Summer is here with a bang

Public exam students used to be warned that if they hadn’t started studying for their O’s and A’s by the time the jacarandas were flowering it was too late! Young-sters will be stressed this year having needed to get into revision by mid- September.
What do you do for Sunday lunch when it’s so hot? Heavy meals of roast meats, potatoes, sadza, rice and thick stews seem too much.  I am after something light and delicious – full of flavour, served preferably overlooking the sea accompanied by a cool ocean breeze and a crisp wine. Not possible on a Harare Sunday but Italian seems the way to celebrate summer food. 
The essence of authentic Italian is freshness, simplicity and attention to local ingredients. Italy has the most wonderful markets celebrating local produce with huge pride. My sister once took me to a market in San Remo on the Italian Riviera which celebrated gorgeous ingredients such as fresh cheeses, home reared meat and poultry, seafood, home cured sausages, salamis and hams, seasonal and wild vegetables. We grabbed the ingredients for a perfect caprese – a dish that can be sublime with fresh mozzarella, amazingly flavoursome sun ripened tomatoes, fresh basil and good olive oil
But if the cheese is old and rubbery, the tomatoes green and tasteless, the oil non-descript and worst of all without basil – the salad might as well go straight into the bin! Jamie Oliver makes a rustic version with a dressing of crushed basil, garlic and oil and the cheese and tomatoes ripped up rather than served in their conventionally neat slices. I will definitely try it when I have tomatoes and basil in my garden.
So ready for an Italian family lunch we booked at Da Eros. Over the phone I was asked where we wanted to sit so stipulated outside under a tree. Good start even without the sea view! But the reality proved a challenge with not enough shade to encompass all tables.
Haven’t been there since a disappointing meal at the end of last year when the restaurant seemed stressed and overdue for a holiday.  Sunday was much more laid back – too laid back for my mother who felt the main course took too long to come, but the food was good even if not pure Italian. No caprese unfortunately. Weekend specials were Portu-guese chargrilled chicken (US$12 for a whole chicken) and Spanish paella. (US$15). Both very good.
For starters we sampled chicken giblets (US$4) – served on toast made from soft white sliced bread. A strange choice when good bread is an option – and each table gets a nice selection along with garlic, chillie sauce and a courgette/tomato dip. The calamari (US$5) stuffed with cheese and tuna was tasty. Mains from the extensive menu included grilled calamari (US$15) grilled hake (US$14) and a tasty lasagne. (US$10) Da Eros continues to offer a small salad at the beginning of the meal and fruit at the end. Castle Light I thought rather pricey at US$4 a pop but it was nice to be able to buy half carafe of red wine at US$7. 
A friendly and welcoming family atmosphere prevails with a jungle gym in the corner for kids to play on and chilled entertainment – sax and percussion from a gentle jazzy duo.
A popular hangout, Da Eros must have served Sunday lunch to more than 100 covers. Not that fast. Not that Italian but a pleasant and relaxed meal out. 
– g.jeke@yahoo.com