REVIEW: Newlands named for dreams

Quail eggs are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, including Europe and North America. They are known to be packed with vitamins and minerals.

NEWLANDS has enjoyed mixed fortunes since the bypass ‘bypassed’ the shops. Two young Hararians had great dreams of turning the shopping precinct into a pedestrian haven with craft markets, painted roads, hanging gardens, music happenings, open air cafes and child friendly playgrounds. Delays, complicated by-laws and City bureaucracy coupled with petty jealousies, fear and rivalries from shop-keepers and business owners prevented the realisation of this dream.

New lands. Enterprise Road – saluting the spirit of adventure and entrepreneurship marked new ventures into nurseries and market gardens supplying the city. No longer such a brave new world. The development of the wetlands near the Gunhill circle is an ongoing conflict between concerned residents and developers with their eye on the short term and fast buck with seemingly little concern for the impact that building on wetlands has on the city’s diminishing water supply.

The shopping centre keeps re-inventing itself — especially with bars and eateries — though after demise of Billy Fudpuckers and the Red Bar — biggest crowd puller is car park drinking outside the bottle store! Can’t understand the attraction of this Zimbabwe trend! News Café, once very popular, died a slow death and became upmarket Butlers – which failed to take off even though the calm white colonial cane furniture provided a nice respite space. Prices were high and the upstairs Lounge didn’t do much better in spite of being a favoured hang out for visiting VIPs.

Latest incarnation is Bojangles, billed as a bistro bar and which seems to have a winning formula certainly at lunch time. Two course lunch special (US$10) made for a busy restaurant on the weekday I was there. Clients could choose as a starter – soup of the day, vegetable filo baskets, peri peri livers or ricotta fritters.

Mains choices were fettucine alla matriciana, grilled hake and fries, peri peri chicken or masala pork chops. It’s a good deal. Service was speedy and punters probably back in their offices by 2pm (lunch special between 12 and 2). I wasn’t crazy about the filo baskets – seemed like a strange combo thrown together for the sake of colour – and flavours of broccoli and sun dried tomato didn’t meld well. Hake and chips was good accompanied by nice tartare sauce and a crisp standard salad. Nice coffee. The normal menu offers pastas and standard chicken, fish and meat dishes at a reasonable price.

At the other end of the restaurant strip is jazz and music club Misty’s which has also seen a few name changes. It is gaining popularity as a music venue catering to a more mature crowd. With music the main item on the menu, food is simple. Chicken giblets are recommended and it’s a good place for a cocktail and a night out.

Further out on Enterprise Road, lush restaurant Amanzi is now hosting a food market on Friday mornings. I found some truly special offerings. As well as lovely organic vegetables from two of the top local producers there are some unusual deli products. Loved the pretty, dinky quails eggs – pickled or fresh – at a fraction of the price I have seen them at retailers. Mineral salts in different flavours and colours were spectacular – from dark volcanic slivers to sunshine yellow.

Honey and beeswax products included flavoured honeys as well as moisturizers, candles and leather treatmeants. Big 5 wines offer a good wine selection from various South African cellars and will deliver anything from a case upwards. Amanzi’s green gardens offer a tranquil space and with good coffee in the adjacent bar this is a market that will certainly grow.

g.jeke@yahoo.com