Who would have thought that changing a carpet would make such a huge difference to the look of a restaurant - especially one that looks out onto an unkempt race track long past its sell-by date! Well THEE COFFEE SHOPPE at Ascot Race Track in Bulawayo did just that and it looks like a million bucks now!! Eating out is not about the food - anyone who eats out can tell you that one for free. Its about the location, the buzz, the social interaction and above all the `Trend'. Which restaurant will we eat in today, who will we see - more importantly who will see us.

Anyone living in Bulawayo will know that restaurants are on the up - its a cafe culture that is growing fast and every week you hear about someone who has or soon will be opening up a little munch spot. Anyone living in Bulawayo will also know that there are just not enough people to support all these places so its a bit like a lottery. Do we feel like Chicken Breasts with Salad done with the special kind of marinade that makes Thee Coffee Shoppe famous, or will it be Chicken Liver and Chips, the signature dish as The River Cafe. Will we brush shoulders with the Tea Ladies every Wednesday or wait for the Bulawayo's finest on a Sunday at The Hillside Dams Boma.

Whatever your choice - watch this spot - I eat out a lot !

Tina