Last Sunday night three girlfriends went out to celebrate a birthday. These three girls have been friends for quite a long time, 15 years to be specific. They met in a deserted town, where there was no life other than an engineering college. The four years which could very well have been miserable, turned into the most memorable time of their lives, thanks to all the friendships formed during the time. Some of those friendships have been forgotten since, but not the one these three girls had. After spending four years together as roommates, they moved to the same city after college, and shared a house there too for the most part. Then they had to move to a different country, for different reasons, and somehow ended up again in the same city.
So for the past fifteen years, they have been together, and their relationship has turned into something beyond friendship, more like a sisterhood. They have been with each other through the bad hair-dos, embarrassing fashion choices and dumbest mistakes. They have fought with each other, made each other cry and laughed at and with each other for all these years. Their personalities are so different, but they are still the best of friends. So when it was time to celebrate one’s birthday, there was no surprise they decided to have a private celebration. They had the best night with great wine, amazing food and some great conversation. Happy Birthday once again M!
Since the birthday girl lives in Kirkland, we decided to go to Cafe Juanita, arguably the best restaurant in the eastside. The cuisine is Northern Italian, and the chef uses the best organic fresh ingredients to whip us some amazing, out of this world dishes! The chef owned restaurant is tucked away in Juanita, and despite its secluded location, it was crowded even on a Sunday night, all thanks to the great food.
We started with a bottle of Napa Valley Claret, since we already had drowned some claret at M’s place before dinner. The menu had some amazing choices, since one of us was vegetarian, we started with a Pear salad with Pinenuts, Parmigiano Reggiano and White Truffle Oil. I can’t even begin to describe the freshness and flavors of this simple salad, simply extraordinary, and set a nice tone to start the evening.
Then of course we had to get the foie gras, the offering here is a seared foie gras with figs and candied ginger, and didn’t disappoint even a bit. The picture didn’t turn out so well, but the taste was amazing, I am always in awe to see how good chefs take a piece of foie gras and pair it so nicely with radom ingredients and create something so darn tasty!
Then we had another vegetarian appetizer, Mozzarella di Bufala with Assorted Fritti. It is an Italian mozzarella made from buffalo milk, served with some deep fried vegetables. A nice fresh tasting dish, though not to my taste.
Then we moved on to entrées. Though there were no vegetarian entrées in the menu, they were more than willing to make some special vegetarian dishes, I don’t remember the specifics now, but the descriptions made even me drool. But she was kind of stuffed by then and decided to skip the main and went for another salad, White Salad of Fresh Hearts of Palm, Celery and Endive. I didn’t taste this, but heard it was quite nice.
M and I decided to share two entrees, a pasta and the lamb dish. When we told our waitress we were going to share these dishes, they actually split the dishes into half and served on separate plates. Now, that is what I call great customer service.
The pasta dish we had was Pappardelle with rabbit liver and black mission figs. Pappardelle is a type of large fettuccine. I don’t think I’ve had rabbit liver before, but the meaty taste of liver along with the fig pieces complemented the fettuccine so well. A must try dish for pasta lovers.
The other entrée we shared was the Saddle of Oregon Lamb with Eggplant, Basil and Spicy Housemade Goat Yogurt. Here is half of the dish, perfectly assembled. Look at that piece of lamb, so juicy and tender, cooked to the perfect tenderness. And who would’ve thought that eggplants will go so perfectly with lamb, another great dish.
When I made the reservation, they had asked if it is a special occasion, and they didn’t forget. Along with our desserts, a lighted candle was bought out attached to a tiny chocolate cake, what a nice touch.
For dessert, I got a Vanilla Panna Cotta with Preserved Figs which I loved, and they two went for a plate of Biscotti and a Chocolate souffle with Crema Inglese.
Loved my panna cotta, biscottis were great, but the chocolate souffle was jut too rich for my taste. But who cares, the food more than makes up for the so-so desserts.
I am always satisfied after a night at Cafe Juanita, just wish it wasn’t so far from home. But the eastsiders need a break too, and this is the answer to their prayers.
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17 Responses to “Cafe Juanita”
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Hey Sig, looks like you gals had a great time! I know what you mean by “sisterhood”, some friends are just there for you :). Hey, and happy b’day to M :).
ah, no vegetarian choices there? am glad though, that they offered to make some especially! and looks like they have really great cutomer service! Vanilla pannacotta and biscottis look yummy!
How was the long week away from blogosphere? Glad to see your comment
How do you know all these good resturants ? Good food..looks yummy.
This place has been on my “to-go” list for a while now. I’m so glad you gals had a wonderful time!
Sig, glad to see your post - wondering where you’d been, have been checking your blog to see if I missed anything. I can almost taste the pear salad after your description.
wow Sig what a great time you all had :)happy birtheday to M
Wow isn’t it wonderful you still have friendship like this after all these years. And then too having so much fun together.
The food look just amazing. I love foie gra i did it for my hubbys b’day with sauted wild mushroom with honey which was delicious.
wow sig!! its always wonderful to keep in touch with best friends and meeting again n again.
It really shows how much you treasure each and every phase of life.Best food with best friends. That menu and pictures are wonderful Sig.
Btw how did your training go? hope u are free from now on!!
wow sounds like an awsome place… me too love the pear salad… and i love the fact that they split the two share dishes… thye paid attention to all the small things…
good to meet your friends…happy bday to M!
Happy b’day to your sister friend! I do have a sister friend too in B’lore. It’s great feeling! Enjoy!:)
so..how was the training..fun i’m sure
….good friends are hard to find…happy for you 
how lucky are u girl to have ur best buds in the same town…mine is stuck in boston
very rarely do we see such great friendships! you are so lucky!!
the dishes are really attractive..
Sig, very few are lucky to get such friends , that too at a period when all of us have our egos and issues. Celebrate this friendship forever!
You should come to other cities too, Sig. We’ll know about some good restaurants everywhere then.
Aren’t you girls lucky to keep your friendship for so long…cherish every moment of it.
And of course, I love the food.
wow!!..friends from college, room mates all thru the 4 years together, great sig…3 cheers to ur friendship…
