Authentic French flavours. Refined. Simple. Elegant.
"Our name is symbolic of the way that the swan becomes free," Luke explains to us over lunch. "You'll notice the cages above us; they're a reminder to not to let anyone or anything trap you," the eatery's operator adds.
Shades of royal and navy blue accented with red, rose gold and baby pink pops of colour evoke a truly Parisian atmosphere.
A romantic mural depicting the ancient tale of Leda and the Swan add an element of whimsy to the corner café, and subtle symbolisms in the furniture and tiles celebrate the female form. There is an undeniable air of bashful sophistication which is incredibly endearing. My date and I feel right at home.
It's day three of a 10-day heat wave and, although I'm unfased by the heat , my lunch date is melting underneath his buttoned-up shirt and suit pants. Brian, our debonair waiter, has seated us. Exhausting the few licks of French I managed to retain from university, I order my date a Coca Cola and I opt for an ice coffee. Though I've been off caffeine for years, I've learnt that when in ... er... Rome you do as the Romans do.
In this case, it's France and I know the French love their coffee.
The trendy crêperie serves a carefully curated menu of 10 savoury galette offerings, (made of traditional buckwheat) and seven sweet crêpes. Expect authentic French cuisine: from the locally sourced seasonal ingredients and menu items, right down to technique. "To make the batter, we don't use a machine because they don't use machines in France. We use a whisk and man power," Luke explains.
This labour of love is appreciated when the first plate arrives.
A perfectly plated poulet et champignons galette drizzled with a béschemel sauce. It looks far too pretty to eat but all the food talk with Luke has agitated our appetites. My date and I waste no time splitting the savoury pancake we plan to share. I fork some of the side salad onto my plate and brace myself before I tuck in.
The flavours of the chicken are subtle. Before I decide whether I'm disappointed by this or not, a meaty punch of mushrooms and truffle oil command the attention of my palate. I understand why the poultry is happy to take a back seat in this dish, it wouldn't dare upstage its costar.
"Try the salad with some of the galette," my lunch date suggests and I do just that. The fresh spiciness of the raw radish completely changes the flavour profile of the galettes filling so I continue. The crisp, clean taste of the julienne carrots brings out the lemon and herb in the chicken while giving my palate textural diversity.
But now I'm full.
No, that's not true; I could eat more but I'm saving space for dessert.
I haven't been this excited for sweet treats since I was a preteen. It must be the caffeine reintroducing itself to my system that has me all but jumping out of my seat. As the crêpe arrive, both I and my restless pearl necklace calm to complete silence.
Pears poached in red wine jewel the décolletage of the plate. Like a bib, the waif thin crêpe is folded under a playful and generous drizzle of dark chocolate ganache. A mouth-watering mess of crushed candied walnuts finish the Tantelizing Tom.
I consider pulling rank on my date and gobbling the lot on my own. A thorough tasting is part of the job after all, but I decide against it. I try, and fail, to hide my pout as I apportion a fair share of the dessert for both of us.
It is a delicious as I expected. The pancake provides an edible plate to enjoy the rich flavours. Candied walnuts that taste like caramel popcorn crunch. Memories of drinking Glühwein during Grahamstown winters come rushing back with every mouthful of the poached pears. The flavours are warm and complement each other. Far too rich to enjoy alone, I'm grateful I have my dining partner with me otherwise a portion of this would go to waste.
Quality of product, consistency of service and happy staff is what Luke believes sets Swan Café apart. "In my view, a restaurant isn't a food business serving people, it's a people business serving food. When you look at it from that aspect, the manner in which you approach it changes," he explains.
If you find yourself in District Six and could do with a nibble, Swan's spring menu is bursting with fresh vegan ingredients, as well as fantastic citrus and stone fruit flavours.
"I'm hoping you come back here in a years time and my guys (wait staff) are still gonna be here, you'll still recognize them, and that you receive the same amazing experience," Luke shares in closing. I smile. Nothing and no one will keep me from this delicious find for an entire year.
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If the Tantelising Tom had you salavating, then don't deny your sweet tooth what it desires. Honest Chocolate has some of the yummiest cocoa-inspired treats to keep your sugar cravings at bay.
Cape Town's first and only vegan junk food joint is right around the corner from Swan Café. Lekker Vegan is definitely deserves the visit and my review will tell you why.
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