Sometimes you just want to be able to be in a completely
different setting or place than the one you are in, for a short period. I know
that I wake up many mornings and say, “I want to go to Timbuktu!” (Side note:
If this city gained one penny for every time it was mentioned in a random
reference, it would’ve been led by a Sheikh), or “I want to be in Madagascar”.
This particular day I woke up feeling a little classy and
raised my eyebrow to “I need to go to Paris”. I’ve always had a dramatic vision
of the city and loved the idea of it in my head, but unfortunately never had
the chance to actually go visit; maybe on my honeymoon – eligible bachelor,
wherever you are, are you listening? Hello?
Anyhow, the weather was so lovely that evening, and we decided to
head out to Sacramento for a good meal. Through her research, my sister had found
a small French café that was mentioned in Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the
U.S, located in East Sacramento.
We arrived at Café Rolle without any difficulties and
noticed that it was, indeed, quite a small yet, cozy café. As you walk in, there’s the sweetest chorus of
“Bonjour!” and you are led to your table.
The café is decorated with bright walls that are covered
with frames, pictures and paintings. I absolutely enjoyed the open kitchen with
an open window, where the chef flashes an adorable smile every so often!
This restaurant is owned by Chef William Rolle who is there
to bring his family recipes that date back to his father in Lyon, France, right
to our palates. You can feel the homeliness in the friendly, family-oriented
atmosphere.
This restaurant actually featured in Diner’s, Dine-ins &
Dives with Guy Fieri. Click here to see (05:36 onwards).
Coming back, this ‘sandwicherie’ has a super to-the-point
menu that consists of small plates, salads and sandwiches! A crazy sandwich
galore indeed!
Our server came to brief us up with the bestsellers and
honestly, between us, I think his voice was one of the hot sellers! He goes by
the name of Nico Chandler, very assistive and friendly and oh God when he
spoke, my sister had to ask him if he sang!! Turns out he was a singer, an
opera singer if I’m not mistaken. Really appreciated his highly ambitious
attitude towards life.
Anyway, for starters we ordered their Chilled Salmon served
with fresh dill and crème fraiche, Chilled Foie Gras, and Chicken Breast Pate
Plate.
As told to us by Nico, their salmon was voted best in
Sacramento since 13 years! I’m not a salmon eater, at all, and I’ve declared
myself as psychologically allergic to it but this fresh slab of fish did NOT
get me gagging! Really flavorful and definitely the best-looking salmon I’ve
ever seen. Also, it’s the chef’s special family recipe and we all know that
everything world-class is always found in a home kitchen!
I like pates. They’re tricky to get right, and clearly Café Rolle figured the trick out. I loved it here.
I like pates. They’re tricky to get right, and clearly Café Rolle figured the trick out. I loved it here.
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| Left: Chicken Breast Pate Right: Chilled Salmon with creme faiche |
It was my first time having Foie Gras, and am certainly
glad I spent the special moment here. If I were to not get into its
technicalities, it was really just a God-sent piece from heaven that had the
ability to melt in your mouth and tear your eyes up out of sheer gratitude for
the man who created it. Basically.
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| Chilled Foie Gras |
These were just starters, by the way, the “small plates”.
Our main course consisted of Croque Lamb Monsieur, Hot Prawns Sandwich, and the
Croque Chicken Monsieur.
After the arrival of my Hot Prawns Sandwich, Chef William
Rolle himself brought the other two sandwiches and with his sweet, contagious
smile prompted us to “bon appetit”.
Croque Lamb Monsieur takes meat sandwiches to a whole
different level. It’s not your average “roast lamb” sort of sandwich. You can
taste the high quality meat with its fresh, moist taste surrounded with a
generous touch of fat – remarkable!
The dressing on their Spring Mixed Salad served on the side
was fantastic, by the way! They seem to nail everything.
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| Croque Lamb Monsieur |
The Croque Chicken Monsieur was investigated thoroughly by
each of us because there was no way a chicken breast fillet could be that moist
and tender. But what can we say? It was just that beautifully cooked! There’s a
hint of pesto that tickles the taste buds and definitely makes you pray for the
sandwich to not end. Ever. (Chicken sandwiches aren’t something I usually crave
since they’re always available everywhere in clichéd forms but this – I, damn well,
crave right now!)
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| Croque Chicken Monsieur |
Saved this one for the last because HOLY COW IT RAISED MY
SANDWICH STANDARD TO A COMPLETELY UNREACHABLE LEVEL!
The Hot Prawns Sandwich is like nothing I’ve ever had in my
entire life. I’ve forgotten to mention that their breads are absolutely
fantastic and the temperature that they serve their hot sandwiches at is solely
perfection.
Every devoured bite experiences layers of flavors.
You chew into a hot quality bread, feel a piece of a
perfectly cooked tiger prawn make its way through followed by oozing Gruyere
cheese, and this entire episode of a bite is constantly splashed with flavors
of pesto that does not overpower any other flavor. If that doesn’t sound good,
what in the world does? Totally worth the long, descriptive sentence.
I could go on about this sandwich but I suggest you head to
Café Rolle to discover the feeling.
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| Hot Prawns Sandwich |
We concluded the meal with the best Toffee Crème Brulee,
rather one of the best Crème Brulee’s I have ever had. This one you can judge
for yourself below!
After a beautiful meal, I had no other option but to go compliment the chef through his adorable window and ask for his name to remember this experience forever.
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| Toffee Creme Brulee |
I hope this video loads for you. If not, CLICK HERE to get to my instagram account
(Psst, if you listen close enough you will hear Nico's voice saying "you're welcome" right at the end... sigh)
After a beautiful meal, I had no other option but to go compliment the chef through his adorable window and ask for his name to remember this experience forever.
To my pleasant surprise, this friendly chef not only gave me
a virtual autograph on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4, but also allowed me to come
into the kitchen and take a picture with the Café Rolle crew, AND I got to have
a selfie with him too!!!!
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| Team Cafe Rolle |
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| Selfie with Chef William Rolle <3 <3 |
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| The day & age of virtual signatures! |
Thank you Mr. William Rolle, for one of the best experiences
I’ve ever had and for being one of the most humble chefs ever!
