Matemwe Beach Village

Eating

The restaurant at MBV (you just can't resist the acronym) is in the main, thatch-roofed reception area, and breakfast, lunch and some dinners are served here. Chef Eduard Gazendam joined Matemwe in 2009, and his presence has really shaken up the food - always good, now apparently excellent. Trained at Christina Martin's (a highly respected South African school of food and wine), his specialities sound very good. Imagine prawn risotto with shellfish sauce or spiced port infused chicken liver parfait with onion marmalade and melba toast to start; Cajun spiced baracuda with piquant pineapple sauce or grilled tuna with ratatouille and olive tapenade for a main, then vanilla speckled amarula creme brulee or chocolate and peanut butter parfait to finish things off on an indulgent note.

Twice a week, a buffet dinner is served in the boma, so guests can dine under the stars with their feet in the sand. Guests dine together and as Matemwe Beach tends to attract friendly well travelled people, conversation flows. Once a week this buffet is Indian themed, allowing Eduard to play with all the islands' exotic spices. The other night is a BBQ with something for both seafood and meat lovers. And from July 2010, the hotel plans Out of Africa themed nights around the pool, at which food will represent North, East and Southern African cuisine.

Lunch is well priced and offers favourites such as beefburgers, fish of the day and chicken wraps. Currently the breakfast choice is rather limited (a standard fare of fruit and pastries, plus a cooked breakfast). But from July 2010 Eduard will introduce an a la carte breakfast menu.

Guests in Asali can have breakfast and dinner served in their suite, prepared by their own dedicated chef. However many elect to join the other guests on boma night. Honeymooners and other romantics are treated to dinner for two on the beach.

You can book on a B&B basis or half-board (breakfast and dinner, excluding drinks). As there aren’t many other eateries nearby, and the rate is competitive, you might as well do the latter. The bar is fully stocked with an excellent selection of South African wines as well as the usual selection of spirits.