|
 |
|
The Village Corner Bistro, Carmel-by-the-Sea,
California USA
|
A Marvelous Mediterranean Bistro that masquerades as a Simple Coffee Shop
|
|
Peter and Linda D'Aprix 2000
|
|
|
This long standing Carmel landmark is favored by the locals and enjoyed by the visitors. It is a real find. It has recently been remodeled with walls washed in earthen colors, colorful decorations and even a wall hung fountain. The open air patio has tables clustered around a fire pit, a nice touch on cool evenings. There are plans afoot to spruce up the patio which it needs as it is a little plain at the moment.
Open from 7:00 in the morning until the last dinner leaves with brief periods for the staff to regroup between sessions, this is truly an establishment that believes in feeding the body as well as the soul. The cuisine is Mediterranean/Califonria and seated in the evening around the fire on the stone patio, you might forget you are not back in southern Europe.
|
|
 |
|
Wall hanging fountain.
|
|
 |
|
 |
Sea Bass with vegetable salsa, tomato sauce and parsley pesto.
|
|
Interior.
|
|
|
© 2000 photos Peter D'Aprix
|
The breakfast menu is complete and delicious. Fresh squeezed juices, superb pancakes (don't miss the buttermilk banana-pecan pancakes), many omelets such as Mediterranean omelet with tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach & mozzarella cheese, frittatas, many cereals and hot oatmeal with cinnamon, brown sugar and toast. Their tea selection is of good quality and extensive. Their coffee some of the best in Carmel, rich and strong.
Lunch is a more relaxed meal with the more refined dishes coming at dinner. So midday dishes tend to the light starter such as an excellent fresh buffalo mozzarella with vine-ripened tomatoes, basil and olive oil or grilled yellow corn polenta with wild mushrooms. There are the regular salads such as the classic caesar with or without grilled chicken, Riviera salad which is partly a Niçoise but with other interesting ingredients. Sandwiches like the honey-smoked turkey or the fresh mozzarella and portabella mushroom. But you will also find full main courses such as pan-roasted garlic chicken with saffron potato dumplings and a filet mignon with gorgonzola herb crust served with mashed potatoes, spinach and mustard sauce. For vegetarians, the composed grilled vegetable tower with polenta, vine ripened tomato, portabella mushrooms and swiss chard in balsamic-soy glaze will have other diners wishing they had what you ordered. It is an extensive menu.
 |
|
Corner location makes this bistro easy to find.
|
|
|
 |
|
Seafood Paella served on the patio.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Colorful Italian wall decoration.
|
|
|
Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella with vine-ripened tomatoes, basil and olive oil.
|
|
|
Chef Mohamed Rabbaa is the executive chef and has created the menus. But he holds forth in the kitchen in the evenings. His touch with fish is lyrical cooking just as much as necessary and no more, preserving the moisture and texture perfectly. His sea bass (photo above) was light and exquisitely tasty with a light crust on top and bottom served in a delicate tomato sauce with a parsley pesto that did not compete with the flavor of the fish but added another dimension instead. His Paella was made with fresh and tasty ingredients even if the saffron was a bit overwhelming.
The food at the Village Corner is all the more surprising as from the street the restaurant is a seemingly simple upscale coffee shop. But it delivers some outstanding plates. Vegetarians are given special consideration. On the menu they say "we are happy to accommodate your vegetarian request." So feel free to speak with the chef about what you want if it is not addressed on the menu. Paella, free range herb stuffed chicken, innovative penne pastas are just a few of the pleasant surprises this little gem offers.
The Village Corner Bistro
Dolores and Sixth
Carmel, California 93924
tel: 1-831-624-3588
Web Site URL: http://www.carmelsbest.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
