Enjoying the party at Market at Queen on a Sunday

SOME  years ago, three enthusiastic young entrepreneurs discovered  a dilapidated old house on an overgrown two-acre plot, and set about transforming it into the Queen of Hearts Cafe and Restaurant. It’s now a stylish and vibrant meeting place in the heart of the quiet suburb of Highlands, and a magnet to patrons of all ages.

Once a month, on a Sunday, QOH transforms into Market at Queen, a day to kick back with family and friends, and enjoy good food, great drinks and live music. If you’re lucky, Marinade Live Music Outfit will be in attendance, wowing fans with their popular cover songs and their own unique soulful sounds.

Peppered goat and jollof rice from La Casa

Last Sunday morning dawned misty and wet, but by late morning the weather had cleared, and tables at QOH were filling up. The sweet, sad sounds of Bill Wither’s ‘Ain’t no Sunshine When She’s Gone’ floated on the air, as Marinade got into the groove and the fun began.

Danai Wines at Market at Queen

First stop was Danai Wines, where wine connoisseur Albert Nhau stocks an intriguing selection of top class wines. A knowledgeable assistant recommended Indaba sauvignon blanc from the Western Cape, a light, fresh-tasting, citrusy wine. Although it would probably pair well with seafood and steamed asparagus, we would explore the offerings from numerous food vendors before making a choice.

The de Santana sisters of the Sugar Mama Catering Company were cooking up a storm with Portuguese and Angolan flavours. Bacalhau com natas, an oven-baked dish of layers of salt cod, potatoes and cream looked enticing, but George couldn’t resist the coconut and prawn curry, served with steamed cumin rice. He affirmed that the flavours were authentic, but felt there was an over supply of prawn heads, feelers still intact, and no prawn bodies to speak of.

There has been a lack of my favourite West African dishes, notably pepper soup and chicken and ground nut stew, since Amanzi Restaurant closed, so it was exciting to see La Casa, based in Chisipite, advertising West African flavours. Although La Casa is an Italian name, the menu was distinctly African, offering a variety of spicy roast meats and stews, a tasty coleslaw salad, and jollof rice, a favourite dish in every Nigerian or Ghanaian household

Chocolate chip cookie and brownie from Gelato Crema

Coconut prawn curry from Sugar Mama.

There was a hint of chilli in the flavoursome peppered goat, and the helping of jollof rice was bountiful. A sommelier may have disapproved of the pairing of sauvignon blanc with goat stew, but the fresh citrus flavours of the Indaba contrasted well with the spicy meat.

A large chocolate chip cookie and a fudgey chocolate brownie from Gelato Cream were both delicious, and it goes without saying that a cappuccino from Queen of Hearts own barista is one of the best, even if it’s served in a paper cup.

As the afternoon wore on, the weather remained clear, and patrons continued to arrive, whether for a late lunch, an afternoon snack, or just to meet up with friends. Marinade was getting down and enjoying the party with songs from Bob Marley to delight reggae fans, and golden oldies such as Andy Brown’s Mapurisa, but we were preparing to leave.

New arrivals and people leaving were taking selfies in front of a large sign advertising the fine food and drink market. Attending Market at Queen is obviously a talking point, and an event to look forward to and mark in your diary every month end.   A Matter of Taste  Charlotte Malakoff

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