Mixed bag of flavours

 People keep telling me about a new one I must try, so last week I ended up lunching at Peppers –  open for about a month now on the Chase. We had been planning to have sushi at Fusion at the Race Course, but having rattled through the dusty construction site to the front of the grandstands found Fusion reverted to a tote bar offering bacon and egg breakfasts and burgers and no real incentive for us to be there as we weren’t following form nor looking for a big win on the horses. We were told we would have to go to Borrowdale Village if we wanted sushi so made a last minute switch to somewhere else.
We arrived early – before 1230 – as my companion had to pick up children from school at 2pm and were the first clients. The restaurant is still quite raw – just out of the construction phase with hammering going on out back where apparently some roof work was continuing. Would have been better to leave the work till after the lunch service was over. We sat outside on the verandah – the raw concrete floor giving it an unfinished feel – overlooking a garden still in progress. A nice children’s play area was clearly an attraction for one young child who arrived with her family and rushed straight over to the wendy house and jungle gym. Seemed like she’d been there before.
A small menu offers interesting and colourful choices. Starters  (US$6-US$8) include tempura veg, beef carpaccio and peri peri chicken livers. Salads range from US$12 to US$14 and feature Peppers tangy apple and avo, oriental beef and pimente lime fish – as well as luscious sounding Carousel fruit salad including cranberries and cashews.
The food is a fusion of flavours – Mediterranean with a spicy influence from Asia and Mexico. Main courses include salmon with a mango and lime mayo, rump steak served with roasted cherry tomatoes, and peri-peri chicken.
There is an array of intriguing sounding pasta dishes at US$14-minted lamb, cajun chicken fettucine, sesame beef and a polenta dish featuring red and yellow peppers.
The food was much better than initial appearances led us to expect. I chose fajitas (US$7) from the light meal section and my friend opted for the citrus prawns (US$20) which looked good on the plate and were delicious, perfectly cooked – with a tangy citrus bite, served with tasty yellow rice and fresh lime. The fajitas were disappointing – I found the tortillas too thick, still floury and needing more cooking and I am pretty sure canned beans were used in the filling. The flavours were good though. 
Our meal was enjoyable enough but enthusiastic proprietor, Leeann, made all the difference to our experience at Peppers and ensured a return visit. She took the time to come and chat to each customer taking a personal interest in each table. She has recently moved from Café Caprice in Pomona (Sopranos has now taken over those premises) – and is happy to be on her own and trying out a new fresh menu.
With a South African chef on board she is looking forward to providing good food and top class service.
Excited about the future, she spoke to us about her plans to finish the space (tile the verandah for example) landscape the garden and host weddings and art exhibitions at the venue.
The inside space is calm and elegant. Peppers is still a work in progress but with Leeann’s energy and attention, progress promises to be good. Lunch for two was US$33.
– g.jeke@yahoo.com