Le Regal – Old food, new taste
When asked about Vietnamese food, Americans usually think of phở busily churned out in small noodle houses crowded with plastic chairs and formica tables. Naturally, since most immigrants gather in their community, the variety of traditional food can only circulate in specific areas. A small fraction of the people have settled in a predominantly American neighborhood long enough and are acquainted with the system enough to set up a business, but they often target the young customers with adventurous taste. Meanwhile, most young customers can only afford low price, hence phở and other easily-made noodle dishes make their way to the top.
Careful circumspection would show that pasta alla carbonara requires no more effort than bún thịt nướng, so is it just a matter of gaudy names, flashy advertisement, and aging familiarity that brought one into fancy menus but not the other?
By no means do I want to sound like a snob, but every now and then I get cravings for a nice dinner in a restaurant aptly labeled “restaurant”. Ladles of this melting cheese and mounts of that grated cheese just no longer light the candle. A retouch of Far Eastern eloquence was much needed to make the aesthetic night.
The price is a little steep, but here are clothed tables, warm lights, an all-English menu, little to no disturbances from foreign chattering in the kitchen and among customers. A middle-aged woman, busy like a humming bird, scampered from kitchen to tables with plates in one hand, orders and bills in the other. For a restaurant with a fair size like Le Regal, one-person play seems a little overwhelming. But it works, our food was served within the time it took for us to make a few glances at the decor and exchange some daily news.
Fried rice is an easy dish, if you throw in some meat, some egg, some legumes, some salt and soy sauce, it can be called well done. Its volatility allows the cook to break free from shackles of recipes, and the eaters to relax from judging its missing-this or extra-that. There’s no fixed list of ingredients, no fixed standard other than appealing to the mouth, hence no objective criterion to rank a plate of fried rice among others. But if we were to nitpick, creativity would pump this one fried rice on top of all other Asian concoctions I’ve had, simply because of the addition of pineapple. There were only a few wedges in that mount, but pineapple is not one to be bullied by other ingredients, its tamed acidity seeps through every grain of rice, sweeter and more thorough than a squeeze of lemon. It helps lowering the guilt of consuming chicken, shrimp, scallops, pork, fried egg and zillions of molecules of saturated fat in frying oil. The rice also made tasty leftover for the next day.
As much as the cook was generous with the protein and the starch, they also gave us enough veggies for ten. At other Vietnamese restaurants, a small plate of sprouts topped with some basil is the usual allowance. Here came a basket of mounting garden goodies. I hadn’t seen any bunch of greens this big for years, especially since we weren’t asking for phở. Not sure what to do, we made lettuce wraps with bean sprout, a couple of leaves of basil and mint, and grilled beef from the other dish we ordered. Dipped in nuoc mam, the wraps were rad.
I’ve blogged about bánh hỏi thịt nướng before, so instead of blabbing about the lacy texture, I’d just say that this was delicious. Now clearly it’s a bit disproportionate, nowhere in Vietnam would you find so much meat accompanying so little banh hoi, the rice vermicelli must be the base. But the food pyramid seems to be upside down in America, where meat is vital in keeping you thin and at all cost one must say no to starch. The cook also went bizerk with deep fried shallots and crush peanuts, but those are easily brushed off if you’re not into contaminating grilled beef with relatives of vegetables.
Together with Tomatina, Alborz, some Mexican eatery, and Top Dog, Le Régal makes Center Street a road of international cuisine, of course an addition of kangaroo ragout and kitfo would be nice.
Bill before tip: $26.23 – dinner for two and leftover lunch for one.
Address:
Le Regal
2126 Center Street (between Oxford & Shattuck)
Berkeley, CA 94704
you’re truly a good webmaster. The web site loading pace is amazing. It kind of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a fantastic activity in this matter!
1This is the suitable blog for anybody who wants to seek out out about this topic. You notice so much its virtually hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, just nice!
2I like your writing style truly enjoying this web site.
3I am not really superb with English but I get hold this real easygoing to interpret.
4Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
5I got what you mean ,saved to fav, very decent site.
6This 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.
7Its like you read my thoughts! You seem to grasp so much about this, such as you wrote the e-book in it or something. I feel that you could do with some to force the message house a little bit, however other than that, this is great blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.
8Simply wish to say your article is as amazing. The clearness on your post is just excellent and i could suppose you’re knowledgeable on this subject. Well together with your permission let me to clutch your RSS feed to keep updated with drawing close post. Thanks a million and please continue the rewarding work.
9Some really nice and useful information on this site, likewise I conceive the design holds excellent features.
10Deference to post author, some fantastic selective information.
11This blog is definitely rather handy since I’m at the moment creating an internet floral website – although I am only starting out therefore it’s really fairly small, nothing like this site. Can link to a few of the posts here as they are quite. Thanks much. Zoey Olsen
12Rattling instructive and excellent bodily structure of written content, now that’s user genial (:.
13Only a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design.
14Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
15Thank you for another informative site. Where else could I get that type of info written in such an ideal way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such information.
16Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your theme. Many thanks
17When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Appreciate it!
18I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂
19I am no longer certain the place you are getting your information, but great topic. I must spend a while learning more or working out more. Thank you for fantastic info I was searching for this info for my mission.
20I have read several just right stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you set to make one of these wonderful informative site.
21Wonderful work! That is the kind of info that should be shared across the web. Shame on Google for no longer positioning this post upper! Come on over and consult with my website . Thank you =)
22It’s really a great and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
23Hello, i think that i noticed you visited my weblog thus i got here to “return the choose”.I’m trying to in finding issues to enhance my web site!I suppose its adequate to make use of a few of your ideas!!
24I have been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this website. Studying this info So i am satisfied to show that I have a very good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I such a lot definitely will make sure to do not put out of your mind this web site and provides it a glance regularly.
25Thank you for every other informative site. The place else may I am getting that type of info written in such a perfect manner? I have a challenge that I am just now operating on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such information.
26This actually answered my downside, thank you!
27Useful info. Lucky me I discovered your website by chance, and I am stunned why this twist of fate didn’t happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
28You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
29excellent post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector don’t notice this. You should continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
30Hi my friend! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all vital infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.
31Most of the things you articulate is astonishingly precise and that makes me ponder why I had not looked at this in this light previously. This particular article really did turn the light on for me personally as far as this particular issue goes. Nonetheless there is actually just one factor I am not really too comfortable with and whilst I try to reconcile that with the actual core theme of the point, allow me see just what all the rest of the subscribers have to say.Well done.
32Hello! 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.
33I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂
34Perfectly indited subject material, Really enjoyed examining.
35Simply wanna comment on few general things, The website layout is perfect, the subject material is real excellent : D.
36Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
37This really answered my problem, thank you!
38Its such as you read my mind! You seem to understand a lot about this, such as you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you simply could do with a few p.c. to pressure the message house a little bit, but other than that, that is wonderful blog. A great read. I’ll definitely be back.
39whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your posts. Stay up the good paintings! You realize, many persons are hunting round for this information, you can aid them greatly.
40Hello, you used to write fantastic, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a little out of track! come on!
41Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
42you are truly a just right webmaster. The website loading pace is amazing. It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a wonderful task on this subject!
43I’d must examine with you here. Which is not one thing I often do! I enjoy studying a post that can make folks think. Also, thanks for allowing me to remark!
44I have recently started a site, the info you provide on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
45This actually answered my downside, thanks!
46Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was once a enjoyment account it. Look advanced to more brought agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
47F*ckin’ awesome things here. I’m very glad to see your article. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a mail?
48Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
49Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Great. I’m also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.
50