FOR THE LOVE OF MAURITIAN CUISINE

Chef Selina Permalloo's Lakaz Maman Restaurant in Southhampton, UK

Editor’s note:  British Airways Club Magazine is kind to share its articles with responsible travel bloggers.  PillartoPost.org Daily Online Magazine appreciates sharing a few articles a year from what we consider the best inflight magazine in the world.

In its October, 2017 edition, Club Magazine featured Chef Selina Permalloo to learn what makes Mauritian cuisine so special.

Mauritian dishes are best described as true fusion, a blend of African, French, Chinese and Indian food culture due to the unique ethnic make-up of the island. 

My Mauritian heritage and the traditions of our cuisine are very important to my cooking, but as my food is modern, it’s important to learn about other styles of cooking to enhance my own. Right now, I’m particularly influenced by my love of Far Eastern and North African cuisine.

Street snacking.

Arguably the island’s most popular street food, dal puri is a thin pancake-like bread stuffed with ground yellow split peas and served with butterbean curry, and is the one thing us Mauritians miss most when away from the island. Another one-of-a-kind offering is the bol renverse (pictured below) – a dish that I’ve never been able to find a replica for in other countries, though it’s most similar to a chop suey. This dish is all about the presentation, served from an upside down bowl with a fried egg on top.

Another one-of-a-kind offering is the bol renverse-– a dish that I’ve never been able to find a replica for in other countries, though it’s most similar to a chop suey. This dish is all about the presentation, served from an upside down bowl with a fried egg on top.

Napolitaines

Bourgeois bites

Mauritians love their afternoon tea. A quintessentially British affair, although marked with a Mauritian twist, we have vanilla sweet tea and usually something sweet like napolitaine biscuits. These are incredibly short shortbreads, sandwiched with strawberry jam and topped with a garish pink icing – a fond childhood memory for me.

Mauritian cuisine is a fiery and delicious blend of African, French, Chinese and Indian foodie influences.

Mum’s the word

The idea behind my restaurant’s name (Lakaz Maman is the Creole word for ‘Mum’s House’) is to show that we’re all about serving home-style food but with a modern twist. It’s not about fine dining – our aim is to create a relaxing environment where people can enjoy what’s being served. That’s quite typical of the Mauritian style of dining.

MORE ON MAURITIUS

Top picks

Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs. The mountainous interior includes Black River Gorges National Park, with rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails and wildlife like the flying fox. Capital Port Louis has sites such as the Champs de Mars horse track, Eureka plantation house and 18th-century Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens.

If you’re heading to Mauritius, there are a few absolute must-see sights, one being the Île aux Cerfs – a beautiful island off the east coast, home to the renowned Ile aux Cerfs Golf Club. But for a foodie fix, take a trip to Marche de Flacq fruit and vegetable market, or Mahébourg’s Monday market out on the waterfront for exquisite takeaway bites.

Marche de Flacq fruit and vegetable market not to be confused with Mahebourg's Monday Market

Arguably the island’s most popular street food, dal puri is a thin pancake-like bread stuffed with ground yellow split peas and served with butterbean curry, and is the one thing us Mauritians miss most when away from the island.

Dal Puri