Caresses at Caribou Café

It was Mama’s birthday on Sunday and the family decided to go to Caribou Café to celebrate her

A homemade treat, the pate had a rough texture and was not overpowering.

XXth birthday (After a certain age, women of a certain status remain ageless. They do however, still expect elegant gifts).

The suggestion was made by my brother and I have always admired the Parisian style café on the corner of 12 and Walnut for its warm lighting, colorful art décor posters and simple furnishings that was easy on the eyes. Our reservation was promptly confirmed at the door and we were seated shortly upstairs in a corner table.

My eyes lustfully wandered over the menu, so many choices, so little stomach space. I had already regretted eating that horrible spinach and cheese crepe at IKEA earlier. I really need to learn how to say no.

An aperitif to simulate my appetite, I order the Doubonnet fortified wine ($8), its light sweet taste reminding me of a good port and got me pondering whether to start with the cheese plate ($16 for 4 cheese) or the pâté du jour ($9.50). In the end, the choice was obvious. I got both. Stop giving me that you-are-a-fatty-look. I was going to share anyways.

The cheese plate was simple and to the point with a selection of cheeses that allowed us to sample a range of taste from sharp to creamy. The homemade pâté was a compliment and had a rough unprocessed texture which was nice because it differed from the usually smooth paste of the store bought version. The taste of the pâté was not overpowering and went well with the balsamic side salad that it was served with.

Onglet a l’echalote. Fancy name, not so fancy taste.

As lovely as the pâté was, what I really should have ordered was the rillettes de saumon ($10). The fresh salmon terrine along with the translucent thin cool cucumber slices was a joy to the palate. The dish’s elegant presentation coupled with its slight savory flavor set off my meal to an amazing start.

Sadly, our smooth flavorful journey stumbled on a rock with our main course the onglet a l’echalote ($22). The sliced beef fillet served medium, at the suggestion of the server, with shallot sauce was bland at best, even though I did enjoy the crispy fries it was served with. Ah well, cest la vie, you can’t win them all.

As I finished off my last mouthful of beef, I rushed to look at the menu again because what French meal is complete without dessert. I contemplated/struggled between the chocolate mousse ($7) and crepe bretonne ($6.50) before settling on the lighter of the two. The thin salty-sweet sugary treat really hit the spot and slowly sent me off into a blissful satisfied food coma.

Dear Caribou Café,

I know your waitress can’t really pronounce anything on the menu but I was really like her to at least try.

Xoxo

MOAF

Overall rating: 4.5/5

A Parisian Experience at Miel Patisserie

Although I wasn’t too impressed with Miel Patisserie’s bourgeois French inspired service the first time round, the sandwiches kept me coming back. When it is a frigid winter’s day and all you want is a hot crispy sandwich, this is a place to be.

Crispy tender heaven!

Hidden near Rittenhouse square at 204 South 17^th Street, this cozy café was packed at 1pm and I barely managed to snag a seat near the window. It was also clearly a hit with the ladies, I mean I was the only guy there, I kid you not. Well, I in drag I could pass of as a girl too.

If it is your first time to the corner café I absolutely must recommend the Le Miel sandwich ($7.95). This freshly prepared crispy pippin hot chicken fillet sandwich is served with delicious dripping melted brie and asparagus. Each crunchy bite is chocked full of tender flavor and sends me back to the chic sidewalks of the Champ Elysees.

Petite Sweets!

No meal at Miel Patisserie is complete without at least trying one of their many decadence pastries. Their chocolate cakes can be a little heavy at lunch and can put you into a food coma at that after lunch staff meeting (By the way, I think staff meetings after lunch should be outlawed in favor of an afternoon nap, productivity would soar.) I recommend the fruit tart, light, petite, and with just the right amount of custard sweetness, it is the perfect way to get your daily dose of vitamin C!

Dear Miel Patisserie,

Je vous adore.

Xoxo

MOAF

Overall rating: 4/5

Safe Dishes at Sawatdee

Pad Ka Prao Talay. It was a cuddle fest.

Being born and raised on the island of Singapore, Thailand is just hop, skip and a jump away and is one of my favorite places to visit for its rich history, vibrant cities and of course its spicy and flavorful dishes. And so when I arrived at Sawatdee, on the corner of 15^th and South, for my usual Friday get together dinner with the gurls, I was ready to be blown, away.  By the spices of course.

I order the standard Thai iced tea ($2.95) for starters, which is a strong black sweet tea served condensed milk but like most of the Thai ice teas that I have sampled in Philadelphia it is missing the combination of Thai spices, such as ground tamarind and star anise mixed in with the drink, that gives it its extra oomph.

My main dish was the Pad Ka Prao Talay ($13.95) which is seafood served in a chili garlic sauce and it was more garlic than chili. I ordered it with the expectation of having the flavors of a Falcon Studio orgy in my mouth but what I really got a cuddle fest with a good chick flick for two. It’s not that the dish was bad or that it was bland, but it was just missing that bang.

Thai custard with sticky rice. Sweet creamy Thai heaven

Dessert made up for it as the end with their Thai custard with sticky rice ($5). The sweet smooth coconut custard mixed with creamy sticky rice brought tears of nostalgia to my eyes and scenes of the sun kissed beaches and tall elegant waving coconut trees. I think that is the true magic of food, it is not something that you not only enjoy but also have an experience with.

Dear Sawatdee,

ขอบคุณ! แต่ครั้งต่อไปที่คุณจะกรุณาให้ฉันอาหารจานเผ็ดมากขึ้น?

Xoxo

MOAF

Overall Rating: 3.5/5