EnterUganda

. Kampala, Uganda.

By Kadumukasa Kironde II

Place: Le Petit Bistro
Location: Kansanga opposite Tickles
Prices: Eminently reasonable
Open: Lunch and supper, 7 days.
Ambience: Pleasant and al fresco
Food: Continental

STELLA Kyeyune Kempf, the proprietor of this impressive joint, continues to hold her own in cooking the very best Continental fare at perfectly affordable prices.

Indeed, the truism that nothing succeeds like success could not be more applicable. While she used to have diners coming in by the droves, space limitation was very apparent and it was a matter of time before she would expand. As good fortune would have it, the beauty parlour next door came up for grabs and Stella did not hesitate to take up this great opportunity and without a doubt, this was a very timely move.

The menu has not changed a great deal since we were last there a year ago. For starters, one has such staples as croque monsieur, avocado stuffed with tuna, which is quite good as far as I could gather. I tried the sliced ham with salami and a salad-a worthwhile choice, and they are priced under sh5,000. When it comes to the main course, they have a wide variety of fish ranging from a very generous whole tilapia. For an extra couple of thousand bobs you can add the veg of the day along with rice, potatoes and the like and, you will have to adjust your belt a couple of notches!

They also do either fired or poached fish fillet. These are served with a variety of sauces ranging from a Bechamel sauce, which would be a basic white sauce made out of butter, flour and milk. When one adds cheese to the sauce, it then becomes a Mornay sauce and the combination goes very well with either fish or vegetables.

Le Petit Bistro also offers an array of steaks such as the classic steak au poivre (peppered steak) as well as the T-bone steak and if you order in advance, they will even do you a beef Wellington. Naturally, this being an elegant and time-consuming entree, I would recommend that you allow a couple of days' notice. By the way, speaking of advance notice, the same goes for 'Couscous' as well as fondue. The former is the classic main meal in North Africa where the hospitality of the Arab people is legendary and famous. There are many forms with the one constant being the cereal.

This would be a fine-grained semolin, which is prepared so that each grain is separate and the mass light is fluffy. A real tour de force, in the hands of a master chef it makes a wonderful dish worthy of any festive occasion. Everything was well pre- pared and the presentation was appetising while the food was superb. The entrees cost sh8,000 It includes vegetables, rice, potatoes et al. Beer is shl,500, same as in the neighbourhood and by the time one has a few beers, an appetiser and a main course; the bill for two would be around sh35,000.

Considering the good quality of food, the authenticity and the pleasant semi al fresco ambience, I do believe this to be a very good price. The service is attentive and good while parking is adequate and secure. We like Le Petit Bistro and must say that it is one of the consistently good eating establishments found in Kampala.

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