Transcendental Tuna Salad

Fuji
19 Rue Victor Hugo (next to Ozio), Plateau.
Tel: 33 821600, or 775 072270

Who in their right mind would go into a sushi restaurant and order something as boring as 'Spicy tuna salad'? It sounds like something you'd make on a Wednesday evening, using a tin of tuna and the bits of vegetable detritus from the bottom of the salad tray. In a sushi restaurant we want maki and miso, unagi and a touch of umami, not boring old Wednesday tuna salad. Right?

Not so at Fuji, Dakar's latest sushi offering. Here the Tuna Salad is one of those dishes that makes your hair stand on end from the very first bite. Halfway through the plate and you're off your face on happy-hormones, thinking about ordering another, or maybe two more. Trust me, this is no mere salad, this is tuna spun into silk, sweet seaweed seduction.

At long last, sushi, sashimi, and maki dishes to really get excited about. The next time some pseud cracks on about how wonderful the second-rate sushi is at La Fourchette or Cozy you can send them to Fuji for an education.

Service here is a delight as well - unhurried and without the usual French pretentions. The atmosphere is slick and modern, a bit quiet early doors, but warming as the restaurant fills up with a good mix of customers and the music of human voices.

Two can eat here for 50,000Fcfa as long as you don't go mad with the winelist. The spicy tuna salad costs 8,000Fcfa and is worth every franc.

The Ecole Gastronomique

Ecole Superieure Gastronomique et Hoteliere Arnaud
16b, Rue de Kolda, Point E. www.esgha.com Tel: 338 699293

You should go here for lunch. It's open Monday to Friday for a set lunch (the menu changes daily, no vegetarian options) between 12 and 3pm and - here's the best bit - three courses of decent French cooking will set you back a mere 5,000 Fcfa (drinks extra).

Run by the charming Jean-Pierre Arnaud, the school is set up to train young people in the hospitality industry. With this in mind, expect slightly uncertain fine-dining style fussing and a short questionnaire at the end. It's a small price to pay for the kind of French cooking which rivals some of the top places in Dakar.

Another New Opening in Point E

Global credit crisis? Nonsense! They're opening up restaurants all over Dakar. Times must be good. Hmm... does anybody see a pattern emerging?

The latest brand new opening is the originally named "La Marocaine", on Rue A (Rue de Louga) in Point A.

Owned by a friendly Senegalese chap, and staffed by Moroccans, "La Marocaine" serves up decent portions of basic Moroccan classics. Open for lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday, the restaurant has indoor seating, a bar, and what looks like scope for an outdoor terrace once things start to warm up. Live Moroccan music is promised for the evenings, which could be a blessing or a curse.

Hearty tagines, priced around 5,000 Fcfa, remind me of my mother's winter stews - warming and savoury, served in the kind of quantities that would satisfy a growing bear. Accompanying bread is fresh and airy, perfect for mopping up the thick juices at the bottom of the tagine.

Service is still a little shaky, as they are just getting started, so give it a week or so. A digestif of mint tea comes on the house, and is poured with aplomb by the owner, giving me just enough energy to make it back home for a post lunch snooze.

La Marocaine, 14 Rue de Louga (Rue A), Point E, Dakar.
Tel: 338255352

Restaurant News

Happy New Year!

Back in Dakar now, so more news and reviews soon.

New Opening:

Le Temple d'Or - A new 'Asiatique' takeaway has just opened in Point E. No sign of a delivery service yet, but you can pop in to their shop by the SGBS bank and have a look at what is on offer in the chiller cabinets. Meals are pre-prepared and then heated while you wait, or you can warm them up at home. The usual Sene-Chinese specials are available, alongside Thai curries and some impressive fresh spring rolls. Friendly staff, and cheap too - ideal for a midweek dinner when you can't be bothered to cook or go out.

Le Temple d'Or: Boulevard de l'Est x Rue de Kaolack, Point E, Tel: 77 579 95 71

Other News:

The 2008-09 edition of Repertoire des Restos is now available priced 2500Fcfa. Although officially published last September, this latest edition has been hard to find. Shell stations across town are now stocking it by the till.

Bon appetit!

Festive interlude

Heading back to Europe for a couple of weeks over Christmas. There are loads of reviews to write up, so will post more in the new year.

In the meantime, why not entertain yourself with my friend's blog: How di bohdi? It offers some tasty slices of life in West Africa.

Also - people are really talking up a new Sushi place in Plateau called 'Fuji' on Rue Victor Hugo. I'll be down to check it out in the new year, but I've heard very good things so far.

Merry Christmas folks.

Restaurant News

New Openings:

Le Seven, Rue Mohammed V x Felix Faure
Re-opened by the people who used to own La Fiesta, this place has been given a welcome transformation - gone are the red walls, badly dressed 'socialites' doing cocaine in the toilets, and high volume cheap techno soundtrack. Instead the new look Seven is a bit more grown up, a bit more sophisticated and altogether brighter. Judging by the welcome and service at last night's soft opening this may become a Plateau hotspot for all the right reasons. Lunchtime menu focuses on creative salads, while the evening menu keeps to straightforward French cooking (Menu Degustation 18,000 CFA). I'll be stopping by for dinner in the New Year.

I-Cone, Route de Ngor, Almadies
New fancy Cafe recently opened on route de Ngor. Expect an updated version of the classic Dakar patisserie. With the new Casino supermarket up the road I expect they'll do well from passing trade.

Restaurant News