I thought I just died and woke up in heaven!
Last week i went to a new cafe at lunch time. It is called Cafe 7 (because it is the 7th cafeteria the company opened so far). The food didn’t look that superb when i got them. Maybe cuz they were in massive containers and doesn’t come in the decorative presentation that you see in a upscale restaurant. But when i had my first bite! Oh My! I felt like i was hit by a train headon. I couldn’t believe it. It was up scale French Bistro quality food. I could easily pay $50 per person in a yuppie restaurant in the city over the weekend and still won’t have as good food as this. The soup was heavenly, the fish was tender and flavorful, the veggie was fresh and tasted like nothing i had experienced, the pasta made me moan, the table bread made me drool, and the desert was decadent. I cleaned my plate and wished i didn’t become full so fast.
Here is a typical menu at Cafe 7 (they change daily):
Café -7 / Lunch Menu for Thursday, August 17, 2006
Table Bread Baskets
Assortment of Artisan Breads
Russian Rye, Assorted Pretzels, Salted Bread Sticks, Sour Wheat, Kalamata Olive, Walnut-Cranberry-Raisin. If you have nut or seed allergies, avoid table breads.
Today’s Bread Basket Spread:
*Saffron Aioli Saffron, Egg Yolks, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Wine, Salt and Cayenne Pepper
GREENS
Composed Salad of the Week
Taste of Japan!
Mixed Organic Greens, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna Marinated Cucumbers (Rice Wine Vinegar, Sugar), Carrot, Enoki Mushrooms, Wakame Seaweed, Asian Vinaigrette, Crisp Wontons
Create Your Own Salad
Lettuces: Organic Field Greens, Chopped Baby Romaine, Baby Spinach
Salad Toppings:
Roasted Skinless Chicken Breast Strips, Housemade Pickled Vegetables, Grilled Sweet Corn, Balsamic Figs, Citrus Sections, Kidney Beans, Hard Boiled Egg, Edamame Beans, Navy Beans, Olive Oil Croutons, Cottage Cheese, Spicy Peanuts
Chilled Pasta Salad of the Day
Farfalle and Tuna Salad: Chilled Pasta, Flaked Tuna, Mayonnaise, Pickle, Red Onion, Celery, Herbs, Spices, Lemon, Bell Pepper, Grated Egg
Today’s Dressings:
*Creamy Non-Fat Basil (Yogurt, Basil, Garlic, Agave Syrup, Shallots,White Balsamic Vinegar)
Citrus-Lobster Vinaigrette (Lobster Oil, Fresh Citrus Juice, Shallots, Garlic,
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
**Balsamic Vinaigrette
Classic Caesar
SOUPS
*Chilled Curried Carrot Soup
Pureed Carrots, Celery, Onion, Thyme, Bay Leaves, Ginger, Tomato, Curry, Apple, Milk
Garnished with Sweet Milk and Kaffir Lime Foam
Golden Chanterelle Mushroom Soup
Sliced Chanterelles, Chicken Stock, Onion, Fresh Herbs and Spices, Garlic, Madeira
Garnished with Black Truffle Crouton
Mussel and Corn Chowder
Steamed Mussels, Sweet Corn, Onion, Garlic, Celery, Carrot, Fish Fumet, Clam Juice, White Wine, Fresh Herbs and Spices, Brandy, Milk
Garnished with Fresh Corn, Potato, Basil Oil
Russian Beef and Cucumber Soup
Cubes of Tender Beef in a Rich Veal Broth with Onion, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Mushrooms, Pork Sausage and Black Olives
Garnished with Lemon Crème Fraiche, Dill and Caraway Seeds
DELICATESSAN
Sandwich of the Week
Claudia’s BLT (Yes, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato!)
