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
Only a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw great style and design. “Individuals may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.” by Benjamin Disraeli.
1I like your writing style genuinely enjoying this website .
2I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again!
3This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
4It is the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read even more things about it!
5The subsequent 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 learn, but I actually thought youd have one thing interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you might fix if you werent too busy on the lookout for attention.
6I’m so happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that is at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
7Good, I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs as well as related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, website theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Nice task.
8Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your website in internet explorer, could test this… IE still is the market chief and a good element of people will pass over your magnificent writing due to this problem.
9Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any points for newbie blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.
10My programmer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on a variety of websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform. I have heard good things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it? Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!
11Hi there, I found your web site via Google while searching for a related topic, your web site came up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
12You are a very intelligent individual!
13Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
14Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
15As soon as I found this web site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
16Hey, you used to write great, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
17Hi there, I discovered your web site by means of Google at the same time as looking for a similar matter, your site got here up, it seems great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
18Hey I am so grateful I found your blog, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a marvelous post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the fantastic work.
19Regards for this post, I am a big fan of this web site would like to go on updated.
20I was examining some of your blog posts on this internet site and I believe this internet site is really informative ! Keep putting up.
21You have remarked very interesting details! ps nice site. “High school is closer to the core of the American experience than anything else I can think of.” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr..
22Good blog! I truly love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a great day!
23This really answered my problem, thank you!
24great put up, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite specialists of this sector don’t understand this. You must proceed your writing. I’m confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
25Valuable information. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
26I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i am glad to exhibit that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I so much no doubt will make sure to do not fail to remember this site and give it a glance on a continuing basis.
27I’ve learn a few excellent stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create this type of excellent informative website.
28I am glad for writing to let you be aware of of the magnificent experience my cousin’s girl obtained going through your blog. She mastered such a lot of pieces, not to mention what it is like to have a great giving nature to have the others very easily master specified specialized things. You actually did more than our expected results. Thanks for distributing those great, trustworthy, edifying and also cool tips on the topic to Tanya.
29I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
30I’d constantly want to be update on new posts on this web site, saved to favorites! .
31I went over this web site and I think you have a lot of wonderful info , saved to my bookmarks (:.
32The next time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I do know it was my choice to learn, but I truly thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you would fix in the event you werent too busy searching for attention.
33I am extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one nowadays..
34I simply couldn’t go away your site before suggesting that I extremely loved the usual info a person provide for your guests? Is gonna be again continuously in order to inspect new posts.
35Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
36I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
37Hello there, just was alert to your blog via Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Many people shall be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
38I like this weblog very much so much fantastic info .
39This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
40I think other website owners should take this web site as an model, very clean and wonderful user pleasant design and style.
41You are my aspiration, I possess few web logs and infrequently run out from brand :). “No opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.” by W. H. Auden.
42What’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 contribute & aid different customers like its helped me. Good job.
43hey there and thank you in your information – I have certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did on the other hand experience some technical issues using this site, as I experienced to reload the site a lot of occasions prior to I may just get it to load correctly. I had been brooding about if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading cases times will very frequently impact your placement in google and could injury your quality rating if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my email and could glance out for much extra of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this again soon..
44I have not checked in here for some time since I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
45I’d incessantly want to be update on new articles on this web site, saved to my bookmarks! .
46I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
47Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!
48Thanks for the good writeup. It if truth be told was once a entertainment account it. Glance complex to more delivered agreeable from you! However, how can we keep in touch?
49Pretty part of content. I simply stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to assert that I get actually loved account your weblog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing for your augment and even I fulfillment you access persistently quickly.
50