Crêpes Café – another home for the French curl
With vision unstoppable by foliage, Mudpie saw the sign above hidden behind rows of trees as we were roaming Menlo Park for a lunch spot on a Friday afternoon one month ago. Question asked, “should we go there or keep looking for something else?”, as we drove past another block. It should be noted that we missed a turn once, chose direction by random illogical preference (as I had no idea where which direction led to). We also passed a bunch of places with clarity and apparent popularity, or places that Mudpie has tried before. But we were out for a food hunt, not chicken shopping at grocery stores, and this place fits the adventure. Answer made, “let’s go there.” So turn we did, a parking spot was not too hard to find on the side of the place, passing by the nonchalant gaze of customers sitting outdoor and in we went.
I can’t quite call it a restaurant. Some call every eating stop with chairs and tables a restaurant, but this is an example of one that doesn’t fit into the category. A restaurant is brisk. The bistro is relaxing. Paintings on the wall for sale, empty wooden seats painted blue, wooden tables with a filled glass water jug to help yourself and a trifling vase of fresh flowers. The usual small box of sweetener and salt, which I play with while waiting. I can’t remember if there was AC, but it was comfortable. The menu says it’s a family business, and it sure looks like it. A friendly but quiet young lady greeted us at the counter, and as we stumbled around the menu overhead, a stocky man in his 30s, who turned out to be the chef, cordially invited us to seat ourselves and gave us two menus in print. We felt better as we were no longer blocking the narrow entrance to the counter. There was no customer inside.
Normally I like to plunge right into something weird catchy on the menu, but since I had such a hot wonderful savourastic chicken crepe one wintry night on the street right outside the WSCTC, I couldn’t resist the memory and ordered Chicken & Creamy Dijon Sauce savory crepe this time. With a little persuasion, Mudpie overcame the American disgust distrust for pâté, and ordered Duck Rillettes (duck meat pate with cornichon on baguette). (I felt elevated as if I could speak French.)
A peek inside.
It is so simple, just like the atmosphere of the bistro itself. A layer of rillettes, a few cornichons (pickled gherkins), sandwiched between two pieces of bread. As Mudpie noted, it’s something you can make at home, if you know where to get or how to make rillettes. The additional quirky cornichons were perhaps supposed to be a contrast to the smooth, tender, savory rillettes, but sometimes contradiction doesn’t really enhance things. I took them out and nibbled them by themselves. (Had to drink a lot of water after each nibble). Meat pate is a little different from liver pate and a little similar to spam. It is not at all bitter, a little crumblier than spam, and far tastier. I’m getting hungry… For me pate is ranked right up there with marinated cha lua and a real brown crispy cha gio. I never grow tired of them. I even had rice mixed with pate. Mudpie, once muttered “… gross pate…”, also agreed that the sandwich was good.
It’s Crepes Cafe, so how’s the crepe? Looks big and fantastic. Not to mention a really good salad tuft. I usually cringe every time I fork in my mouth some leafy bundle dripping with some sour salad dressing, but this time I didn’t. I finished every leaf and twig. It was creamy and gentle. Next I cut the crepe, folded each half so that they covered the embarrassingly exposed chicken cuts, and forked in. The chicken was tender, but not flavorful enough to excite the crepe. It was good. It satisfied every requirement of a standard crepe. Was it memorably good? I’m not sure. Maybe the lack of a cold, wet, wintry Seattle night makes it less desirable than my first steamy encounter outside the WSCTC. I’m a wanderer, I like wind and rain in my food. (A little butter might do just as well.) Was it a filling lunch? You bet. Even the young lady at the counter said so. We couldn’t go for dessert.
Would I come here again given the chance? Yes, if it’s just for an escape from the busy life. The air of this place is French. Bring your laptop here, or a newspaper. Who knows, you may even find your soulmate under one of those parasols. It’s casual and relaxing.
…Maybe not so relaxing for the chef. Those pancakes were being made right behind the counter, isn’t that neat? For such a quiet emollient lunch hideout, I was hoping they didn’t have a website, but here it is. Can you ever escape the internet these days?