Sliced Bread, Crisp Applewood Smoked Bacon, Mixed Organic Greens,Heirloom Tomatoes, Basil Aioli, Smoked Salt and Black Pepper
(Available at the Delicatessen or in the Grab & Go’s)
Create Your Own Sandwich
Assorted Artisan Breads, Sliced Tomato, Romaine, Red Onion, Bread & Butter Pickles, Dill Pickles, Pepperoncini, Fontina Val D’ Aosta Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Sliced Mozzarella Cheese, Cave Aged Emmentaler Cheese
Avocado, Grilled Vegetables, Roast Tomatoes, Balsamic Portobello Mushrooms, Smoked Turkey, Roast Beef, Black Forest Ham, Assorted Salami
SIDES
*Herbed Spaetzle
Housemade Herbed Dumplings, Caramelized Onions, Grain Mustard-Crème Fraiche, Butter
**Curried Lentils
Lentils cooked tender with Sweet Onion, Garlic, Madras Curry, and Tomato and Fresh Herbs
**Three-Grain Pilaf
Red Rice, Black Rice and Bulgar Wheat, simmered with Sweet Onion, Vegetable Stock, Fresh Herbs and Spices
**Pea Sprout Sauté with Grilled Corn
Wilted Pea Sprouts, Grilled Corn, Cumin, Black Truffle Oil
**Vegetable Medley
Warm Daily Summer Produce Tossed Lightly with Apple Vinaigrette
(Steamed Preparation Available)
Main Plates
Grilled Scallop Brochettes
Two-each Jumbo Scallops, Cremini Mushrooms, Peppedews, Chipotle Glaze
Mini Duck Sliders
Whole Ground Duck Meat, Sautéed Onion, Garlic, Herbs, Spices, Fontina Val d’Aosta Fondue, Baby Bun
Cantonese Roasted Chicken Breast
Roasted (Skin on) Breast of Chicken basted with a Sauce composed of Honey, Rice Wine Vinegar, Ginger, Sherry, Hoisin and Five Spice
Garnished with Sliced Scallions
Brick Oven
**Archie’s Veggie Pizza
Classic Crust, Housemade Tomato Sauce, Spiced Firm Polenta (Fennel Seeds, Garlic, Basil, Parsley), Wild Mushrooms, Pistachio Creamless-Cream
Smoked Chicken, Pesto and Sausage Pizza
Classic Crust, Classic Pesto, Smoked Chicken, Assorted Pork Sausage, Roasted Peppers, Fontina Val d’ Aosta, Sweet One Hundred Tomatoes,Red Onion
Sweet Corn, Ricotta and Spinach Calzone
Masa (Corn) Crust, Seared Onions, Tomato-Marsala Sauce,
Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese, Sautéed Corn, Wilted Spinach, Basil Leaves
Piazzon’s Italian “Hoagieâ€
Soft French Roll with Sautéed Wild Mushrooms, Onions, Sliced Salami, Ham, Provolone Cheese, Mozzarella, Rosemary, Oregano
Served with Tomato Sauce on the Side
Sweets
*Cinnamon Crème Brûlée
Creamy Custard Infused with Cinnamon, Turbinado Sugar Topping
**Earl Grey Poached Apricots and Plums
Sweet Plums and Apricots Poached in Aromatic Earl Grey Tea Syrup, With Hints of Lemon and Orange
Flourless Chocolate Brownies with Chocolate Chips
Pecan Sandies with Apricot
Frozen Yogurt!
Caramel Pecan or Vanilla Frozen Yogurt with the Following Toppings:
Heathbar, Chopped Almonds, Peanut Butter Cup Crumbles, Butterfinger Crumbles
Confetti of Candies
Just when i thought Cafe 7 is “as good as it gets.”
Today i found out we just opened the 8th cafe, and it is clled “The American Table,” which “will be serving regional American cuisine with a focus on Native American ingredients utilizing methods taken from the different cultures that settled each region.” I went there today and I knew, Cafe 7 got competition, and the quality of my life just went up another notch. Life could be this good! I must have done something right to deserve this. Everyone who had come to our cafe before should consider taking a number and getting in line, you have no idea what you have been missing. This is the kind of restaurant that you would make reservation 3 weeks ahead of the time, had to put up with snooty service, expensive parking, waiting in long lines before sitting down, paying $50+ plus and might still not get the right entry and felt cheated. With Cafe 7 and 8, i guarantee you won’t be disappointed. This is what heaven really meant to be, i hope. And it is FREE!
