Bon appetit at the Delifrance

By Laila Nasry

Here's a place where you can sit in the warm sunshine and blissfully read the newspaper, while munching on a 'jammy' croissant. A lazy breeze plays with your hair and carries to your nostrils the strong aroma of a cup of steaming Cappuccino. The soothing music drifts out into the open. Oo la la! This is the perfect way to unwind, to get away from the rigours of life. This is relaxation. The ultimate luxury to a busy day. Go ahead indulge yourself, the Delifrance way...

On January 27 the general public was given a taste of Delifrance -a cafe bakery and the first of its kind here in Sri Lanka. Part of a large international chain, it is located on the first floor of the Crescat Boulevard Shopping Mall, facing the Galle Road.

Open daily from 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m., Delifrance has on offer anything and everything from a light snack to a wholesome meal. The variety of freshly baked delectable products available at all times include crunchy French breads-the speciality being the baguette which is crisp at the top and fluffy and soft on the inside, to mouth watering cakes, puff pastries, tarts, quiches and pizzas. The cafe bakery menu also includes soups, salads and sandwiches with a variety of fillings, which have been adapted to cater to the local clientele. All these are prepared to international recipes right before you. To wash these down Delifrance has lined up Cappuccinos, Espressos, Cafe-au-laits and Cafe-cremes and other thirst quenching "boissons" such as various fruit juices and tea.

Prices are reasonable and are on par or below that of five-star rates. A shop owner at Crescat who was treating her staff to breakfast was of the opinion that Delifrance in Sri Lanka is as good as its outlets elsewhere around the world. "The food is fantastic, the pineapple juice very fresh and the management is doing an excellent job," she said. With a seating capacity of 105 not only does the new outlet cater to visitors to the mall but also the vast business community located within its vicinity. "The day we opened we had a crowd from the nearby DFCC bank," Manohan Nanayakkara, Director Crescat Development Ltd, said. The strength of the cafe lies behind its young dynamic staff headed by Gemunu Weerasekera. The management staff has been trained internationally, in order to maintain the high standards that Delifrance is renowned for.

The concept of Delifrance is that of a French sidewalk cafe. From the lilting French songs, to the black and white posters that adorn the walls, to the "Bonjour" one is greeted with by the staff, the atmosphere exudes all that is very French. Together with its French cuisine one is also given the opportunity to experience a bit of French culture in the form of magazines and newspapers that are on offer. So bon appetit!

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