.\u00a0\u00a0 We connected due to having the same name.\u00a0\u00a0A year ago Johan de Villiers and Len Straw bought the\u00a0cafe’,\u00a0having previously managed the prestigious La Residence in Franschhoek,\u00a0the most\u00a0elite\u00a0accommodation in the gourmet village, Elton John having been one of the guests.\u00a0 All the La Petite Tarte staff have been retained, and most of the menu as well.<\/p>\n

The menu starts with “Welcome to our little corner of Paris”, and one’s eye catches the seven Mariage Freres French teas, each costing R22, the same price as the Rooibos Cappuccino and Spicy Chai.\u00a0 Wine options are very limited, with a Two Oceans house wine at R 30, and a merlot\/shiraz blend at R 40.\u00a0 Pongracz Brut is offered by the bottle at R130 or by the glass at R35.\u00a0 The Rose’ is also offered, and is a little more expensive.\u00a0 The owners are so obliging that they will run down to the fancy-looking TOPS at the new Cape Quarter, and will buy whatever the customer fancies.\u00a0\u00a0 The water was served in a carafe, with lemon slices and ice, without having to request it.<\/p>\n

Good news is that breakfast is served all day, and choices include a plain croissant at R16, or one served with cheese and preserves (R28), or with ham and cheese (R35).\u00a0 Muesli, fruit and yoghurt costs R40.\u00a0 A most delicious and creamy scrambled egg with lots of crispy bacon, roasted cherry tomatoes and toast cost R48, and R 54\u00a0when\u00a0served with avocado and salmon.\u00a0\u00a0 Souffle omelettes can be ordered with bacon and cherry tomatoes (R58), or with avocado and salmon (R62).\u00a0<\/p>\n

For lunch the options are one of Johan’s delicious chicken pies, often with leek or mushroom added,\u00a0or the\u00a0haddock pie. The chicken pie was sold out already, even though I had arrived at the start of lunch.\u00a0 Croque Monsieur and Croque Poulet cost R 48 each.\u00a0\u00a0 A Club Sandwich costs R 48, while two quiche options\u00a0are available daily, and could be baby marrow and feta, chicken and rosemary, spinach and feta, butternut and blue cheese, or salmon and dill, ranging from R48 – R58.\u00a0 Salads cost R58 – R62.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

A sweet ending to lunch, or a tasty accompaniment to afternoon tea, are the famous almond apricot, apple\u00a0and pear tartlets, at R28.\u00a0 Flourless chocolate and almond cake, and whole orange and almond cake, cost R 30.<\/p>\n

I’ll be back\u00a0at La Petite Tarte, having reconnected with an\u00a0old favourite, and having been impressed with the hands-on management of the two new owners, something that was not always the case with the previous owners.<\/p>\n

La Petite Tarte<\/strong>, Shop A11, 72 Waterkant Street, old Cape Quarter, Cape Town.\u00a0 tel (021) 425-9077.\u00a0 No website.\u00a0 Monday – Friday 9h00 – 17h00, Saturday 9h00 – 14h30.<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

La Petite\u00a0Tarte has been a favourite for the last eight years, but I had avoided it (and everything else in that area) for the last two years, given the building work for the new Cape Quarter.\u00a0 I returned on a post-World Cup glorious summery winter’s day, to discover that little has changed at the French […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,20,21],"tags":[32367,3585,1778,32366,6020,32378,6021,6019,5420,6003,5997,2276,4924,5995,5993,576,5996,5998,2847,6016,229,6002,3625,5999,6017,6022,6018,3390,32373,531],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t