Flavor Boulevard

We Asians like to talk food.
Subscribe

Cafe Renaissance

August 20, 2008 By: Mai Truong Category: California - The Bay Area

On a Saturday evening what would you want for dinner? Sure, I could stay in, fry an egg, heat up a can of corn and call it a meal, or order pizza, or go to a hamburger place in town just to say I go out every now and then, but would that really worth a Saturday evening? As usual, we use Citysearch to find new places. Chinese, Indian, Mexican, American, and Thai never make it to my list. Nothing against them, they’re just a bit too… usual. I’ll admit I can hardly distinguish enchilada from quesadilla (without looking them up on Wikipedia), because I don’t even remember when was the last time I ate something Mexican. I also can’t think of any Indian dishes other than curry and naan, because I’ve hardly had anything else remotely Indian. So those food definitely aren’t usual to me, but they are the usual options you get when someone takes you out to eat. Next in line boarding boredom plane is Italian. Tomato sauce, cheese, pasta, that’s about it, right?
5pm. We opt for Persian tonight.


Greeting us is an Asian lady. (By this point I would no longer be surprised if someone told me Californian meant Asian.) The door is kept opened, warm (no AC, of course) and welcoming (a dog almost ventures into the place had his owner not yanked him out). We choose a tiny table in the corner, looking out through the glass walls to the slow afternoon street. The menu is neatly placed on the front door, so we go in quickly placing our orders. Pomegranate chicken (khoresh-e fesenjan) and souffle (kuku-ye sabzi) we get.
The chicken comes with rice and a big plate of salad. The souffle comes with a tuft of salad and no rice, but a few dolmas. What is the white sauce on top of the dolmas? Please tell me if you know.


Does she arrange the smiley face on purpose? 🙂
This is the first time I have dolma. I later find out the leaves are grape leaves, and I taste something like mung bean and sticky rice in the roll, but other than that I can’t dissect the ingredients of a dolma. The grape leaves give a zing on the tongue, a little too tart, like a lime clinging tight to your taste buds. Hard to explain, it’s just a tight taste. The stuffing is mild, but not too plain. Next time eating dolmas I’d discard the leaves and go for the stuffing.

The souffle is much kinder to the taste buds. It’s like eating a veggie pudding. It tastes veggie and soft. I like how menus in America have detailed description of the dishes. I wouldn’t have been able to tell what was there otherwise.

What about the chicken?


It looks nothing like a dolma, not even close in colors, but it tastes like a dolma, only a degree higher of tart tightness. Is pomegranate related to grape?
My tongue curls and shrivels at the touch of the sauce, but it enjoys the tender, juicy, flavorful chicken meat under. I can handle only a few bites before giving the chicken to Mudpie, who is a fan of the sauce. Carnivore I may be, but plain ole souffle is a soothing delight.

For a little more than $15, we also get paper pita bread to warm up at the beginning and really caring service from the hostess throughout the whole meal. She thinks it is cute that we trade plates.

Address: Cafe Renaissance (Persian cuisine and American sandwiches)
321 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 321-6222

0 Comments to “Cafe Renaissance”


  1. I have been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this website. Studying this info So i’m satisfied to express that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to don’t omit this site and provides it a glance on a continuing basis.

    1
  2. I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site. Studying this info So i’m happy to express that I have a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I so much undoubtedly will make certain to do not overlook this web site and give it a look on a continuing basis.

    2
  3. My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different page and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to going over your web page repeatedly.

    3
  4. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

    4
  5. An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

    5
  6. Hey this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

    6
  7. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such magnificent info being shared freely out there.

    7
  8. Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.

    8
  9. I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…

    9
  10. I enjoy foregathering utile information , this post has got me even more info! .

    10
  11. I’ve recently started a web site, the info you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.

    11
  12. I’ve read some good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to make such a magnificent informative site.

    12
  13. I’m writing to let you know what a extraordinary experience our daughter gained visiting yuor web blog. She came to understand such a lot of things, which included what it’s like to possess an awesome teaching nature to have men and women very easily fully understand certain tortuous matters. You really exceeded our own expectations. I appreciate you for coming up with such helpful, trustworthy, informative and as well as unique thoughts on that topic to Sandra.

