As it opened last August, it is the first time Palais des Gourmets is offering its products for the end-of-year season. But Sébastien Ducray is optimistic: “People have kept on coming to the shop for their special festive meal to buy food and drinks – specially champagne and quality wine. I suppose they are used to our products and are sure they will obtain quality when they shop here.” Regular customers have even booked some products even before coming to the shop. This is the case for oysters and salmon…

Traditional seasonal products remain the favourite purchase of customers at Palais des Gourmets. If homemade ham (with cloves and honey), Christmas puddings and Yule logs are among the “best-sold” items for Xmas, oysters, salmon and foie gras add to the list for the New Year. “People are also fond of chicory, as we are the only one providing it in Mauritius,” Sébastien explains. They have also started making special bread with olives, yoghurt or nuts for Xmas but “people like it so much that we may continue all year round”.

This adds to the usual ham and slicing sausage, terrine, breasts of duck… As for the desserts proposed for New Year, chocolate mousse will certainly be on top of the list.

But Palais des Gourmets does not only import luxury products; it also provides for ready-cooked dishes. It seems most customers buy raw products especially concerning seafood like oysters, salmon or prawns – in other words, all products that do not take long to cook. For all other products (especially poultry), many will go for ready-cooked meals. The original dishes made by the boutique’s chef like the traditional stuffed turkey or duck for instance have been enough to convince the clients. “Most people do not want to spend hours in their kitchen for the festivities. They prefer to have ready-cooked dishes if they are guaranteed good quality.”

<B>Special menus for diabetics and vegans</B>

Palais des Gourmets has not forgotten those who, for one reason or another, cannot eat everything. With as much refinement, they have set special dishes for vegetarians and diabetics. Packs of home-made tortellini or ravioli made with goat’s cheese and honey or spinach are available for instance in the boutique. As for diabetics, the chef can prepare “cakes or desserts made with special imported chocolate that does no harm to health,” insists owner Benoit Ducray. These are available on special order…