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You are here: Home / Restaurants / South Africa restaurants / Fu.Shi, Plettenberg Bay

Fu.Shi, Plettenberg Bay

by Jeanne Horak on June 8, 2010 12 Comments in South Africa restaurants

Fushi

PLEASE NOTE THAT FU.SHI HAS NOW CLOSED

I have written before about my long-term love affair with Plettenberg Bay.  I have spent so much time there that I sometimes feel more affinity for Plett than the city were i actually lived!  Over the 35 years or so that I have been visiting Plett, I have seen many changes, most of which dismay me.  The relocation of the charming little primary school on the hill to a desolate site near the freeway; the redevelopment of The Cave nightclub into housing; the rampant housing development on the ridge overlooking the town and all along Robberg Beach; the unattractive new shopping centres built in the main street; and the disappearance of Lookout Beach in a storm about 2 years ago.  Progress – it’s a mixed blessing.  But the one thing which has improved in leaps and bounds and which I grudgingly have to accept has benefited me as a visitor, is the surge in excellent dining options.

One of these was recommended to me by a friend who is a professional chef – so how could I refuse?  Fu.Shi is situated at the top of the Upper Deck, a new building on the corner of main street diagonally opposite Plett stalwart pizza restaurant Cranzgots.  The complex houses Fu.Shi as well as the BoMa terrace and has a panoramic view across town and down to where the golden crescent of Keurbooms Beach meets the electric blue of the Indian Ocean beneath the Outeniqua mountains.

Fushi view

Fu.shi (meaning happiness, good fortune, prosperity) opened in 2006 and is owned by Ara Manuelian and Noelle Bolton.  As executive chef, they appointed Vanie Padayachee who had worked at top restaurants such as La Quartier Francais, the Plettenberg Hotel and Grand Provence Estate. Vanie (who was still the chef when I visited last year but has subsequently moved on to found the African Relish cookery school in Prince Albert) drew on her extensive travels to the Far East to devise a menu that deftly fuses Eastern and Western cuisine.  There is an excellent sushi menu as well as a full a la carte containing dishes named rather like Confician analects:  Dappled Sunlight on Crystal Water; Feisty Morsels on a Distant Cloud; or Torn Clouds Over Foamy Seas.  The ambience is chic yet calm in a Zen-ish fashion and view is maximised with picture windows and glass balustrades on the terrace.  If you are nosey, you can also watch the sushi chefs at work in their little glass box of a sushi kitchen by the entrance.

Fushi sushi

On our first lunchtime visit we sat on the terrace at BoMa drinking in the view and the perfect weather. In the midday heat, we opted for sushi and salads – and we were not disappointed.  The artichoke and mangetout salad was a nice contrast between the soft artichoke and the crispy mangetout and was topped with shavings of very good Parmesan cheese.  We also opted for a platter with tuna and salmon sashimi and nigiri, all of which was fresh and outstanding.  My vegetarian friend had the avocado maki rolls – which were probably the biggest surprise to me.  Most maki rolls that I have had in the past have been wrapped in seaweed the consistency of old boots.  These, however, had a wrapping of fresh and delicate seaweed that had a taste (as opposed to the taste of old boots!) and a consistency that you could actually bite through.  A revelation!  When it is available, the restaurant also serves yellowtail (a local fish) sashimi which is delicious and well worth trying.  Sushi ranges from about R30 – R45 for a portion of 3, 4 or 6 pieces; and assorted platters range from R140-R150.

Fushi desserts

In fact, we enjoyed ourselves so much that we went back later that same week for dinner, this time in the Fu.shi restaurant.  The restaurant was packed and service was a little slow, but it was very friendly and as we weren’t in a hurry, this wasn’t a big issue.  We started with yet more sushi, after which Nick had slow-braised chilli and garlic lamb (aka Angry Samurai!), and I had a heavenly dish of black tiger prawns in a turmeric and lemongrass cream on glass noodles (Stolen Moments of Ecstasy – indeed!).  But the stars of the show were without a doubt the desserts.  I had a Concubine’s Whisper which is a chilli chocolate fondant with pistachio brittle.  The chilli/chocolate combination can sometimes be unbalanced, but here the flavours were in perfect harmony and the deep chocolate flavour lingered with just enough of a tingle of chilli to liven things up.  But despite the deliciousness of my dessert, I still suffered menu envy when I tasted Nick’s.  He had gone for Kissing Behind the Mountain – a wasabi creme brulee.  I must admit, I was a bit wary, thinking that it might be amazing or it might be an ill-conceived experiment.  But one spoonful was enough to allay my fears – this was perfection on a spoon!  The creme brulee had a lovely thick consistency, specks of vanilla seeds and the usual burnt sugar and vanilla flavours, but each mouthful ended with the subtle palate-cleansing zing of wasabi.  Utterly, totally addictive and worth a drive to Plett just to have it.

