When nostalgia for the bistros of France sets in, the best solace comes in the form of a visit to La Gourmandise at The First Mall in Giza.
It has just welcomed a range of mouth-watering new dishes, created by Executive Chef Erwan Laurenceau. Inspired by his home town Soings-En-Sologne in central France, they bring authentic flavors to tempt any palate.
New Menu Items
Flat breads, appetizers, Croque Croissant, Gnocchi à la Parisienne, Chicken Fricassee, Salmon Pavé, Beef Tournedos, Mullet à la Colbert, Sea Bass à la Dieppoise, and Sea Bream à la Vierge, and much, much more.
Dishes Sampled
The new menu offers such an exciting variety of authentic French recipes, we really did not know where to start. It seemed a good idea to make the most of the tantalizingly warm bread assortment with creamy homemade butter while we discussed the options.
Not much later we were savoring a most divine Seafood Crêpe. Crammed with a variety of seafood and spinach, the bisque flavored béchamel sauce had been glazed to perfection. This has now flown to the top of our ‘comfort food’ list!
There was no question about opting for Pissaladière, the sourdough flatbread that has won the hearts of so many visitors to the South of France. Topped with onion compôte, anchovy, black olives and thyme, it captured the spirit of the Mediterranean with each mouthful.
That was followed by a generous serve of Gnocchi à la Parisienne, light potato morsels sinfully bathed in creamy béchamel with lashings of melted Gruyere cheese. The dainty side salad of baby greens, tiny cherry tomatoes and endive with a honey and mustard balsamic dressing was just what was needed to cut the richness a little.
After such overindulgence, we decided to share a main of fish, with the Sea Bass à la Dieppoise attracting our attention. Oven-baked, with mushrooms and Valencienne rice, it also came with a gloriously creamy seafood sauce. Vowing to live on carrot sticks and lettuce leaves for the coming months, we cleaned up every last morsel.
It’s true, we were wavering over the idea of trying dessert when a straight-from-the-oven Tarte Tatin and Chocolate Fondant miraculously appeared on our table. A thoughtful gesture from the chef and we are so glad the decision was made for us. With a follow-up visit planned for the near future, we called it a night and set out for home.
Other Menu items that Appealed
Absolutely everything! Slow Cooked Beef with Creamy Polenta, or maybe Veal and Cheese Sausage with Mashed Potato and Veal Jus. The Poke Bowls would be a perfect option for a light lunch, and the Onion Soup would make a great winter warmer.
Décor and Ambiance
Set in the center of the luxurious First Mall in Giza, there is plenty of visual entertainment to enjoy while you dine. The atmosphere is every bit as rich as the cuisine, with high-end brands on display in the surrounding pristine windows and immaculately groomed passers-by gliding past.
Clientele mix: Elegant, chic and decidedly food-savvy, this is a ‘go to’ spot for anyone with a genuine love of good cuisine.
Thumbs up: The sanitation standards were impressive. The service team was masked and gloved, and little individual sachets of sanitizer were available on each table. These anti-Covid measures in no way affected the friendly professionalism of the service, it was discreet, perfectly timed and made us feel pampered and at home.
Good to know: Don’t forget to stock up on delectable pastries, chocolate, gateaux and macarons from the stunning fridge display before you leave.
Price range: Moderate upwards, but excellent value in terms of quality and portion sizes.
Contact information:
Opening hours: 8 am – 10 pm
Telephone: +2 02 3567 2090
Address: The First Mall, Giza St.
