Last week I was invited to a #DateWithArnold at Belle’s Patisserie, BluBird Shopping Centre in the Melrose Arch precinct. For those that may not know what Belle’s Patisserie is all about, take a look at this…

However, this shindig wasn’t just about the sweet treats. It was about a new summer menu that upholds the excellence one has come to expect from the Belle’s name. Founded in Linda Lipshcitz’s kitchen five years ago, the Belle’s Patisserie brand has grown into four boutique stores across Johannesburg and Pretoria, where a love for food, a passion for baking and an enthusiasm for creating mouth-watering taste sensations is evident in all aspects of the business. Belle’s prides itself in creating fresh, wholesome, sweet and savoury food that is packed full of flavour, and Belle’s Head Chef, Arnold Stuurman, has created just that!

Keeping up with food trends found in restaurants in Paris, Rome and New York, the new menu includes delicious dishes such as Cilantro lemon fish cakes served on sliced lemon side green salad and honey mustard mayo. Take a look at these two fish dishes for example - YUM!

In addition to the regular new menu items, Belle’s customers can enjoy guilt-free delicacies off of the Belle’s trademarked Skinny Menu. New Skinny Menu offerings include pecan cranberry shortbread, chocolate vegan cupcakes, and lemon and almond biscotti. With a variety of Banting, paleo and low GI alternatives, even the most health-conscious are able to enjoy famous Belle’s sweet treats.

Also, one can expect a number of new and exciting ventures from Belle's going forward and that includes a store in East Gate. Other new launches include the tapas menu available exclusively at the Belle's Pretoria branch, as well as a selection of new innovative cakes.

Let me try and tickle your taste buds with these...

Images via Schelaine Bennett and Belle's Patisserie.