Still charming and delicious

I grabbed a quick lunch at Strawberry Gourmet Delicatessen in Mill Valley a few days ago, enjoying the outside tables in perfect summer weather. I was happy to see that now there is an 'official' breakfast with things like omelets every day from 7 a.m. My last visit there was no breakfast menu other than pastries and they were very accommodating to invent something for me.

I ordered a Falafel Wrap. There is a choice between a wrap style and pita style falafel. The wraps style and filling were great. I'm sure I'll be back for this! Sometimes surprises happen when you randomly sit outside. A friend, Susan, who I hadn't been in contact with for a couple of years walked by and we got that start of recognition at the same time. Susan sat down and we had quite an enjoyable chat!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: 7/22/2008

Previously reviewed:
March 29, 2007

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Middle East/Mediterranean

Moroccan Market (credit: iStockphoto)

The number of restaurants in a single definition "Persian" seem to be dwindling in Marin County, so rethinking the category, it seemed time to update the name to be more inclusive. Pondering the name, I did a little research and found there are a number of overlays that would be more inclusive of restaurants with a Near/Middle/Greater Middle East, North African or Mediterranean flavor. The term Mediterranean seems to have some popularity as a self-appellation in the Marin food scene as well as Middle East, so I go with those as the new title.

I don't have all the distinctions between the cuisines, but if I know that there is a particular area that the restaurant is emphasizing, I'll put that in parenthesis beside it. If you have information about a restaurant I've left off or mislabeled, please write a comment. Happy eating!

Those I have tried

Fairfax
Fair Fix Cafe (Middle Eastern selections)

Mill Valley
Asqew (Fusion)
Cafe del Soul (Fusion)
Dipsea (Falafel Burger, Greek Salad, Gyros)
Rain Tree Cafe (Mediterranean Menu)
Shelter Bay Cafe (Lunch selections)
Strawberry Gourmet Delicatessen (Mediterranean selections)

Novato
Sam's Place (Falafel available)
The Garden (Mediterranean)

San Anselmo
Bubba's Diner (Gyros)
Insalata's (Mediterranean/Middle East)

San Rafael
Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers (Falafel available)
Cafe Gratitude (Raw Mediterranean selections)
Crepevine (Mediterranean selections)
Falafel Hut (Middle Eastern)
Hanna's (Italian/Mediterranean)
Hatam Perisan Kabab House (Persian)
Rumi (Persian)
West End Cafe (Middle Eastern selections)

Sausalito
Bridgeway Cafe (American with Persian options)
Louie's Deli Cafe (Mediterranean selections)

Those yet to discover

Fairfax
Chad's Grill & Garden Cafe (Falafel Pita available at lunch)

Markets/Grocerers

Hatam (Persian & Mediterranean)
Jasmine Market (Mediterranean & Persian)

Greater Bay Area

La Mediterranee (Berkeley)
Tajine (San Francisco)

A Persian Garden in every bite!

Rumi by Famous Kabob seemly popped up out of nowhere on Sunday in San Rafael's Montecito Plaza with an opening celebration that served about 1,000 people! No wonder I couldn't get any parking to shop at Trader Joe's! The waiter said that today was their 2nd day of opening, and the ink was barely dry on the menus.

I was brought the most wonderful, warm, freshly baked "Taftoon" bread while I was musing over the extensive and tempting menu. It was nicely scored so it was easy to break off and wrap around the butter, and later the herbs that came on the main dish. I passed by the traditional oven when I headed towards the restroom just before leaving, and saw with my own eyes the dough being hand rolled and scored before placing in the oven. A real 'wow' factor here.

And one thing I've discovered is that if you hear of authentic Persian soup being served anywhere, run, don't walk to get there. Persian soup is incomparable. The menu is very veggie-friendly with stars next to vegetarian dishes. However, the menu missed this one, which when I inquired, found it is actually vegetarian, although not so marked. The description my Aush Reshleh is that it is made with a variety of herbs such as parsley, cilantro, spinach and chives and a variety of beans like lentils, garbanzo and kidney beans as well as flour noodles. The soup is topped with kashk (similar to sour cream) and sauteed mint. This complex and delicious soup was very hearty and served in very large portion, such that you could definitely make a light meal out of this with the Taftoon.

For my entree I ordered the Prawns Kabob (Kabob Maygou) which was served with some herbs, a broiled tomato and a large fluffy pile of Perisan basmati rice. The jumbo prawns are butterflied, marinated and then roasted over an open flame. These were moist and succulent. I also liberally sprinkled some fresh sumac that was on the table over them.

Persian Gardens are famous for their beauty, and intended to be a 'paradise on earth'. Well, the flavors of this meal evoked that image for me, it was beyond delicious! The service and ambiance was stellar as well, and one of the staff (perhaps one of the owners) took my hand in both of his as I was leaving, sincerely asked how I liked the food, and if I'd come again. What an exquisite old world gesture. I was touched and said of course, and I'd bring some friends!

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 0
Yet to be inspected

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Expanded menu

Dad and I made a couple visits to Rain Tree Cafe in Mill Valley recently, one time for breakfast, and another for dinner.

My breakfast dish was the Tofu & Veggie Scrambled Eggs. It was full of fresh vegetables such as bell peppers, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes teamed up with some soft tofu cubes. I liked their version of this a lot.

