Enjoy a Taste of Africa at Parc Ferme

It sounds strange to describe Parc Ferme as a destination restaurant.

After all, this charming establishment sits smack bang in the heart of Sandton, on Maude Street, just across the road from the Sandton Convention Centre, tucked under the Michaelangelo Towers. It’s not exactly hard to find.

Yet at the weekend the foot traffic on Maude is negligible at best, unless there’s an event happening across the road. Guests from the hotel may wander in to Parc Ferme but the majority of shoppers who descend on Sandton during the weekend tend to stick to Sandton City or Nelson Mandela Square if they fancy a bite to eat.

Presumably to entice more weekend patrons, Parc Ferme has started hosting something rather special on the last Sunday of every month. Prepared by Mauritian Executive Chef, Atmaram Mahadea, the restaurant’s Taste Of Africa buffet offers a mouth-watering smorgasbord of culinary classics from East, West and Southern Africa.

It’s a bit of a departure from the restaurant’s usual fare of contemporary French, Asian and European cuisine, which is served the rest of the time, but it means Parc Ferme is offering something truly unique compared to the other eateries in the area.

Amarula’s on board as a partner for the buffet in June, so each diner is treated to a complimentary Amarula cocktail served over crushed ice before tucking in.

Now, I am not exactly an unadventurous diner, but I have to confess to being a little intimidated but some of the fare on offer. For example the whole baked panga marinated in Creole spices may be heaven for the tastebuds, but I was a little put off by the presentation.

I opted instead for  Mauritian chicken curry served with traditional sambals, Lamb Mafe and just to fly the home flag, some Shisa Nyama (Boerwors and chicken drumsticks. The curry was lovely; creamy, well textured and not too spicy for my taste. The Lamb Mafe was similarly delightful, the meat tender enough to feel like it simply fell away from the bone. The Boerwors and chicken were cooked to perfection and really, who doesn’t love braivleis?

Washing down the meal with a rather decent Merlot, I was also impressed with both the restaurant’s atmosphere – duclet soft jazz wafts through the well-lit room decked out with black leather chairs and dark wood tables – and the waitrons, who are both knowledgable and friendly – being a beginner on some African cuisines I was very grateful for their guidance.

So if you want a well presented and wonderful taste of Africa – one that stands out as something special in buzzing Sandton weekend – mark your calendars for Parc Ferme for the last Sunday of this month.