Bistro launches new menu

Harare — and indeed Zimbabwe — is certainly not short of people continually coming up with innovative ideas to keep going in tough economic times. The latest I came across is a rubbish recycling initiative — Go Green. With the aim of reducing the amount of waste that goes into land fills — Go Green collects plastic, glass, paper and tin cans — and delivers it to individuals and organisations who turn this waste into other products.

Cans are compacted and sent to South Africa to be made into new drinks cans — too bad it can’t be done here. Paper goes to National Waste to be turned into tissue and other new forms of paper.  Plastic is melted down and used to make plastic sheeting, rubbish bags, plastic buckets and basins.  Depressing though is the lack of support for local industry.

Retailers apparently prefer to stock imported plastic products — mostly because of incentives to the buyers rather than quality or price.  I so look forward to a time when I see local plastic products on the shelves of my local supermarket.  Anyway — I am thrilled to have discovered Go Green. I am busy sorting all my rubbish and look forward to my first collection this week. Waste is collected from your home or business for as little as $5 a collection.  Contact them on gogreenharare@gmail.com.

At the moment only operating in Harare they hope to spread nationwide as awareness grows and people start taking more responsibility for their own waste. Restaurants also have to keep alert. With plenty of competition and reduced spending power, it’s not easy to keep customers. Restaurants, bars and entertainment outlets close almost as fast as they open.

Last week I was invited to the Bistro at the Bridge Spar to launch their new menu. They are certainly trying to satisfy customers and if their warm and friendly welcome at the launch is anything to go by they should do well. Restaurant manager Jennifer Cohen, a talented chef in her own right, oversees the kitchen where all sauces, marinades and breads are made from scratch. New menu is basic family coffee shop with a Portuguese flavour and aims to serve tasty family meals at good prices.

Miniatures were made of menu dishes on launch night which made very good snack platters — baby beef and chicken burgers, tender battered fish pieces, barbecued ribs, cold meats, cheese and olives platters.

Main meals range from $6 for ¼ chicken and chips through to $10 for fish and chips and $16 for beef fillet. Burgers are $9 for beef and $8 for chicken. A range of sandwiches and subs are available as well as a salad bar and kiddies meals ($5). Breakfast options include caramelized applies, buttermilk pancakes, eggs with chorizo and stuffed omelettes along with full house options and fruity health breakfasts. My son ate there last week and said the transformation in food and service was instantly apparent.

They plan to extend restaurant opening hours to 10pm and offer wine, cider and beer along with quick family meals.

Downtown, Book Café is trying out National Day Sundays — embracing diversity and cultural exchange. A few weeks back Australia Day was a lively event and last Sunday celebrated 57 years of Ghanaian Independence with a special menu of jollof rice, hot pepper soup and okra — served outdoors in the gochi gochi garden. With good music from DJ RK and a sprinkling of happy kids enjoying dancing freedom, it was a friendly, family laid back space.

In the pipe-line for a busy April are National Days for Denmark, South Africa, Senegal and Holland — a good way to enjoy other cultures without leaving home!

g.jeke@yahoo.com