Mélange
Fusion at its best!
Looking up the word mélange, I see that it means (among other words) mixture and combination and that is just what one can enjoy when dining at this great restaurant.
My guest and I had heard that Mélange has Cheese Fondue on the menu. Being a great lover of cheese fondue, I have it more than once, if I can, when traveling in Switzerland and France. One could say I feel I have a wee experience with this dish. Usually, if I make it at home, I buy a box which is very tasty but there is something elusively missing in the taste and structure of the melted cheese. The cheese fondue we had the other night at Mélange was just as it should be; so very like the ones I enjoy when in Europe.
The evening started off with great expectations; we were excited about going out to have cheese fondue, but upon arrival as we were being shown to our table, I mentioned why we were there and was told there is no fondue available that evening. Gulp! But-but-but that is why we are here!
We love the entire menu at Mélange, especially the “Contemporary Table Grill” (cooking at the table) where a brazier is placed in the centre and fish, fowl, meat and veggies on skewers are cooked to perfection by the diner, and it is all you can eat! There are also other dishes on the menu that arrived at the table after being perfectly cooked in the kitchen. But cheese fondue was on our minds.
It turned out that the most popular of three cheese fondue menu suggestions was available but the other two were not so with a huge sigh of relief we ordered. Mélange has some delightful appetizers on the menu; we shared the Southwest Roll, a crispy spring roll with black beans, corn kernels, veggies and cheese filling. Very Yum!
We did not have to wait long before our very happy waiter started bringing the wherewithal for our fondue. First the base and chafing/heating flame was placed before us, then the platter of cold meats we ordered along with a basket of crispy cubed baguette and then finally the bubbling pot of cheese.
The fondue we had was the classic one made with a blend of Gruyere and Emmental cheese, Kirsch and wine and served in the traditional wide-mouthed, ceramic, cheese chafing dish. The cheeses are brought to a bubbling melt in the kitchen then set on the heating flame at the table; diners spear a piece of bread, boiled potato cube or cold meat and swirl it in the hot cheese with a special fondue fork. The cheese covered morsel is then eased onto the plate while the process is repeated and the morsel is consumed.
This very companionable way of sharing a meal was perfect for my guest and me. We solved all the world problems, enjoyed our wine immensely and chatted with the friendly wait staff. The owner/chef came over to see how we were enjoying the fondue and we gave a big “thumbs up.”
We each choose a dessert – how could we not? The choice, although small, was difficult; should it be the brownie and ice cream or the mangomisu. The mangomisu (a mango tiramisu) was light and delightful. The brownie was rich and gooey, as it should be.
The evening was fun and one to be repeated (especially if there is no trip to the Alps on the cards in the near future).
Info:
Mélange
Princess Port de Plaisance
Next to Princess Casino
Phone: 526-4049
Open: Lunch 12-3:00pm; Dinner 5:30pm onwards
Cuisine: Mixture, assortment, blend, and fusion of global flavours
Good: Service, Food, Ambiance
Price range: $$
Ratings:
Staff friendliness: ****
Service speed: ****
Restaurant cleanliness: ****
Food quality: ****
Value for money: ****
Ambience: ****