Address: Crepes Cafe
1195 Merrill Street (at the corner of Oak Grove Ave)
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 473-0506
Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
1I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
2You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
3I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be exactly what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome web log!
4You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
5I am writing to let you be aware of what a notable discovery my wife’s princess found browsing yuor web blog. She mastered too many issues, not to mention how it is like to have a great giving heart to have certain people clearly know just exactly specific extremely tough things. You truly did more than visitors’ expected results. I appreciate you for churning out these informative, safe, revealing not to mention cool tips on your topic to Sandra.
6Hi there, simply become aware of your weblog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am gonna be careful for brussels. I will be grateful when you proceed this in future. A lot of folks can be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
7Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a high risk decision outstanding post! .
8Merely a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding layout. “Treat the other man’s faith gently it is all he has to believe with.” by Athenus.
9Thankyou for this post, I am a big big fan of this web site would like to go along updated.
10I really value your work, Great post.
11I’ve recently started a site, the info you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
12This really answered my problem, thank you!
13As a Newbie, I am continuously exploring online for articles that can be of assistance to me. Thank you
14This is the fitting weblog for anybody who wants to seek out out about this topic. You realize a lot its virtually hard to argue with you (not that I actually would need…HaHa). You positively put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
15Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
16Whats up very cool blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I am glad to seek out so many useful info here in the put up, we want develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
17Wow! Thank you! I continually wanted to write on my blog something like that. Can I implement a portion of your post to my blog?
18I’ve recently started a website, the information you offer on this site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
19Excellent site. Plenty of useful information here. I’m sending it to several buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you for your effort!
20Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it, you’re a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will come back from now on. I want to encourage one to continue your great work, have a nice day!
21As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can benefit me. Thank you
22Wow! Thank you! I permanently needed to write on my blog something like that. Can I take a part of your post to my website?
23After I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the identical comment. Is there any manner you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
24I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Excellent work!
25Thanks, I’ve recently been looking for info about this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now. But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure about the source?
26I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
27I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this site. Thank you, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?
28What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & help other users like its aided me. Good job.
29It’s actually a great and helpful piece of information. I’m happy that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
30An attention-grabbing discussion is worth comment. I think that it is best to write extra on this subject, it won’t be a taboo topic but usually people are not sufficient to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
31I like this website because so much utile material on here :D.
32What i don’t understood is actually how you are not really much more well-liked than you might be right now. You are so intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!
33I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
34Hi my friend! I wish to say that this article is amazing, great written and come with almost all significant infos. I’d like to see extra posts like this .
35Deference to website author, some wonderful information .
36Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions? Cheers
37Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write on my blog something like that. Can I implement a fragment of your post to my website?
38There are some attention-grabbing cut-off dates on this article however I don’t know if I see all of them center to heart. There is some validity however I’ll take hold opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we wish more! Added to FeedBurner as well
39I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
40With havin so much written content do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my permission. Do you know any techniques to help protect against content from being ripped off? I’d certainly appreciate it.
41I do believe all of the ideas you’ve offered on your post. They are very convincing and will certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are too short for beginners. Could you please lengthen them a bit from next time? Thank you for the post.
42Howdy! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!
43I used to be recommended this web site by means of my cousin. I am now not positive whether this put up is written through him as no one else recognize such specific about my difficulty. You’re wonderful! Thanks!
44Hello. splendid job. I did not imagine this. This is a remarkable story. Thanks!
45Only a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw great design.
46I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
47Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
48hey there and thanks on your information – I’ve definitely picked up something new from right here. I did then again experience some technical issues the use of this website, as I skilled to reload the web site a lot of occasions prior to I may just get it to load correctly. I have been brooding about if your web host is OK? No longer that I am complaining, but sluggish loading circumstances times will very frequently have an effect on your placement in google and could injury your high quality rating if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot extra of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again very soon..
49Generally I do not read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice post.
50