Enjoy a globe trotting dinner date
IMAGINE a dinner date with your significant other where you’re taken on a six-course, four-dimensional experience. Well, there’s no need to wonder because that’s exactly what Dinner Time Stories is offering.
I recently had the opportunity to enjoy the experience, which follows “The Footsteps of Marco Polo” through a journey across the world in 4D table top mapping projection at the Faircity Quatermain Hotel.
Le Petit Chef, a small and flamboyant animated adventurer, took us on a guided journey around the world where we got to taste authentic cuisine from places like the Himalayan mountains, India and China. The experience wrapped up in Marseilles, where we experienced a fusion of flavours from all of the places visited along the journey with a traditional French finale with a twist.
It’s a mesmerising experience, and I’m hardly surprised when the franchise owner, Paul Rouessart, explained how these last few weeks have been incredibly busy for them. “It’s crazy at the moment,” he said. “We’re fully booked for most of our dinners over the weekend, and we have limited seats available for lunch time and some of the weekday shows.”
This concept was originated by two Belgian animators. After posting their original table top projections onto Youtube, they quickly shot up to 10 million hits in three months. Shortly after, entrepreneur Nadine Beshir realised that they were on to something big when she came across the concept and contacted the duo.
And so began the concept of Dinner Time Stories. “Dinner Time Stories has obviously gotten bigger and travelled the world and one of the places that it’s been to was America,” explained Rouessart. “And I happened to get an email blog from one of my friends and the company in America that coined the Dinner Time Stories there. Literally within a couple of hours of receiving that blog I got a hold of the founders and secured the franchise for Southern Africa.”
Upon securing the franchise, Rouessart decided he’d debut the concept in Johanneburg before venturing elsewhere. They’ll be exclusively in Johannesburg until 28 July before they head off to Mauritius.
The menu, which was put together by Tristan Latouf, executive chef at Faircity Quatermain Hotel, went through a rigorous vetting process that included numerous tastings before they settled with what they currently have. This menu will stay in place for the duration of their time at Quatermain.
Rouessart, an experienced events manager, has been involved in a range of events, from thousands of people to intimate ones, for a number of years now. “When I saw this concept it totally excited me” he said when I asked what made this experience so unique. “It was something I’d never ever seen before. Table top projection and the 4D experience is just something that you really have to experience.” MOTHERS get the VIP treatment as well as a free glass of wine and a chocolate brownie dessert on May 12. Share a Razzle Dazzle lunch platter and be entertained by Leon Gropp, TV presenter, for R250 per person. Children under 12 pay R80 and receive a burger or chicken strips plus a cooldrink.
Choose from its scrumptious selection of breakfasts and coffee – available until 11am. Mouth watering platters, crunchy hot and cold salads, speciality nachos, smashing burgers and succulent Smokey pulled pork brioche bun are the standouts, but don’t forget to try its famous smoked chicken wings with its house spice rub.
Lagom Cafe has a variety of beer and gin on tap, and stocks most local beers and ciders. 083 281 7284 141 Lynnwood Road, The Willows 340-Jr, Pretoria book@lagomcafe.co.za www.lagomcafe.co.za