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With The Epicurean
One of the greatest benefits of life in Zimbabwe is the sunshine flowing from so many clear days. In Harare — situated up on the high-veld — the lack of extremes in temperatures is an added bonus, it’s natural to expect many of our dining venues to offer al fresco or veranda opportunities that make the most of that weather.

A restaurant like The Mustard Seed in Harare’s well–established Highlands suburb must get feedback that its seating options are a major ‘‘plus factor,’’ since it has a trio of such options: indoors, on a long veranda and in the colourful garden. Over the past two years I have dined in all three areas and I have to say that enjoying the outdoors while eating out is a very pleasant aspect of the whole experience.

I have been a regular at The Mustard Seed in Harare’s Highlands suburb for almost two years, having first discovered it when we were looking for a home for our fortnightly quiz nights. At the time we had just seen the closure of the previously popular and delightful one67, where these quiz nights were started back in 2013. Now we hold them at The Mustard Seed, making use of the long, attractive veranda as the home of these popular quiz events.

It is owned by Faith Chinogurei, who created it with the intention of creating an easy-going restaurant that would serve the folks of Highlands, as well as people from further off. She has been a great host, and she is always willing to step up and do things suggested as being worth trying. Sometimes these things work and sometimes they don’t, but one always get the feeling there is a buzz about the place when things are happening.

The things that work well there include the quiz nights, held on alternative Tuesdays (next one will be Tuesday May 29) and open to everyone as a fun evening for all ages.

At these events the restaurant puts on a limited a la carte menu, usually one or two starters plus one or two main courses and desserts from the cake fridge. Quiz folk enjoy food that is served quickly and at reasonable cost, and the food usually goes from $7 or $8 up to $10 or $12, with desserts around the $4 or $5 mark.

Another event that works well there is the monthly Highlands Lunch Club, which features a guest speaker with one-course lunch. Speakers so far have included singer Josh Ansley, economist John Robertson and Bitcoin expert Graham Phillips, and the restaurant has hosted up to 60 people at a time for these. The food is usually a buffet, made up of choices of chicken, fish, beef and a vegetarian meal, and the restaurant has charged $18 for the meal plus a drink — either a hot beverage or a soft drink.

There have been a number of what are called show nights, usually featuring popular singer Mande Snyman with or without guest singers, and on offer is a limited a la carte menu priced more or less the same as the quiz menus. Also popular is the Mustard Seed’s Sunday roast special, priced now at $16 for two courses. There is normally a choice of three meats, plus accompaniments of potato wedges, vegetables and salad. Diners can have either a starter or dessert to complement that. Some Sundays this is very popular and there can be anything up to 40 or so other diners already getting stuck into their food.

The restaurant is open daily between 8.30am and 9pm-ish, except for Sunday when closing time is usually mid-afternoon. On offer is breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as all-day things like refreshments and cakes. Until recently there has been a large menu but late last year Faith shrank this to a more manageable choice of starters, mains and desserts.

Occasional add-ons are featured on the specials board. The venue plays host to many social occasions and of late there have been birthday and anniversary parties, corporate functions, motivational speakers over tea and a high tea for cancer fundraising. A small conference room has also been in use, with gatherings there of up to 30 people for workshops and the like. It’s a super venue, all round.

I always tell people I like the venue for its simple décor, with two inside dining rooms looking out to the main dining area, a terrace overlooking the gardens. In the gardens are several covered sites for diners who want to be al fresco. The gardens are neat and tidy and it is super to come along for morning or afternoon coffee and cake, and do e-mails, meeting up with friends and colleagues.

Staff are friendly, the chefs are keen to listen for special requests and Faith herself is very welcoming and open to ideas. Today, Faith is working with MultiChoice Zimbabwe to host a large-screen presentation of the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle, with a health lunch and fancy hat competition complementing the wedding watch.

Last Sunday’s Mothers’ Day was a great success, by all accounts, with crooner Roy Freestone singing for about 60 diners. The next Highlands Lunch Club is this coming Tuesday and a call to the restaurant will yield more information on guest speaker and meal. My guest and I had lunch there last week and enjoyed a vegetarian luncheon by choice: super lentil cottage pie for me and mushroom past for her. At $10 each, this was good value. We couldn’t resist dessert and I had a delightful apple crumble with ice cream while my guest went for a simple ice cream with chocolate sauce. Chef’s chocolate volcano is something of a must-do at The Mustard Seed and I can recommend that, too.

The Mustard Seed has an independent spa called The Retreat on site, very popular with the ladies. The restaurant aims not only at singles and pairs, but also at families and groups. Reservations are probably a good idea for special events and Sunday lunch.

It’s at 27 Ridgeway South in Highlands and can be contacted on 0772 572620 or (04) 498138-9. E-mail [email protected] and visit the Facebook page. Feedback is always welcome: e-mail [email protected]