We chose to focus this week’s column on one of our favorite chow huts. Though not Madison’s culinary jewel, Mediterranean Caf?, keeps it simple, consistent and dished out with a grin. Come to think of it, so are Shout Outs.
Falafel Sandwich
A staple of the urban palate, this Mediterranean mixture of grain and spice peaks in Madison at the Med Caf?. The $4 delight mixes a Mojave dry foundation (the falafel) with a slippery sauce (yogurt and hummus) that coalesces so wonderfully on the tongue, it recalls Oreo/chocolate milk euphoria. But you must watch out for backside leakage. It can turn a perfectly clean March desk calendar into the vestige of a wonderful feast.
–MR
Chicken Shamwara Sandwhich
The nourishing tastiness of a salad in the convenient pita-wrapped package of a sandwich, this menu staple is a crowd pleaser. Depending on the creator, the roll-up can be evenly or over-stuffed with leafy greens, green peppers, tomatoes, chicken and a refreshing cucumber-yogurt sauce. This makes each order different and an adventure. It’s a healthy alternative to most greasy, fast-food fare on State Street and makes for a great snack or a quick lunch. The potential mess is worth it.
-AR
The Postcards
If you’re away on vacation in a scenic, Mediterranean Sea-view city, and all you can think about is your favorite State Street restaurant, you know it’s got to be good. Perhaps bought by employees or just sent to the restaurant from its travel-minded patrons, the postcards depict exotic locales that are far, far away from snow-filled Madison. The picturesque scenes adorn the counter and soda machine, making the menu items seem to taste even better. The makeshift mosaic complements the sea-green tablecloths and other wall hangings, nicely creating a veritable vacation in themselves. If you stand still, you can almost smell the salt water and hear the waves lapping on the shore.
-AR
A Thoughtful Message
In an age of banal restroom wall coverings (Blue Velvet, your bar is sleek, your bathroom walls are not), Med Caf? takes a completely different route when sprucing up its facilities. In both the men’s and ladies’ rooms, a black and white poster, styled in the aesthetics of the old-school generic aisle, proclaims boldly the credo “against her will is against the law.” I found this truly puzzling the first time around. True, date-rape is a really crappy thing that happens on this campus for sure, but plastered on the wall of a restaurant’s bathroom? But then I thought, why try to fake the funk with a cheesy knock-off Picasso when the decoration can actually help people? The gesture is done in complete earnestness, and though it is an easy target to poke fun at, I’m not going to be that guy. The message is thoughtful.
–MR
Blog of the Week
“so currently i’m working full-time at the development office at yale university. it’s been, er, an ‘excellent learning experience.’ i’m fond of yale and like working on the other side.
so law school, yeah, waiting for the mail to trickle in (mixing metaphors i know). good news from two of seven, so i hope the trend continues. i’m sure i’ll look back on these few months of my life and think that i was over-stressed and silly about the whole process, but cramming your life into little boxes and two-page essays is difficult and unpleasant.
musically i’m developing very nicely, i couldn’t be happier with my lessons and experience at the neighborhood music school.
i’m not sure how much i like this blog template, it’s rather large and ungainly.
[http://ajh29.blogspot.com/]