Fushi wine

As we had brought along a rather special bottle of wine from our collection, I did not have a look at the wine list – mea culpa.  Instead I will tell you about the Rhebokskloof 2001 Chardonnay Grande Reserve (15.5% alc) which we had.  The 8 years of bottle age had done it no harm at all and had turned the colour into an incredible deep honey gold.  The nose was promising with zesty clementines and sweet vanilla notes.  On the palate, it had taken on characteristics of a dessert wine (dried apricots, sweet citrus fruits and complex nutty flavours), but there was no hint of sherry-like oxidation. The wood was definitely present but subtle and beautifully integrated. And the finish was astonishingly long – all in all a fabulous wine to go with a fabulous meal.

Although I would not say Fu.Shi is cheap, it certainly is not badly priced, with starters from R35-R50 and mains from R85-R110 (more for the soft shell crab).  The setting is so glamorous, you do feel a little as if you have steppd into a movie and as I said, the view is spectacular.  But most importantly, the food is outstanding:  innovatively created from carefully-sourced ingredients.   Just make sure you leave room for the wasabi creme brulee!

Fu.shi & BoMa Terrace
The Upper Deck Lifestyle Centre
3 Strand Street
Plettenberg Bay
6600
South Africa
Tel. +27 (0)44 533 6489

 

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  1. Charlotte says

    June 9, 2010 at 6:09 am

    My favourite Plett restaurant too, though I’ve never had the Wasabi Creme Brulee! Will have to change that on my next visit.

    Reply
  2. bellini valli says

    June 9, 2010 at 6:10 am

    Thanks for taking us on this armchair journey Jeanne.

    Reply
  3. Hila says

    June 9, 2010 at 8:57 am

    I havent been to Plett in YEARS! maybe its time for a visit. will have to wait till after the world cup when my husband isnt working

    Reply
  4. nina says

    June 9, 2010 at 11:04 am

    Was lucky enough to have a meal there in December…yum!!!!!

    Reply
  5. Marisa says

    June 9, 2010 at 3:32 pm

    I’ll definitely make a note to stop by there if ever I visit Plett, I’m a sucker for anything sushi.

    Reply
  6. Koek! says

    June 9, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    I was in Plett a few months ago and ate at The Grand (www.thegrand.co.za) – I highly recommend it next time your in the neighbourhood (if you haven’t been already). Really top notch food with good service and the most gorgeous decor and view. I’ll give fushi a try (for the view alone!) next time I pass through.
    As an aside, I’m in Cape Town CBD as I type this, and can hear vuvuzela’s all over the show. The vibe is incredible! Friday is going to be crazy!
    Robynx

    Reply
  7. Mowie says

    June 9, 2010 at 4:28 pm

    Jeanne! That food and that weather is all such a tease! So nice seeing you over the weekend, let’s meet up for that braai soon x

    Reply
  8. Myfrenchkitchen says

    June 10, 2010 at 10:57 am

    This looks SO wonderful…I don’t know it at all and will bookmark it for our visit next year…what lovely food, view, location…
    Ronelle

    Reply
  9. Juls @ Juls' Kitchen says

    June 10, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    Wasabi Creme Brule… that would bring me on the first flight!
    Creme brule in its own is one of my favourite dessert, but I’d be delighted to taste this version!

    Reply
  10. Valerie Lugonja says

    June 11, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    Jeanne, I can totally relate to your dismay regarding growth and movement within the quaintest of locals. It is so disturbing when city planners mess with historical sites – or consider economics over quality of live, the environment and history. And, with the BP spill now in the US, I am extraordinarily worried about our global future.
    All that aside, the meal looks like no other sushi restaurant I have ever been to – and I adore sushi. Thank you for sharing!
    🙂
    Valerie

    Reply
  11. Verdant says

    June 11, 2010 at 8:31 pm

    Nou is ek honger! Avocado maki is een van my gunstelinge :).

    Reply
  12. valentina says

    June 11, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    I have heard wonderful things about South Africa. Unfortunatelly I have not yet made my way there. One day. Just the location of fun shi amazed me. the first photo has a beautiful blue sky and I can just imagine that any meal in such settings can only start on a good note. On the Food blogger event, I wanted to say to you that I have just loved meeting you. The talks were great, very informative and humorous. i did say it to you then and I repeat – you are one witty girl. Lots of fun to be around you from what i could gather. Hopefully our paths will cross sometime. i will definitely be at the event in 2011.have a great weekend and congratulations on today’s footie results.a good start!v

    Reply
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

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