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🍽️ TLALANE’S TABLE
I ate it. I experienced it. Here’s what I think.
By Tlalane Dlamini
I arrived at The Royal Villas at exactly 11:30am for a scheduled meeting, and because I knew lunch would follow afterwards, I made sure to leave home on an empty stomach. I was ready for a proper meal.
After my meeting, I headed to the poolside, where Chef Sive was set to serve me lunch.
Naturally, I asked the most important question:
“Chef Sive, what have you prepared for me?”
“Fish and vegetables,” he said.
My immediate response?
“No, Sive!”
I was looking for something hearty and familiar. I wanted oxtail, beef curry, roasted chicken, basmati rice and vegetables. After all, I have enjoyed these dishes at The Royal Villas before, so I knew exactly what I wanted.
But Chef Sive had other plans.
He told me to forget about the food I always have and allow him to prepare something that would suit not only the weather, but also where I was seated.
And that is how I found myself being served Hake Fricasse.
Now, I will admit, I was initially expecting something completely different. But sometimes the best dining experiences come when you allow the chef to take the lead.
The Hake Fricasse was a pleasant departure from my usual choices. It felt lighter and more appropriate for the beautiful poolside setting, where the fresh breeze and relaxed atmosphere created the perfect backdrop for lunch.
It was a reminder that dining is not always about ordering what you already know you love. Sometimes, it is about trusting the person behind the kitchen door to introduce you to something different.
And just when I thought the experience was complete, dessert arrived.
Vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting and Chantilly cream.
That, I must say, was extremely delicious.
The vanilla cake paired beautifully with the richness of the cream cheese frosting, while the Chantilly cream added a light, creamy finish. In the warm weather, enjoyed poolside with the fresh air around me, it was exactly the kind of dessert that made sense for the moment.
Looking back, perhaps Chef Sive was right.
I arrived dreaming about oxtail, beef curry and roasted chicken, but I ended up enjoying a Hake Fricasse followed by a beautifully indulgent dessert.
My verdict? Sometimes, you need to forget your usual order and let the chef surprise you.
The food was delicious, the setting was beautiful, and the experience was perfectly suited to a relaxed poolside afternoon.
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