    13
  14. so much wonderful info on here, :D.

    14
  15. Its like you learn my thoughts! You seem to grasp a lot approximately this, like you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you simply can do with a few to power the message house a bit, however other than that, this is magnificent blog. A great read. I will certainly be back.

    15
  16. Some genuinely nice and utilitarian information on this website , too I conceive the pattern contains wonderful features.

    16
  17. Perfectly composed subject matter, Really enjoyed reading.

    17
  18. After study just a few of the blog posts in your web site now, and I truly like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website listing and will be checking again soon. Pls check out my web page as nicely and let me know what you think.

    18
  19. Some times its a pain in the ass to read what blog owners wrote but this web site is rattling user genial! .

    19
  20. With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of completely unique content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my permission. Do you know any methods to help reduce content from being ripped off? I’d genuinely appreciate it.

    20
  21. Hi there! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa? My site goes over a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you are interested feel free to shoot me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Great blog by the way!

    21
  22. You completed several good points there. I did a search on the issue and found nearly all persons will have the same opinion with your blog.

    22
  23. Hi, i feel that i saw you visited my website thus i got here to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to in finding things to enhance my web site!I suppose its good enough to use a few of your ideas!!

    23
  24. Good day! I just would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the great info you’ve right here on this post. I shall be coming back to your blog for more soon.

    24
  25. Good day very cool web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally…I am satisfied to search out numerous helpful info here in the submit, we’d like work out extra strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

    25
  26. Veja como revisar TCC nas normas ABNT com checklist prático de estrutura, capa, sumário, citações e referências antes da entrega.

    26
  27. I really like looking at and I think this website got some genuinely useful stuff on it! .

    27
  28. Thank you for sharing with us, I think this website really stands out :D.

    28
  29. Some genuinely nice stuff on this site, I love it.

    29
  30. great publish, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector do not realize this. You should proceed your writing. I am confident, you have a huge readers’ base already!

    30
  31. Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My website is in the very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Thanks!

    31
  32. The subsequent time I learn a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I truly thought youd have one thing interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you would repair for those who werent too busy searching for attention.

    32
  33. Hi there, I discovered your site by the use of Google while searching for a related matter, your site got here up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

    33
  34. Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    34
  35. you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?

    35
  36. I’ve read some good stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to create one of these wonderful informative website.

    36
  37. I enjoy you because of all of your work on this web page. My mother delights in working on investigations and it is obvious why. A lot of people hear all about the compelling form you create good guidelines on your website and as well increase participation from the others on that concept and our favorite daughter is without question learning a great deal. Take pleasure in the rest of the new year. You’re doing a really good job.

    37
  38. good post.Never knew this, thanks for letting me know.

    38
  39. You made some nice points there. I looked on the internet for the subject matter and found most persons will approve with your site.

    39
  40. You made a few good points there. I did a search on the subject and found the majority of persons will agree with your blog.

    40
  41. I visited a lot of website but I believe this one has got something extra in it in it

    41
  42. There is noticeably a bundle to find out about this. I assume you made sure good points in options also.

    42
  43. magnificent put up, very informative. I wonder why the opposite experts of this sector do not realize this. You must proceed your writing. I’m confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!

    43
  44. Very interesting subject , thankyou for putting up.

    44
  45. Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your site in web explorer, could test thisK IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a big component of folks will omit your magnificent writing due to this problem.

    45
  46. Heya this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding experience so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    46
  47. Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Many thanks

    47
  48. Simply want to say your article is as astounding. The clarity in your publish is simply nice and that i could think you’re an expert on this subject. Fine along with your permission allow me to snatch your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please keep up the rewarding work.

    48
  49. Great paintings! This is the kind of info that should be shared around the internet. Shame on the search engines for no longer positioning this submit higher! Come on over and consult with my site . Thanks =)

    49
  50. Good write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s website, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.

    50


Leave a Reply