Dad wanted a simple Ham & Cheese omelet. He said it was great, and the potatoes were good too. I certainly looked appetizing.

For dinner, I had a lovely shrimp pasta. I could hardly finish the half of it though because it has a very rich cream sauce with mushrooms. It did taste good though!

We were quite attracted to the new Mediterranean menu. Dad tried the chicken kebab which came with grilled tomato, rice and pita bread. The kebab was bright with red sumac, and the chicken looked moist and plump. It was interesting to note that this delicious traditional Mediterranean meal has a more generous portion of meat than the Asqew skewers just across the street. The Rain Tree Cafe is a great choice for a simple, yet well made meal.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 4/30/2008

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Previously reviewed:
September 7, 2007
March 7, 2007

Fresh, delicious and a bargain!

I actually dined here some time ago, and the photo of the outside was SO blurry I waited until I had an opportunity to shoot a better one. The Falafel Hut is small and casual, but serves a surprising variety of Middle Eastern foods at a reasonable price.

I got the Vegetarian House Combo Plate. It comes with fresh hot pita bread and I ordered some housemade mint iced tea as well. There are seasonings on the table and each inside table had interesting bronze pieces.

Looking more closely at the plate, it has falafels, hummus, baba gannoush, tabouleh, cucumber salad, and dolmas. It was all very fresh and bursting with flavor. This is a great find. And one day, if I can get over the giggles, I'll have to try whatever "Foul Mudams" is.

Why did it take me so long?

In a few days, I will celebrate the 11th anniversary of moving into my condo. And most if not all of that time, there was a sparkling little deli just around the corner, and I hadn't found the time to visit. Shelter Bay Cafe has some nice lunch selections, and some great Middle Eastern/Mediterranean type choices as well. The staff is friendly, prompt and very helpful.

I tried the Mediterranean wrap. It was full of lentils, rice, falafel, humus, cucumbers and tomatoes and I believe tahini sauce. I would order this tasty item again in a heartbeat.

And no one could complain about the view. A friendly woman asked if she could share my table, and we had a nice chat. She works in the office and had nothing but good things to say about the staff and the great food she consistently gets here. Nice to have a confirming second opinion. I also noticed a good selection of breakfast items. I'll have to try breakfast here next!

Middle Eastern Inspired

Dad & I had brunch at Insalata's in San Anselmo. It had been too long since I'd been to this place with such inventive and delicious dishes. It was the first time to try their brunch, and although a good time for breakfast dishes, we felt more like having the lunch items.

Dad said these golden salmon and crab cakes were really tasty. They were thick and packed with sea-meat - not filler.

I had the most amazing Middle Eastern Inspired Vegetarian Platter with lemony lentils, eggplant, curried spinach, Turkish yogurt, and couscous. Every bite was flavorful and interesting. I would go there just for a repeat of this dish!

We indulged in some dessert, Dad having chocolate cake that was quite special, brushed with a little rum… mocha mascarpone, bittersweet chocolate ganache, and espresso crème anglaise. Wow!

I couldn't resist the dessert with lemon flavors - Lemon Meringue Pie. This stunning finale had creamy meyer lemon curd, and huckleberry coulis in it. I fell in love.

Last reviewed:
August 5, 2005

Italian with a Middle Eastern flair. I had a very busy day, and Dad didn't leave the house so we decided to go afield for a little gastronomic adventure for dinner this evening. I drove to San Rafael, and recalled that there were a number of interesting restaurants further north on fourth street than I usually venture. When we drove to the north end, I noticed Hanna's and remembered a great meal there from my pre-blogging days and asked Dad if he were in the mood for Italian. He concurred so we stopped in at Hanna's which was already busy at 7 p.m. with Friday night diners. Who I later discovered to be the owner, Mr. Hanna Anki, warmly greeted us and we were seated in the wine bar area as the restaurant was full. It was a bit more bustling than would be a restful meal in that location, however, the plus side was that I had a great view of all the dishes coming out of the kitchen which looked very well executed.



Dad & I both started with the Fatoush Salad, a lightly dressed romaine salad with cucumbers tomatoes, feta cheese (was so smooth I suspect it was French Feta), and crunchy pita triangles. It was a light, crisp and flavorful start to the meal.



I followed that with the intriguing sounding "Pork Loin Scallopini - With ginger orange creame sauce". The pork cut was the loin, thinly cut, but short of what I would consider "scallopini" thickness. It was nicely seared so the juices caramelized on the outside and left the center tender. The saffron rice was a nice accompaniment, and the sauce was not a coat-the-spoon type, but a thinner flavorful cream. The broccoli was cooked crisp-done, and retained its nice green color. You'll notice that this presentation is more of a family-style look rather than the haute cuisine which would likely have the sauce more decoratively placed on the plate.




Dad enjoyed the tender lamb shish-kababs over saffron rice and flat bread. He enjoyed the yogurt-cucumber dipping sauce as well. Hanna's has the lived-in air of a well-loved neighborhood restaurant. Nice garden green entrance, cheerful lights outlining the windows, and candles on every table. It's a place where you are not afraid to come laugh out loud with your friends and enjoy the warmth of Mediterranean hospitality. I'll definitely not wait so long to return this time!