Glasshalfull is the Right Perspective on Life

Tonight we had the good fortune to find ourselves free for a dinner out. Little G was playing with a friend, and when we tried to retrieve her around dinner time, she was having too much fun to head home. Never ones to look a gift horse in the mouth, we took the opportunity to try a new place (new to us anyway).

Across from our beloved Neal's Deli sits Glasshalfull, a Tapas Bar/Restaurant/Wine Bar/Wine Store. As you can see from the description, there seems to be a bit of an identity crisis, which may have been a reason for our reluctance to try it out. All I can say is that I am sorry that I wasted 17 months in Chapel Hill without dining here.

The restaurant has a great energy and interior space that is open and inviting . Exposed, distressed brick walls and warm lighting give the space an urban vibe that belies the Carrboro location. There's a large patio for outdoor dining in the warmer months.

You Had Me at Pisco Sour

We arrived fairly early, around 6:15, and decided to sit at the bar vs. a table. The bar is large and horseshoe-shaped, with a large granite counter, perfect for spreading out the small plate selections.

The wine list is on the front of the menu, which indicates the seriousness of the owners about beverages. I spotted a J Vineyards rose champagne by the glass and Big G ordered a Girodano prosecco. One of the things I liked about the wine service was that you could order the wine in 3 oz. or 5 oz. pours, giving you the opportunity to taste lots of things.

After settling in with our bubbles, we started to peruse the menu which offered tapas specials, small plates and large plates. Having been treated to delicious dim sum by our neighbors earlier in the day, we were happy to have an assortment of small bites to chose from. Note to self: small bites quickly become big meals if you eat enough of them. More on that later.

Initially, we ordered wild mushroom croquetas and jamon serrano from the tapas special menu. The jamon serrano was silky smooth and porky without being too strong. And how can you go wrong with mushrooms and bechamel coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried? Answer: you can't. Warm, gooey and delicious about sums it up.

As we were deciding on the next round, I noticed the cocktail selection on the back of the menu. I literally gasped with delight when I saw Pisco Sour on the list. I love this frothy, sweet and sour, ethereal Peruvian concoction. I rarely see it on menus, so I had to have one. Never mind that it probably wasn't an appropriate pairing with the seafood tapas to come. It was delicious. One of the best I've had.

We sampled an intermezzo of tuna lollipops, also part of the tapas menu. The ahi was perfectly seared and crusted with black and white sesame seeds and served with a sherry dipping sauce. The tangy salad of fennel, apple and radish in a mustard dressing was a tart, tasty complement to the delicate flavor of the fish.

And the eat goes on...

OK, here's where the small plates turns into a big feast. Who could resist a trio of mini-Maine lobster rolls. I admit that I am a sucker for small food, but really what evokes summer, in the middle of winter, more than a lobster roll?

Maybe not if you're from Nebraska, but on the eastern seaboard this is a no-brainer. And to go with the lobster, fries of course. With a four-herb seasoning. The fries were the skinny French frites variety, Very well prepared and tasty.

Now at this point, a reasonable person would have stopped. But my neighbor at the bar ordered the cheese plate. I was not in the mood for dessert, but cheese, that's a different story. And to be fair to the restaurant, we had to take a look at the dessert menu. The profiteroles filled with coffee cream caught our eye. They came drizzled with caramel sauce and hazelnuts. Ridiculously good. Many places serve stale pastry with store-bought ice cream, doing a great disservice to one of the great, simple desserts of all time. Not here. Every element was as it should have been, combining into satisfying bites of tender pastry, rich cream, sweet caramel and crunchy nuts.

And the cheese plate featured three selections, Campo de Montalban, a combination of sheep, cow and goat's milk from La Mancha Spain drizzled with local honey; Saint-Andre triple-cream from France with toasted hazelnuts; and Mahon, a cow's milk cheese from Minorca served with quince paste
I liked them all, but loved the contrast between the Mahon and the quince. I sampled the cheese with a Clos Saint Vincent St. Emilion.

Chatting with the bartender at the end of our meal, we learned that the chef is a CIA graduate and studied in Spain with Ferran Adria, the chef associated with the molecular gastronomy movement. And following up with a little research of my own at home, I learned that he is only 25. I think he has a great future ahead of him and hope he's in North Carolina to stay for awhile. Seriously, this is one of the best start-to-finish dining experiences we've had since arriving in Tarheel country. It's a versatile dining experience that you can make your own. Stop by for a quick drink and some tapas, a full dinner, or dessert at the bar.

