A girlie lunch with lots of taste and zero guilt
The minute you walk in to Gourmet by Kcal at Le Meridian Mina Seyahi, you know that you’re somewhere good. Light and bright, the natural decor reflects its ethos of offering healthy, wholesome food that is as nourishing as it is delicious. The restaurant follows a Paleo philosophy so the food is unprocessed, organic and 100% gluten free.
You are welcomed with citrus fruit infused water so are already feeling virtuous by the time you look at the menu. In order to promote ‘nutritional transparency’ the menu details the amount of calories, fat, protein and carbs in each dish. Usually I’d find this an alarming way to start a meal, but at Gourmet, the news is all good. Each dish has been made with nutrient rich, flavoursome ingredients so that everything from the salads to the burgers can be enjoyed guilt free.
I started with the Roast Balsamic Onion Carrot Cups which were beautifully presented and tasted as good as they looked. The combination of the caramelised onion, fresh thyme, sautéed spinach and parmesan in the carrot cup was honestly one of the tastiest things I’ve ever eaten. My friend’s enjoyment of her Summer Rolls (shredded vegetables, rice noodles, springs onion, mint and basil wrapped in rice paper) was matched only by her smugness that I had just inhaled 242.6 kcal to her 57.2! Perhaps my earlier enthusiasm for the menu’s nutritional info was hasty…
For our main course I had the Asian Cod Tacos with Mango Slaw (minus coriander aka the evil weed) while my friend chose the Spicy Lentil Salad from the huge black board above the open food preparation station. Obviously we also ordered sweet potatoes fries because who can resist those? You can get a tasty meal in many places but at Gourmet you really feel like the rest of your body is benefiting along with your tastebuds.
Sadly, school runs were imminent, so we didn’t have time for dessert but with natural, processed- sugar-free options like apple pie with pear sorbet and caramel almond tart on the menu I will definitely be back. The lovely manager told us that Gourmet will soon form part of an evening brunch and with their gorgeous terrace now open, it’s less that you could visit and more that you should. The opportunity to enjoy delicious, beautiful food while simultaneously polishing your halo is just too good to miss.