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

Secret Sexy Salads at Tabu.

Its 9pm on a Monday and I had just finished a long day of pouring over press theories in authoritarian governments and tutoring the football team. My brain was shot and I was suppose to meet a friend for a well needed vodka tonic at Tabu, the local gay sports bars on 12^th and Locust.

The place was pretty crowded for a Monday night with people lining the bars watching football/basketball/baseball/I don’t know pick one, if it was up to me they be playing Family Guy on the big screen. I walked up to the bar about to crabbily demand some liquid sustenance when a tiny rumble escaped my belly. I thought to myself, I probably don’t need the empty calories anyways and asked if the kitchen was still opened.

Lo and behold, the kitchen was opened till 10pm and it was 930pm. I took a seat at the back and eyed a list of burger, nachos and chicken fingers. Urgh, maybe that vodka tonic was a better caloric option. Then, I look down at their salad list. Now normally I am not very excited about salads (balsamic= boring) but if I ate a hoagie right now I would go to bed feeling like a pageant cow so I opt for the Tabu salad with grilled chicken instead($6.95 + $3 for the chicken(Got to have that protein)).

Thank God, I managed to complete that thought before the server came because when he did I must have slurred like a stroke victim for a few seconds as he took my order. (Read: OMFG! If there was God’s signature on a face it would be this man) I will not dribble on any further because I can easily fill in two pages about the beauty of this fine specimen and that’s for another blog.

The salad came in a good size portion and originally called for pomegranate vinaigrette but I opt for the   light Thai vinaigrette instead and it blended seamlessly with the mixed greens grilled chicken and cashew nuts. The chicken was juicy and tender and the hidden julienne green apples that I found gave the salad that wonderful sour crunch. Each bite resurrected the brain cells I had lost during my star struck coma and I feel full and not stuffed at the end of the meal. Although I would have like some stuffing… Ok I have to stop.

Dear Tabu,

Is your server single?

Xoxo

MOAF

Rating: 4.5/5

10/5 for the server

Meatball Madness at Marabella’s Meatballs

$7 for three meatballs?! What are you smoking Marabella?! Puff, puff, and pass please! I thought

I can't decide whether it should oink or moo.

that maybe it was a joke but sure enough the guy in front of me was handed a sad looking little white plastic bowl with sure enough three meatballs and some sauce. This was going to be challenging. I had wandered into the new addition to Walnut Street because it was not too far away from Café Twelve where I do most of my work and wanted something quick, there was barely anyone there at 1pm, and filling which was the challenge because it looked like it was going to be expensive. (read: broke college student) The standard bowl was three meatballs for $7 and it you wanted pasta or a side it was going to cost you an extra $4, each. Hell, no.

So in the end, I opted for the compromise which was the pasta dinner for $9 which came with 2 meatballs and a choice of sauce and pasta. The lady behind the counter listed what I thought would be my choice of meatballs, chicken, beef, pork and veal but instead told me the meal came with a blend of all four meats. Interesting.

My bowl came flanked by two pieces of what I assumed to be garlic toast but really was toast, dry and brittle, with the thought of garlic. The generous serving of sauce on the other hand/spoon was fantastic, rich and savory; the deep red color stood out against the brown whole wheat penne and left a definite garlic tomato taste in my mouth that was accented by the sharp taste of locatelli cheese, a hard salty Italian cheese.

The meatballs on the other hand were rather confusing and the blend of the meats did not sit well with me as they left me guessing as to what they should taste like. As they say too many chefs spoil the broth and it was unfortunate that the highlight of Marabella’s Meatballs were not her meatballs.

Dear Marabella,

I’ll get my people to call your people?

Xoxo

MOAF