Glasshalfull

106 Greensboro St.

Carrboro, NC

Something Good is Cookin' at Kitchen

As you know, I get excited about a new restaurant the way that normal people do about a new puppy or a trip to Cancun. What can I say, eating is my passion. And while some may disagree, I think it is a noble pursuit. After all, I am like a medieval food tester. I save you the trouble of eating dreck and instead point you to the good stuff.

I happened to spot a mention in our local rag, The Raleigh News & Observer, about the opening of Kitchen in Chapel Hill. As I scanned the blurb I saw that it was located in Midtown Market, a mere stone's throw from my door. I quickly did an online cross-reference of my favorite foodies and discovered that Kitchen is a new bistro in town. It may be the only bistro. And as it turns out, that's alright with me.

After perusing the menu online, a few things intrigued me. One, moul

es frites. Two, steak frites. Three, polenta pound cake. Unfortunately it was early afternoon and I would have to wait until after work to head over and sample the wares. Thankfully, my family is game for these adventures and looks forward to them as much as I do.

Kitchen does not have a glamourous exterior and is set back in a strip mall next door to a laundromat. However, the mall does house the Chapel Hill outpost of

Durham's

beloved Foster's Market as well as a new bookstore, so that may help get the word out. In any event, once you walk inside, you forget about the humble exterior. We were greeted warmly and ushered to a table on the long end of the L-shaped dining room. The room is painted a warm yellow with a touch of gray. the tables and chairs are black as is the small bar. The high ceilings give the room a larger feel. I loved the linen dishtowels used as napkins.

As some of you know, one of my favorite spots is Barbarella in La Jolla, California. It is a delightful neighborhood restaurant with reasonable prices where you can drop in at any time for a salad, pizza or full meal. The atmosphere is casual and convivial but the food is prepared with a careful hand. I always look for this type of restaurant in my travels and near home. Kitchen, although currently only open for dinner (but at 4 which makes it a possibility for a late lunch), may be this type of spot for me.

I was anxious to dig in, so I gave the menu a cursory glance to refresh my memory from the online version. Truth be told, I knew I was going for the mussels. While my husband, Georges, makes the best moules frites ever, it is a time-consuming enterprise and not one that he has time to undertake very often.

From what I could see, Kitchen has already attracted a loyal following. There were repeat customers and also couples and colleagues meeting at the bar for an after-work bite.

We ordered an grenache blanc and a prosecco to sip while we waited for our appetizers. I decided on the chopped salad ($8, blue cheese, beets, walnuts) Georges the vodka and beet-cured salmon with sweet and sour cucumber salad (pictured above, $9), and Giselle the sweet and smoky almonds ($4).

For entrees, Georges went for the steaks frites ($18), I couldn't resist the moules frites with thai red curry ($12) and Giselle decided on four-cheese ravioli with a kalamata olive tapenade ($11).

Before the appetizers arrived, we were brought a plate of fresh french bread and olive oil for dipping. One nice touch was the salt and pepper sprinkled on the plate so that you could dip in the oil and then dip in the salt and pepper. Never seen it done that way before. Also never had my frites served in an old-fashioned metal measuring cup, but it was cute.

So how was the food? Really, really good. In bar parlance, many people have a local. The neighborhood spot that you go to time and again because it feels good. Kitchen could become our local. The thai red curry was so good that I was eating it with my spoon after the mussels were gone. Giselle demolished the ravioli and we even ate the frites, which is saying a lot for the van Hoes who use Georges' frites as the standard by which all others are judged. The fries weren't as good as his, but they were a stand-up representation.

You would think that there would be no room for dessert, but you would be wrong. With all that went before being so delicious, we had to go for it. Georges and Giselle shared the dark chocolate almond torte ($5), a luscious, rich slice of heaven.

At least I think so, because it disappeared without my being offered a bite. I had to try the toasted polenta poundcake ($5). It was served with blueberries and a lemon cream. The cake itself was not too sweet, and the berries and cream balanced it nicely. We paired the cake with a half-bottle of sparkling moscato.

Pleasantly full and pleased with our discovery, we headed home with thoughts of our next visit in our heads. After all, we need to try the burger, the sauted calamari and the housemade merguez, oh my.

