Tantalising Valentine’s lunch at Amanzi

Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, a well-known American psychology professor noted for his research on happiness and creativity, published his seminal work ‘Flow’, which reveals that most people are happy when in a state of ‘flow’, or self-fulfilment.
Zimbabwean motivational speaker and writer Milton Kamwendo, in his book ‘It’s Time to Unleash Your Greatness’, shows his readers sure-fire ways to find success and happiness.
But with the start of a new decade, our thoughts are once again turning to love. There are many types of love, but everyone dreams of romance, and the lack of it can make grown men and women cry. Anyone without a partner during the run up to Valentine’s Day may have consulted the flirting experts on ways to attract the opposite sex. ‘Listen to what the other person is saying’, says one. ‘it’s the most seductive thing in the world.’ Props such as sports cars and puppies can always be used, as both are useful in starting a conversation.
Having identified your sweet Valentine, what better celebration could there be than a Valentine’s Day dinner? As the big day fell on a Sunday this year, lunch seemed the most appropriate meal at which to treat a loved one, while commemorating the martyred saint who died for love.
Meikles Hotel was offering a tempting package with roses, chocolates, sparkling wine and a five course meal followed by an over night stay in the hotel. As my telephone stopped working a week ago, I was unable to complete my research on            other possible destinations, and was delighted when George said that he had booked a table for two for Valentine’s Day lunch              at Amanzi Restaurant, on Enterprise           Road.
One of the things I really love about George (apart from the fact that he has a sports car and nine puppies) is his ability to eat. When it comes to fine dining and superb food, George’s capacity knows no bounds.
And Sunday lunch at Amanzi provided the perfect opportunity. After a glass of Bon Courage Blush sparkling rose wine, we were served a tantalising Extravaganza Platter starter. Sushi, goujons of bream tempura, prawn toasts and mini beef kebabs were served with a variety of dips.
A generous squirt of wasabi paste (Japanese horseradish) on the sushi nearly did for me, but I gulped down my sparkling rose wine, and recovered in time to approach the elegant buffet.
All the executive chef’s best dishes were arrayed in bains Maries, flanked by mountains of steaming Basmati rice, chilli sauce, mango chutney and kachoomer of onion tomato and green peppers.
West African chicken in groundnut sauce, a fragrant lamb curry and steak Teriyaki were hot favourites, closely followed by tilapia with caramelised onion. I fully intended to return to the buffet to taste prawn curry, roasted vegetables and mbambaira, but conceded defeat after devouring my first plateful. George, on the other hand, tasted everything, and pronounced the meal superb.
The classic choice for a Valentine dessert would have been petits pots au chocolat, with their love-inducing properties, but George and I both settled for Amanzi’s delicious signature dessert, honeycomb ice cream and brandy snap.
Dom Pedros and Irish coffees, heavily laced with whiskey, were then the order of the day, accompanied by a gift box of heart-shaped Veldemeer’s Belgian chocolates. And if all this were not enough, every couple departed holding a red helium-filled balloon and a single red rose. Amanzi’s superb Valentine’s Sunday buffet, all done in the name of love, was well worth $30 a head.
Amanzi
158 Enterprise Road
Highlands
Tel: 497768
Website: www.amanzi.co.zw
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