For that well-deserved culinary pampering

 It is also a chance to see more daylight than one would want in the roof sheets, but does provide the opportunity to caulk these leaks. And with the new lights we can finally see in the kitchen — which has led to a further flurry of cleaning in corners which have remained comfortably invisible for months.  Electricity in our area went down for 24 hours just after we turned on the lights for the first time. We feared we had caused a fatal overload!  But no worries. We are back on track and just await the next round of chaos with painting.
So the kitchen is currently not the prime space to occupy. We wanted to eat out somewhere a bit special but not too formal. Amanzi was closed for a private function. I will get there eventually — have tried twice recently without success so hopefully it will be third time lucky. Seasons didn’t answer their phone. Are they out of business or is the phone just out of order? I don’t know.
We opted for Alo Alo based in the grounds of the Alliance Francaise in Herbert Chitepo.
It is fraught driving in town at night. The streets are dark, many people drive with their lights on full beam effectively blinding you, and Samora Machel Avenue keeps springing new leaks. There is currently a very rough patch in Eastlea where the road is crumbling under a constant stream of water. Reaching one’s destination unharmed is a relief after after the night journey, Alo Alo is pretty and welcoming. And busy. We sat on the outside verandah with candles and flowers on the table. Service is quick and unobtrusive and we were straightaway offered home made bread rolls and crisp breads from a big basket.
The menu is extensive and interesting. Maybe too extensive. Starters included chicken livers wrapped in bacon, homemade haloumi with sweet chillie sauce, beef carpaccio (which I will try another time . . . I am on a mission to find a good one) soup of the day, mozzarella salad, thai fishcakes, fish coujons, prawn cocktail — mostly at US$8. We both chose mushrooms — deep fried with a piquant tartare sauce for me, wrapped in bacon as devils on horseback for my husband.
The portions were substantial , tasty and filling and prettily presented.
Main courses are imaginative and include accompaniments like wasabi mash  with the honeyed pork cutlets. My grilled salmon (US$26) was delcious — moist and flaky and with a lovely flavour. I have however been watching a lot of Masterchef recently where the prevailing wisdom claims less is more,  and I felt there was too much on my plate. The salmon was served with a cheesy soufflé as well as chips plus a side dish of very nice vegetables — courgettes and carrots in a creamy sauce and a crunchy onion comestible.
My husband chose prawns in a tempura batter (US$24) served with the same tartare and caper sauce that had accompanied my mushrooms. It would have been good to have a more exciting sauce.
Alo Alo has a loyal clientele who appreciate the welcoming ambience and consistent fresh standard. Week days they offer a tempting two course lunch special for US$12.
It was a good evening out. Dinner — two starters, two mains  — was US$68.
– gjeke@yahoo.com