At Shokolaat, dine slowly the French way
I was going to name this post “Dark dining,” but thought I should continue the French theme. We had French lunch, and here’s French dinner on the same day (we should have gotten a croissant for breakfast that morning for completeness, but oh well…). Sorry for the invisible pictures, didn’t want to disturb other customers around with the flash, and like an idiot I didn’t remember to switch my camera to candle light mode. I don’t know if that would have helped any though, the candle you see in the picture above is the only light source on the table. They meant to make a dreamy romantic setting, not one for inspection.
Let’s go straight to the food: 1. they were tasty, 2. they were small. Actually the girl next to our table couldn’t help but cried out the second remark when the food was brought to her, she also made a quick approximation that you could get 20 cheeseburgers from McDonald for the price of one of these dishes. That is true, but I don’t think I would enjoy 20 cheeseburgers as much as I enjoyed my pate chaud stuffed with quail (pictured), which appeared on the menu as “quail stuffed with brioche and foie gras pithivier, black truffle ice cream, tarragon veal jus.” Don’t get turned off by all the fancy names, (as unattractive as they may sound), because the most undesirable flavor in the bundle, which is the black truffle, is on the side thus easily avoidable. If you have not tried black truffle, it’s recommended that you try so that you know it’s very much the antonym of “good”, “pleasant”, or “alright”. Just gently move your brioche to a safe area outside the reach of the melting skunk, and eat. The brioche and the quail is simply excellent. Normally a pastry of that size would take me at most 4 bites, roughly 5 minutes, to finish. But in a restaurant like this, one oughta at least try to show some manner, so I cut the poor thing into tiny little bites and mostly licked the tip of my fork. I managed to finish in 15 minutes, with long breaks in between. The brioche kinda just melted in your mouth, and the quail was so tender you don’t really need to chew a whole lot. What slows you down is your tongue wanting to savour the sweet, buttery, slightly salty juice. Eating slowly also helps your tummy feel full, so that the modest size of the meal becomes reasonable.
We also ordered Australian lamb (it could be Californian lamb, who knows, right?). The picture didn’t come out very nicely, though. There is no weirdo in that dish, so it’s safe to enjoy everything and leave nothing left but the bones. Different taste, same deliciousness. The portion is also slightly more generous than the quail. 😉 If you’re still hungry, the bread brought out earlier while you were waiting for your entree is a good filler, albeit not a spectacular one.
The place was getting busy around 8:45. We had to make reservation earlier in the afternoon, but when we came we had a choice of sitting indoor or outdoor. That’s something many would consider quite neat in downtown Palo Alto, where you can have a nice walk along the narrow streets, glancing through windows of various shopping stores, cafes, and restaurants spilling out chairs on the pavement, or you can play the spectator role, sitting outside, gazing at people passing by. We opted for indoor, which explains the darkness. 😛 The seating would have been more comfortable if the tables next to us weren’t so close. In fact, the inside of the charming restaurant is a little cramped. There was hardly enough room for two skinny persons standing between a long dining table and the glass cabinets of chocolates. Oh yes, we did have desserts, and we spent some good time looking at the desserts to decide which one to get. Bittersweet chocolate cremeux (with banana and white rum), and chocolate caramel tart. Both served with some fruity ice cream. The cremeux was good, but a little ordinary. The tart oddly resembled the chicken crepe, with a taste of butter and cheese. The restaurant is called Shokolaat, I know, but unless one day I woke up kicking and screaming for some gold in my tummy, I would always go to Blue Danube Cafe for chocolate.
Dinner with dessert for two plus tip was $70. See website.
Address: Shokolaat
516 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 289-0719
Update: the portions are now bigger, according to Food Gal.
I truly appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again
1Hello. fantastic job. I did not expect this. This is a fantastic story. Thanks!
2I’m no longer sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or figuring out more. Thank you for excellent info I used to be in search of this information for my mission.
3Hi there are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my own. Do you require any coding expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
4Very nice article and straight to the point. I don’t know if this is actually the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thanks 🙂
5It’s really a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
6The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
7I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
8I like this blog so much, saved to bookmarks.
9Wow, superb blog format! How long have you been running a blog for? you made blogging glance easy. The whole glance of your site is great, as well as the content material!
10hi!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your article on AOL? I need a specialist on this area to solve my problem. Maybe that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
11I always was interested in this topic and stock still am, thanks for putting up.
12I am not really great with English but I line up this rattling easygoing to translate.
13Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and everything. Nevertheless think of if you added some great visuals or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and clips, this blog could certainly be one of the most beneficial in its niche. Awesome blog!
14When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
15wonderful post.Never knew this, appreciate it for letting me know.
16Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.
17I simply could not depart your web site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the usual info a person supply in your guests? Is gonna be again often in order to investigate cross-check new posts.
18Hey there, You’ve performed an excellent job. I will certainly digg it and in my opinion recommend to my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited from this site.
19Hello. splendid job. I did not anticipate this. This is a splendid story. Thanks!
20Very interesting points you have remarked, appreciate it for putting up.
21I used to be recommended this website by way of my cousin. I am not certain whether this submit is written via him as no one else know such certain approximately my problem. You’re incredible! Thank you!
22Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such wonderful info being shared freely out there.
23Very interesting subject, thankyou for posting. “Nothing is more wretched than the mind of a man conscious of guilt.” by Titus Maccius Plautus.
24I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog like this one these days..
25Hi my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this.
26The very root of your writing while sounding agreeable initially, did not really sit very well with me after some time. Someplace throughout the sentences you were able to make me a believer unfortunately only for a very short while. I nevertheless have a problem with your jumps in logic and you would do well to fill in all those breaks. If you can accomplish that, I could certainly be amazed.
27We stumbled over here from a different website and thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to going over your web page again.
28Hey very cool site!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find so many useful information here in the post, we need work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
29Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What an ideal site.
30Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!…
31naturally like your web-site however you have to test the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality nevertheless I will surely come again again.
32I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting. “The goal of revival is conformity to the image of Christ, not imitation of animals.” by Richard F. Lovelace.
33I am really impressed with your writing talents as smartly as with the layout to your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it your self? Anyway keep up the nice high quality writing, it is rare to see a nice weblog like this one nowadays..
34Its wonderful as your other articles : D, appreciate it for posting. “Music is the soul of language.” by Max Heindel.
35Some genuinely interesting details you have written.Assisted me a lot, just what I was looking for :D.
36I view something truly interesting about your website so I saved to bookmarks.
37It’s really a great and useful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
38certainly like your web site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the reality however I will surely come back again.
39I really appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again
40Would love to incessantly get updated outstanding web site! .
41Thanks for another informative website. Where else could I get that type of information written in such an ideal way? I have a project that I’m just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such information.
42I am impressed with this website , real I am a big fan .
43I like this website very much so much superb info .
44