The fascinating flavours of the Indian Ocean islands are to be savoured in a Mauritian Food Festival to be held at Dieu Donne in Franschhoek this month, March 27 & 28.

A first for the Franschhoek area, the Mauritian Food Festival at Dieu Donne will introduce guests to the enticing fusion food which — with its collective French, Creole, Indian and Chinese cultures — has evolved on this most captivating island.

With the assistance of the Mauritian Embassy, coming out to the Cape for the festival will be two top chefs from the prestigious Mauritian Naiade resort group, as well as a Sega dancing group who will perform on the restaurant's lawn overlooking the valley.

A gastronomic feast

The Dieu Donne vineyards and restaurant, the latter of which celebrates its first anniversary with the festival, belongs to Robert Maingard, a Mauritian who has made Franschhoek one of the places he calls home.

While the island is proudly Mauritian, it has retained that particularly French belief of gastronomy as an extension of daily cultural reality.

"The Mauritian culinary esprit is to coax the flavours into releasing their intrinsic potential," says Dieu Donne's Jo Van Staaden. "Sauces nutritionally became too heavy in the Mauritian climate. So the chefs use spices to create culinary magic, making meals healthier and lighter in the process."

The Mauritian Food Festival starts on 27 March with a buffet dinner while 28 March will include an a la carte lunch menu including Mauritian taster platters and a buffet dinner.

For dinner expect an exotic Mauritian cocktail on arrival, dinner of Mauritian poached salmon, prawn and palm hearts followed by a gastronomic Mauritian buffet, including sausages in spicy tomato rougaille, chicken, beef and vegetable curries, fish vindaye (pickled), a sautéed vegetable fricassee (featuring lentils and red beans) and exotic islands chutneys.

A traditional Mauritian dessert buffet (including poached green papaya and flambéed bananas) completes the tropical taste tour.

Culinary-cultural exchange

Since a direct flight was introduced between Cape Town and Mauritius, there has been an increasing two-way traffic between the two destinations, and the Mauritian Food Festival will be a note-worthy culinary-cultural exchange.

With its entrancing setting high on the eastern slopes of the Franschhoek Mountains, Dieu Donne Restaurant has the most spectacular of views over one of the world's most beautiful valleys and has made its name with food devoted to various world styles.

Tickets are R325 per person. Book now to avoid disappointment!

For more information visit www.dieudonnerestaurant.co.za or contact Dieu Donne Restaurant (Dieu Donne Vineyards, Uitkyk Street, Franschhoek) on +27 21 876 3384.