The Puente Romano is fast becoming a reference for gourmet dining in Marbella, from Michelin star fine dining to the Parisian chic of Les Deux.
Set upon a charming little square within the exclusive Andalusian-styled complex of the Puente Romano resort, Les Deux is the kind of establishment that brings a much-needed touch of chic elegance to Marbella.
Step inside and you think you’ve entered one of Paris’s famous sweet shops, for its stylish interior is not only made for a classic afternoon tea, it is also enlivened with the eye-catching tones of beautifully displayed macarons in a variety of delicious flavours.
Les Deux is heaven for those with a sweet tooth, and not surprisingly it does offer high tea, complete with finger sandwiches, in the very best of settings. A more exotic version of this tradition includes Arabic pastries based on almonds and honey that are best enjoyed with Moroccan mint tea.
But there is more to Les Deux than its pretty salon and the pleasures of its freshly homemade macarons and other sweet delights, for this is also a very stylish crêperie. Perhaps more Parisian in its elegant décor and ambience, it builds on the traditions of Brittany, whose exquisite thin and delicate crepes form the basis for a wide range of fillings and varieties.
Sweet or savoury
Chef Romi is a specialist in the field, having both trained in Brittany and worked at the finest establishments. His crepes are wafer thin and perfect in consistency and flavour, providing just the right conduit for the topping of your choice.
Though crepes are generally associated with sweet combinations such as strawberry and cream, they also combine beautifully with cheese, mushrooms and other ingredients to produce a delicious savoury snack.
Basking in the March sun on the pleasant terrace of Les Deux, we decided to opt for both: a savoury crepe as our main course and a sweet one for dessert! It may sound a little indulgent, for the restaurant also offers salads, club sandwiches and other light meals, but the feather-light crepes are actually an ideal option if you’re not looking for a heavy lunch.
In fact, Les Deux is open from 9am to 8pm, and later in summer, making it the ideal spot for a savoury snack or sweet temptation throughout the day.
In addition to a choice of enticing sweet and savoury options, the restaurant also offers a variety of versions, ranging from the classic crepe to little maki crepes cut and presented in the sushi style and arromières – fluffy crepes folded into a pretty basket.
From our spot on the sunny, chilled terrace we enjoyed a glass of Halbtrocken Pfalz Riesling as we watched the chef prepare the crepes, which consisted of a Musketeer and a Honeymoon.
The former is a true savoury treat in the form of Emmental, Roquefort and goat’s cheese that simply melts on the tongue and makes your toes curl in delight. The Honeymoon is a little gentler, including goat’s cheese, baby spinach, honey, cherry tomatoes and chives – just the thing for a light, refreshing meal.
Dessert!
Dessert at Les Deux is naturally a high point, and you’re sorely tempted to run inside and scoop up some of the beautifully presented pastries on display, but we remained loyal to the crepes right to the end – well, almost.
The two classics we chose, Grand Marnier and salted butter caramel, were wonderful, but you could also go for a Crêpe Suzette or a British style lemon and sugar among many different varieties.
At this point it is good to mention that even people who are gluten and lactose intolerant needn’t pass up on the crepes, as a special version using a wheat called Sarazin is available in crêpes that also don’t make use of dairy products. Of course, you’d have to pay attention to the topping you choose, but it’s great that the option is there.
To round off a delightful sunny lunch we concluded with a cup of elegantly presented tea accompanied by some of those pretty macarons. The colour and flavour combinations are joyful, and I’m glad to say the melt-on-the-tongue flavour is as good as the captivating looks.
For a high tea, a stylish sweet indulgence or a delicious light meal, Les Deux continues the Puente Romano tradition of bringing the world’s best culinary traditions to Marbella.
Words Michel Cruz / Photography Kevin Horn
Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa, Marbella. Tel: 951 194 760.