Romance Blooms at Meikles Hotel

Was a candle-lit dinner at my favourite restaurant in the offing, or was he composing a love poem to read to me as we puttered through the drive thru at Chicken Inn? After two years of on/off lockdown, I was ready to shake off pandemic fatigue and paint the town red. So it was all systems go when I heard that we were booked in for a rocket-fuelled romantic Valentine’s weekend at Meikles Hotel in Harare’s CBD.

Suitably masked, we checked in on Saturday afternoon, took the lift up to the 8th floor and padded along the carpeted corridor to a luxurious corner suite, with eye-watering views over Africa Unity Square and the beautiful city of Harare.

A bottle of JC le Roux le Domaine stood temptingly in a silver ice bucket on the dining room table, but as it was tea time, we  unpacked and headed up to the Meikles Club Lounge on the 11th floor. Tea choices included Tanganda, Five Roses, Earl Grey and Rooibos, and was served in a silver teapot, with a home made cookie on the side. Tea time segued into happy hour, and twilight fell as we sipped chilled Nederburg sauvignon blanc. A small platter of well-flavoured meatballs and roast beef bruschetta provided a delicious snack.

There was just time to smarten up before making our way to La Fontaine Grill Room, one of Zimbabwe’s finest dining venues.

Opened in 1958, this sedate and genteel restaurant still exudes style and elegance, despite turning 64 this year. It was my first visit to La Fontaine since the start of the pandemic two years ago, and it was thrilling to be met by the familiar faces of Fadzai Rambanapasi, food and beverage manager, and George Chindiya, maitre d’hotel.

Sweet sounding and upbeat in turn, FaB Fusion, the brilliant duo of song bird Faith Ganyau and her husband, guitarist Brennan Wyngard, kept diners entertained all evening. The rhythms of Doc Doc Doctor Beat, indistinguishable from Miami Sound Machine, lured dancers to the floor, even before they had drunk their first glass of Prosecco.

The Valentine’s menu was a paean to love, and surely created by a true romantic. The appetiser, a surf ’n turf creation  described as ‘love at first bite’ was followed by ‘burning passion’, a steaming bowl of pumpkin and beetroot soup garnished with a swirl of cream. Lovers were invited to feast on ‘marry me corn chicken’, ‘forever mine beef fillet’, or an enticing ‘ever green garden of love’ composed of spinach, peas, mushroom, cherry tomatoes, broccoli and cauliflower florets.

Dessert was a ‘sweet surrender’ of no-bake strawberry pizza with ricotta cream cheese, caramel sauce and outstandingly delicious ice cream. The alternative dessert, although mundanely described as Trio of Pudding, beautifully combined raspberry creme brûlée, a red chocolate brownie and a fruit-filled meringue in a most artistic way.

Finally, well-brewed coffee and delicious petit fours were presented by the creators of this feast with ‘our everlasting love’.

We returned to our suite, where towelling swans, surrounded by rose petals, were still entwined on the bed. Tomorrow was another day.

The bells of the Anglican Church were calling the faithful to prayer on Sunday morning, as we made our way up to Meikles Club Lounge for breakfast. It was still early, and a splendid continental breakfast of orange juice, fresh fruit, cereals, cold meat, cheese, Danish pastries and scones was laid out, awaiting the arrival of late risers. Chef Job took my order for a cooked breakfast of perfectly cooked scrambled egg, tomato, bacon and mushrooms.

Later, General Manager Tinashe Munjoma took us on a tour of the hotel, describing the exciting architectural changes envisaged by the new owner, Dubai-based Mr Ali Albwardy. Work begins with local engineers this month, and Mr Albwardy, who already owns hotels in the Seychelles, Argentina, Vietnam and South Africa, is convinced that when complete, Meikles Hotel will be the jewel in the crown of his investments, attracting guests from across the globe.

After a macchiato (espresso coffee with a dash of frothy steamed milk) in The Tanganda Tea Lounge, we packed our bags for departure. Valentine’s Weekend at Meikles Hotel was over, but what a weekend it had been.