Whether you call them friands or petit fours, these tiny works of art are beautiful taste sensations. Like the grand finale at fashion week, where colour, tastes, aahhhs and wows explode, so do a plate of these little surprises at the end of a meal for me.

Whether it’s morsels of nougat, meringue, Turkish delight, honeycomb, truffle, marshmallow, coconut cluster, macaroon, salted caramel or cupcakes, you are always delighted when you leave the restaurant.

Here are some of the pretties that I have had the pleasures of oohing over lately:
·     The chocolate-covered salted olives encrusted in gold and spiked on a silver and gold sculpture at The Greenhouse in Constantia. (pictured)
·     Rows of delicate chocolate liquid scented truffles and tot glasses full of caramel popcorn at The Roundhouse in Camps Bay.
·     Towers of pretty iced cupcakes at Thomas Maxwell Bistro in Johannesburg.
·     Gold painted chocolate ganache and hazelnut caramel shards at Rust en Vrede in Stellenbosch. Best of all, you also get to take home wrapped squares of chocolate and coconut.
·     Sugary raspberry macaroons at Roots in Krugersdorp.
·     Sticky and smooth nougat at The Tasting Room in Franschhoek.
·     Chunks of honeycomb, swirls of meringue and soft marshmallow at Reuben’s at Robertson.

The biggest treat is to get them wrapped up to take home to the kids. I loved it when my parents dined out and I anxiously awaited the soft, mint-centered chocolate next to my pillow in the morning.

Sometimes I think you should have a petit four bar where you can buy a selection to take home, all wrapped up in paper and ribbon. Now that would be sweet!

Happy eating!
Abigail