La Tiendita: Little Store with Big Flavor

Tucked away on a side street in the shadows of the Four Seasons Silicon Valley, lies La Tiendita, a combination mini-market/butcher shop and the home of Sancho's Taqueria.  If you want authentic Mexican flavors with top-quality, fresh ingredients, stop by for lunch the next time you're exiting the 101 freeway at University Avenue on your way to downtown Palo Alto.  

La Tiendita's unassuming exterior belies the wonders within.  Recently they added some nice chrome tables and chairs for those who can't wait to eat their meal.  However, the parking lot and adjacent liquor store do not provide the most scenic dining environment, so my recommendation would be to take your food to go.  Inside, the spotless establishment contains a small produce section, neatly arranged shelves of Mexican grocery items, and a pristine meat counter that displays Mexican cuts of meat, seafood selections and fresh Mexican cheeses.  The prices reflect the neighborhood the market serves and I would recommend buying your arrachera or other meats here.  

For me though, the star of the show is the taqueria.  Everything (except the chips) is cooked to order and you can taste the difference.  There's a limited but varied menu that covers the taqueria basics including tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos.   All orders are served with a bag of house-made chips and a container of green and red salsa.  They're both spicy.  There are also some creative touches that reflect the owner's previous stints at four-star restaurants like the Village Pub in Woodside, Calif.  

For example, the grilled vegetable quesadilla, is chock-full of zucchini, onions, peppers and eggplant.  The smokiness of the vegetables and the gooey richness of the cheese combine to make a wholly satisfying vegetarian meal.  I also love the carne asada torta.  Tortas are kind of a Mexican muffaletta, served on a round roll with meat cheese and other fixings.  I love the carne asada because the quality of the meat shines through.  You can watch the meat being grilled and then chopped on the flat top for your order.  The piping hot meat, is the perfect foil for the cool lettuce, housemade guacamole and Mexican crema.  Beware, this juicy sandwich will inevitably squish out the side, so get plenty of napkins and watch your clothes.  

One of the stars of the menu is the fish taco.  At $3.95, the price may seem hefty, but the taco is piled with three or four pieces of freshly fried fish and topped with a creamy, spicy chipotle sauce and chopped lettuce.  One is enough for all but the heartiest appetites.  Try one and you will be addicted.  As I mentioned, all the food is prepared to order, so while you wait, browse the grocery aisles.  You might find a tasty treat to top off your meal. The refrigerated case near the counter has homemade rice pudding and there is also a selection of candy that they seem to carve off by the chunk.  

Bottom line:  If you're in the area, take a detour to La Tiendita.  It's delicious and easy on the wallet. 

Note: I've heard that they are opening a new location in downtown Palo Alto.  I'll update you when I know more.

The Details:

La Tiendita

510 O'Connor Street

East Palo Alto, CA 94303

650-853-0724

Welcome to Mayfield

Back in the day, south Palo Alto was a independent town called Mayfield.  Apparently, Mayfield was kind of a rowdy place, and refused Leland Stanford's offer to place his university there. Thus Stanford was founded in Palo Alto.  You know the rest.  In the 1920's, the two towns merged but the Mayfield name pops up from time to time.  Well now, Palo Altans of all stripes can enjoy the Mayfield Bakery and Cafe, another new arrival to the revitalized Town & Country Shopping Center.  So far we've visited the bakery twice and been happy each time.

Our first foray was for a weekday pastry run.  The bakery is sparkling with lots of white tile. There are two small tables if you want to stay, but it's definitely more of a carry-out location. The display case holds individual desserts and sandwiches.  Behind the counter are baskets holding a variety of fresh-baked breads including baguettes and a killer ciabatta, not too crunch on the outside and light and airy inside.  We selected a cream cheese danish, cinnamon sugar danish and a huckleberry muffin.   The pastries were delicious.  The dough was flaky, and the filling fresh.  I am not usually a muffin eater.  Typically they are a calorie and vegetable oil laden stomach bomb.  But, I was intrigued by the huckleberry and didn't want to go off the deep end with the pecan sticky buns (but boy did they look good).  It was light, fluffy and not too sweet or too large.  Nice way to start the morning.  As usual, Georges tried the espresso and pronounced it surprisingly good.   We decided to pick up a few desserts for later.  

