There are some blogs that are plain complicated to write. Sometimes, I do wonder whether I am doing justice to the food, the topic or the people I am writing about. It is always in the back of my mind and this is one of those blogs. I have been meaning to write about Smart Café for a while now and I kept postponing it. This, of course, cannot be done forever.
It is truly difficult to describe what Smart Café is. Located in Flacq Cœur de Ville, on the side of the entrance nearest to Mc Donald’s, this is THE place to be for great food at great prices. There is a wide range of goodies available, from the familiar tarte banane to the rich, luscious pear amandine, up to the more complex creations that make you feel sad about eating them.
What is equally attractive about this place is the people. I cannot stress that enough; and this is also why I chose the term 'haven'. People make places; people make the experiences. Without delving into phenomenological discussions, this is a simple truth. And by the Moustache of Thor, this is as much about the people as it is about the food. It is the ideal spot for enjoying great coffee and delicious food in a bustling, busy world. First, the owner, Jean Alain is a passionate chef who decided to share this love for food with the average supermarket-visiting human being. And this is absolutely beautiful. The sheer honesty of this approach is deeply charming because it is abundantly visible that profit is not the sole purpose of this business. The price to quality ratio is among the very best I have experienced on the island. Nothing is overpriced, and everything is of top quality. We sorely need people who are motivated by passion, and this is one of the main reasons I write about them.
This philosophy of the chef transpires in every item that can be purchased there. And there is a massive choice of items. On the pastry side, above what I already mentioned previously, there is the usual ‘napolitenn’ - that is among the very best out there -, different kinds of hot, appetizing pies (chicken béchamel, chicken curry, mushroom, etc.), and a wide range of drinks. Fancy coffee-based preparations like Café liégeois, and thick, dreamy milkshakes of all kinds grace the menu, at affordable prices. Speaking of coffee, I really do rate the americano: a bold roast which has the perfect balance of smokiness, acidity and bitterness, just the way my bitter self loves. Oh and did I mention that all coffee cups are accompanied by these complimentary cute mini napolitenn? How fancy! (And delicious)
On the ‘lunch side’ (with apologies to the peeps at Smart Cafe; I don’t know how to call it), there is another impressive selection of sandwiches, ranging from the croque monsieurs to the croque madames and Turkish gozlemes and savoury crepes with fillings like satini kotomili (coriander chutney) and smoked salmon. The shawarma has a distinctive flavour profile, with a big dose of the signature generosity that characterises the place. And the fresh juices: orange, apple, and other harmonious blends. Everyone will find something there to satisfy all kinds of hunger and cravings.
It is quite clear that Smart Café is one of my favourite places for good food. But again, I want to come back to the people. At some point in time, Jean Alain was seconded by Sandrine, whose graceful, elegant and eloquent presence gave a unique charm to the place. And this graceful elegance is also embodied by Adesh, a very charming young man who shines with politeness and kindness. The speed with which he types on the cash register is also mesmerising. In the buzzing kitchen, the silent presence of Suraj, who goes about sprinkling his skillful magic on what he is preparing is always a sign of delicious things to come. On the lunch side, Mr. Jean-Claude is always demonstrates a caring attitude reminiscent of elders . I am sure I am missing most of the staff working there but the point is that people will always feel welcome there. At least I do and this is a big part of the experience.
I believe Jean Alain can be really proud of his ‘business’. I use inverted commas because I am convinced that it is so much more than just a business, of course. It is a place of shared passion, the passion for great food, excellent patisserie and impeccable service brought to people, in the most honest, unpretentious and genuine way possible. And this is the mark of quality. Anyone transiting through Super U should absolutely check this place out.
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