My lunch consisted of:
Corn bisque with shrimp
This didn’t make it to the chef’s menu that he sent out today, but it is so so so good.
Fried Frogs Legs with Crystal & Fine Herb Butter
Buttermilk battered legs with crystal hot sauce and tarragon, chives, and parsley, bearer blanc.
Pan Roasted Pork Chops
with Mashed Potatoes & Fancy Creamed Corn with a Herbed Pork
(The best pork chop i’ve ever had, never though pork chop can possibly be this tasty)
Southern Polenta Spoon Bread
With onion broth, red peppers, and fresh thyme.
Sweet Potato Cakes with Trufflata
Sweet potatoes, goat cheese, eggs, thyme, shallots, and flour. With roasted chanterelles, oyster mushrooms and truffle oil garnished with fresh herbs.
(Oh My God! Someone pinch me now, is this for real? explosive with flavor? I feel guity eating it.)
Almond Bread Puddin
With a creamy huckleberry Anglaise
(hM! hM! HM!)
The dishes that i would’ve tried if have had a backup stomach.
Coriander Crusted Tuna with Braised Summer Veg
Seared tuna and veg to bolls that have been braised in ver jus, olive oil, thyme, bay leaves, and roasted lemons.
Summer Veg & Tofu Pot Pie
Patty pans, onions, wax beans, Yukon potatoes, and tofu in a light Creole cream sauce with parsley, chives, and a drop of truffle oil topped off with puff pastry.
(This was covered with a thick layer of puffy filos. highly recommanded by my co-worker but i was too full to try it. :()
Duck Confit Salad with Baby Arugula
Fresh blueberries and with balsamic vinaigrette
(I didn’t even make it to the pizza/salad counter, but saw this after i came back from lunch and reviewing the menu)
“The American Table” the full menu of 8/17/2006:
MEAT
Fried Frogs Legs with Crystal& Fine Herb Butter
Buttermilk battered legs with crystal hot sauce and tarragon, chives, and parsley, bearer blanc.
Coriander Crusted Tuna with Braised Summer Veg
Seared tuna and veg to bolls that have been braised in ver jus, olive oil, thyme, bay leaves, and roasted lemons.
Pan Roasted Pork Chops
with Mashed Potatoes & Fancy Creamed Corn with a Herbed Pork
VEGGIE
*Summer Veg & Tofu Pot Pie
Patty pans, onions, wax beans, Yukon potatoes, and tofu in a light Creole cream sauce with parsley, chives, and a drop of truffle oil topped off with puff pastry.
*Southern Polenta Spoon Bread
With onion broth, red peppers, and fresh thyme.
*Sweet Potato Cakes with Trufflata
Sweet potatoes, goat cheese, eggs, thyme, shallots, and flour. With roasted chanterelles, oyster mushrooms and truffle oil garnished with fresh herbs.
PIZZA
Quail Fig & Arugula
fresh pizza with brown sauce and goat cheese.
Crawfish Roasted Corn
topped with red bell peppers, onions red sauce and white cheddar.
Pork Po Boy Sandwich
With Swiss cheese and coleslaw.
COMPOSED SALAD
Butter Lettuce Salad
Point Reyes blue cheese tossed pecans, summer pears and bacon.
Duck Confit Salad with Baby Arugula
Fresh blueberries and with balsamic vinaigrette
*Mirliton Salad with Vine Ripened Tomatoes Onions & Dill
Pickled Shrimp Salad
Fresh cucumbers, and red onions. The shrimp is pickled with spices, lemon juice and champagne vinaigrette.
**Water Melon Salad with Watercress
Red bell peppers and red onions.
Hot and Sweet
Almond Bread Puddin
With a creamy huckleberry Anglaise
Strawberry Clafoutis
A Thick flan cake with fresh Santa Cruz strawberries and a strawberry caramel
Cold & Creamy
Chocolate Tart
With cinnamon whipped cream
Butter Pecan Ice Cream
When time go bad, when we can’t afford to have this kind of free lunch, instead of closing them down or making them suffer in quality, i wish they would turn these cafes into restaurants and open them to the public. I would pay to come and eat here.