The desserts were a mixed bag.  I loved my lemon tart with crystallized ginger.  It was smooth and tart, although I think the ginger could have been more pronounced.  Giselle had the Smore, which was a re-imagining of the childhood treat.  A homemade marshmallow topped a very rich chocolate ganache and graham cracker crust.  It was beautiful and delicious, but only a real chocoholic could finish it.  Georges had tiramisu which was also a twist on a classic.  I think your enjoyment of this one would depend on your willingness to let go of the traditional preparation of this dish.  All the flavors were there, the creamy mascarpone, the coffee and chocolate, but it resembled more of a tiered mousse than the layered ladyfinger and custard dish we all love.  Pastry chef Nancy Pitta has an impressive resume (Hawthorne Lane and Boulevard in SF) and her talent is evident.  I look forward to more treats from Mayfield's ovens.  I must add that all this deliciousness comes at a price.  My wallet was about $40 lighter after this little adventure.

Today, we decided to take-out a rainy day lunch.  We sampled three sandwiches: spit-roasted pork loin on the aforementioned ciabatta.  It had grilled red onions, cheese and a red pepper mayonnaise.  The pork was tender and well-seasoned and the combo worked.  Also good was the roast beef with the same onions, and asiago on a baguette.  Not as successful was a pulled chicken sandwich with bacon, brie and arugula on the same baguette.  The bacon had an unappealing pale look and fatty texture which gave the sandwich a greasy mouth feel. Combined with the buttery brie, it was not a pleasant experience.  

Next up, we'll review the Mayfield Cafe for lunch or dinner.

Great Expectations

After meeting famed Google chef Charlie Ayers when we went to scope out his new restaurant, Calafia, last week, we were excited to try this spot in Town & Country Shopping Center here in Palo Alto.  So, on a rainy Sunday, we decided to have brunch.  It seems to me that brunch is much more popular on the east coast than the west.  I have always enjoyed this combo meal.  It makes it easy to dine with a group on a lazy weekend day and satisfy the cravings of all.  

First of all, I love the design of the restaurant.  It's inviting, with lamps made out of recycled milk bottles and lots of warm wood.  There are two dining counters, one at the front window and the other facing the open kitchen.  The kitchen is streamlined and includes a gigantic panini grill and wood-burning pizza oven. The chef himself was cooking on our visit which I took as a good sign.

We ordered coffee while perusing the menu.  Our server explained that Calafia creates its own blend from three different types of beans.  I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but I tried a cappuccino and it was tasty.  Lots of foam like I like it.  Georges had an espresso (surprise!) which he deemed good, but not as good as the Mayfield Bakery next door.  There's also a full wine list and an assortment of Shoju cocktails, but not a full bar.  

The menu, as expected, is split between breakfast fare and lunch offerings.  We ordered Tobias' Famous Coffee Cake, Lamb Sausage and Eggs and the Smoked Salmon with Red Pepper Hollandaise and Crispy Potato Cake.  While we sipped coffee and the house-filtered water, we watched other diners and tried to see their plates.  The atmosphere was lively and plates seemed to be going back to the kitchen empty.  Another good sign.  

Here's where expectation meets reality.  The coffeecake was pretty good, if a little dry, but it had fresh apples which were a nice surprise.  Then came the entrees. First, Georges' eggs arrived fried, not scrambled as requested.  The plate was quickly changed out, but the eggs were overcooked.  The lamb sausage were delicious.  The smoked salmon dish looked beautiful, except for the blackened potato cake underneath.  The eggs were perfectly poached and the salmon was silky.  However, each bite was ruined by the burned potatoes. After trying to suffer through, I had to tell the waiter (Chad) when he came over to check on us.  He was apologetic and fetched me a much better cooked hash brown from the kitchen.  I transferred the remaining benedict to the new potatoes and got an idea of how the dish should taste.  The hollandaise was well prepared, but not as flavorful as one would expect.  Unfortunately, I think my palate had suffered too long with the burned potato and I could not overcome that taste.  

My first impression of Calafia is mixed.  The atmosphere and service were good, but the food, which I really wanted to love, was not up to par.  We saw many other plates going out with the burned hash browns.  That is not acceptable at a restaurant at this level.  One of the keys to the locavore/organic movement is to simplify the cooking method to let the flavor of the food shine through.  Mistakes like this kill the flavor of all the elements of a dish.  That said, I will give the restaurant another chance, for lunch or dinner.  In a few weeks, they will also open their Market a Gogo, a Whole Foods style marketplace of prepared foods and an organic soup and salad bar and I'll report on that in a separate review.