Lunch in trendy surroundings

Zimbabwe’s first race meeting occurred as long ago as 1892, on a piece of land in the suburb of Belvedere. In 1952 the racecourse moved to Borrowdale, and despite fluctuating fortunes, the Mashonaland Turf Club is still a vibrant organisation.
Lacking disposable inc-ome, punters no longer flock to Borrowdale on foot or by the bus load and race meetings are less frequent.
But an exciting new development, the Fusion Café and Bar, recently opened its doors in the space formerly occupied by the Finishing Post, and to all intents and purposes, it looks to be a winner.
Created by whizz kids Amanda Wessels and Sarah Lilford, who both have enviable reputations as superb caterers, the Fusion Café is a destination for lovers of good food and trendy surroundings.
I had been advised to make a booking, but on Sunday at lunch-time, George and I arrived on the off chance, and were lucky to be offered the last available table. On Sundays, brunch is served from 11.30 am onwards, so a good plan would be to arrive on time, when the buffet looks at its very best.
Payment of US$15 per head for brunch is made on arrival, to a young lady seated near the entrance, who immediately hands over a large white plate and cutlery wrapped in a lime green paper napkin.
Having paid, we made our way to a table, which was placed in front of a large, comfortable sofa. Our amiable waiter John took the drinks order.
A nice feature of Sunday brunch is that one can consume bottomless pots of hot, fragrantly delicious coffee, for the duration of your visit. Beers are US$2 and Cokes US$1.50.
The basket of Danish pastries and croissants was somewhat depleted by the time George and I arrived at the buffet table, so I turned my attention to the beautifully presented baked ham, quiches, cold meat and salads.
The ham, garnished with pineapple and cherries, was baked to perfection and served thinly sliced, with freshly made English mustard. An attractive assortment of cold meat including salami was served with sweet chutney and mild pickled red chillis.
Vegetable quiches glowed with roasted tomatoes and red peppers and quiches Lorraines were rich with bacon, cheese and cream. Green salads combined rocket with slivers of cucumber, tender Little Gem lettuce and crisp Iceberg, while crumbled Feta cheese and bright red plum tomatoes added a Mediterranean flavour.
Freshly baked white and brown bread rolls and French loaves were perfect to eat with three mouth watering savoury dips. A delicious selection of cheeses completed the buffet.
Finally, a dessert platter with strawberries and clotted cream, chocolate truffles, meringues and biscotti, was brought to our table. This was the final elegant serving in our delicious Sunday brunch.
The Fusion Café and Bar is open from Tue-sday to Sunday, from 11.30 am to 11.30 pm. Meals are served bet-ween 12 and 2.30pm, and from 6.30 to 9pm.
The menu includes delicious options such as Fusion gourmet beef burger with crisps (US$8), roast chicken pot pie with garlic mash topping (US$8) and Mexican beef with yellow rice, tortillas, guacamole, sour cream and chillis (US$10).
So whether you are after a meal, a coffee and slice of chocolate torte, a snack or a drink on your way home from work, set your SatNav for the Borrowdale Road and stop by at Fusion Café and Bar.

Fusion Café and Bar
Borrowdale Race Course, Borrowdale Road
Tel: Sarah: 0912 306 639, Amanda: 0912 300 530
– Comments to: cmalakoff@gmail.com