Spicer, the owner and sometimes cook at Bayona, my favorite restaurant of all time, is my absolute idol, and I've been itching to try another of her restaurants. Herbsaint was pretty much next on my list, being one of the "Top 50" restaurants in America, but ever since I returned from NYC, I hadn't gotten the opportunity. Bayona is for a special occasion, and I had an inkling that it was too expensive for just a casual homecoming out-to-eat evening. Then, one of my many sources recommended Mondo. Mondo, meaning "world" in either Spanish or Portuguese (I don't know which), is an international restaurant, serving up delicacies from garlic naan to beef ravioli. My first time there was a blast; the food was superb, the atmosphere delightful, and the service wonderful, "attentive and caring," as Madame La Bouffe put it. Let's fill you in about Mondo, with every detail here before you on your screen.
Even though it was a Monday evening (my homework and piano practice were completed, with a sigh of relief from moi), I was craving a really good dinner. A really, really good dinner. I lacked groceries, and I didn't really have anything but leftovers from dinner parties, so I decided to go out. I usually saved my restaurants for Friday evening, but I felt I needed something good right then. So I hopped into the car and drove to Mondo, anticipating a hot dinner waiting for me.
When I arrived, I was led to a beautifully laid booth, with prettily folded linen napkins, tall cylinder-shaped glasses on Mondo logo-ed coasters, and gleaming silverware. A candle glowed in the center of the table, and the salt and pepper shakers stood beside it, reflecting the ruddy gleam of the flame. I sat down with Madame La Bouffe, and we studied the lovely menu. Our cheerful waitstaff gave us our waters, and made sure that Madame La Bouffe's didn't have any ice in it, just as she had requested. All throughout the dinner, our waitstaff treated us with great kindness, and were just as pleasant as could be. So an A for the service. The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable, with lots of soft lights and music. It was also nicely eclectic, which prevented boredom. Another A for ya, Mondo!
To start our meal, we each had a piece of warm bread with olive oil. The bread was super crusty on the outside; it made a thudding noise whenever I dropped it onto my bread plate. The inside, though, was wonderfully soft and warm, and when dipped in the fruity olive oil, was the perfect way to begin a meal. For our starters, I had the Thai Shrimp and Pork meatballs in a sweet, syrupy sauce, while Madame La Bouffe enjoyed the Pasta of the Day, a beef ravioli with a chunky tomato-vinegar sauce. I also tasted the artichoke bread pudding, which is a Mondo classic. I rather indecisively sampled a piece of a fried oyster, which I found like chewy bubblegum. It wasn't really Mondo's fault; I was coaxed into tasting it. Oysters are not my favorite at all. My meatballs were nicely tender and juicy. They had a delicious meaty flavor, and the sauce, which I can’t recall the name of, was super yummy, and clung to the meatball well when dipped. The ravioli did not blow my mind. It was a bit tough on the edges, and had a rather flat, average flavor. It was acceptable, though, and I ate my square without complaint. The bread pudding was absolutely delectable; it was creamy and smooth, with a fresh flavor of artichokes. No wonder it was a signature.
For my entrée (I chose from the appetizer menu), I had redfish ceviche with guacamole and freshly baked tortilla chips. Despite my revulsion to raw fish, I ordered it, and was glad I had after the first bite. The little chunks of tender, toothsome, lemony fish fit perfectly upon the point of a shatteringly crisp, sweet chip, and the teensy pat of guacamole on top of the ceviche lent a cool, refreshing note. It was a good dish for summer, and I’d definitely be back when the season rolls around. Madame La Bouffe singled out a dish on the specials selection. It was a construction of seared scallops, cauliflower puree, blood oranges, and pistachios, and it came beautifully presented on a bed of frisee. Madame La Bouffe gave me a scallop to taste, and the superb flavor nearly knocked my socks off. It was so smooth and seasoned, and all the condiments of the plate were so wonderfully blended together…OMG my mouth is watering right now. We also got a pizza margarhita, which was very delicious. The crust was crisp yet chewy, and the little blackened spots on the handle were absolutely blissful, melding with the mild sweet of the main crust and contrasting beautifully. The sauce, cheese, and herbs were all fresh tasting, and I enjoyed my mere few bites immensely. All in all, a to-live-for course.
Our dinner wasn’t complete, in my opinion, until we’d eaten dessert. Luckily they had a whole mouth-watering menu, and my eyes sparkled as I feasted my gaze upon the list. Cinnamon Beignets with Yogurt Sauce, Nuts, and Honey? Double Chocolate Cake? Lemon Tart? After arguing with myself for a bit, I decided on the ice cream of the day, which was a spectacular-sounding Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream. Madame La Bouffe got the Seasonal Fruit Cobbler, in which pears and bourbon were the stars. It was unlike any other cobbler, though. Instead of a biscuit topping, there was a crepe-thin crispy batter covering the whole thing. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. My ice cream was, as I said before, spectacular, with a creamy, smooth, sweet and salty flavor, which was delightfully sticky. It came in a pretty white bowl, with a sugar cookie and a mint leaf. For one final tasting, I had a couple of forkfuls of the chocolate cake, which was super rich, fudgy, dense, and made for down-home chocolate lovers.
My homecoming meal at Mondo was a fantastic experience, full of delicious food, laughs, and fun. If you’re looking for a meal to remember, I highly suggest you stop by, and you’ll have one of the best scallop dishes ever. Have a happy Carnival season tout le monde, and I’ll see you again soon!
