If you haven’t been to La Mouette in Sea Point you need to make a plan. The food is divine. It looks like art. The service is stellar. This is the place you take a date you want to impress. This is where you bring your bestie for a day or night of indulgence. It’s the spot where you kiss your stupid Atkin’s diet good bye and get stuck in.

I popped in the other day to try their new six course May tasting menu, R185 on its own or R295 when paired with wines. I wasn’t invited to review it or anything, I just dropped in to dine with a friend and then, when the dishes started coming, I couldn’t resist whipping out my camera.

I also got to enjoy a totally delish steak tartar with quail egg amuse bouche (not pictured) but will walk you through what’s up top.

First up, you’ve got the truffle and cheese croquettes. (OMG! These are the savoury equivalent of those addictive white chocolate Lindt bolletjies and unbelievably addictive.) Next is Asian-style butternut soup with aubergine dim sum.

After that you get to choose between herb crusted sweet potato with sweet potato puree, pickled pear and truffle dressing OR line fish with cauliflower velouté, grapes, ricotta gnocchi and mushrooms. I got to try both as my dining partner and I decided to get each dish and share them when it came to a choice. Of the two, I honestly couldn’t pick a favourite; both were absolutely awesome.

The fourth course also offered a choice; springbok medallion with caramelized onion, chestnuts, parsnip puree and red wine caviar OR mushroom ravioli with smoked onion puree, croutons, pickled mushrooms, sage brown butter. While the ravioli was divine, the venison was utterly sublime and I wanted to lick the gravy off my plate.

The fifth course involved more cheese (yeah!); fontina on toast with pickled apple, butternut and whole grain mustard and the sixth and last course, a dark chocolate tart with honey comb, vanilla cream , candied hazelnuts.

Honestly peeps, can you believe that all that was a mere R185? It’s ridiculous but also genius in that it’s the kind of extravagance you can try once, fall in love with and then afford to go back for more.

Oh! And did I mention they make their own macaroons? Reee! This month’s macaroon du jour is white chocolate and macha green tea. Mari Vigar, the restaurants co-owner, knows I’m a slet for macaroons and slipped a couple of them into my hand before leaving.

Anyway, during the course of the evening, I managed to drink an entire bottle of Villiera’s new Starlight Brut all by myself and, despite the fact that it’s a low alcohol bubbly, I woke up the next morning with the kind of hangover that felt as though blood was pouring out of my eyes.

Thus, you have no idea how happy I was to discover those macaroons tucked into my handbag.

Anyway, if you’re keen to get in on the gourmet action, book fast. This menu changes next month so you’ve only got a few days left to try it.

Love, love

Leigh