Planning celebrations for the ones I hold dear always brings me a mix of emotions. The anticipation of their reaction causes a mild case of anxiety. You never know if they will enjoy the festivities or have eyes filled with disappointment as they politely express their gratitude.
Over the course of a week, I contemplated on where our celebrant would like to feast. Angelicas Restaurant & Bar was amongst the slew of options to choose from. It fell in the top two when I viewed the ambiance on their Instagram. And as my mouth watered reading the description of their ribeye, Angelicas undoubtedly won. To accommodate the whole party we agreed that renting a Jeep would work best. As we rode off, I basked in gratitude as I recalled this being my dream car when I was younger with its rugged and sporty SUV frame making it so masculine and sleek at the same time.
Driving by some of the biggest tech companies of Silicon Valley such as Meta, Oracle and Box on our way to Redwood City, we commanded the attention of the passing cars beside us. After parking in front of Rouge Salon, we strolled amongst similarly gorgeous establishments on Main St. The street was sparkling with string lights wrapped around lamp poles. I imagine it turns into an illuminated affair during their annual holiday tree lighting ceremony to take place on December 3rd.
Opening the heavy wooden doors of Angelicas, you begin to enter a spacious venue with white cherry blossoms greeting you at the front. As the hostess led us across the various rooms to the back, a wave of relief passed through me and my anxiety started to subside. Brick and wooden walls embellished with planters and large floor angel vases housing lovely arrangements, alongside a beautiful water fountain. We entered the most enchanting patio I have ever seen. Seated by accents of weathered wooden doors and mirrors, I looked over at the celebrant and was filled with impassion that I found the perfect spot.
For starters we had the raw oysters that were great, bright and fresh served with a mignonette. Then we move on to the Peruvian ceviche that you spoon with the accompanied plantain chips, this was good although tasted more like a Mexican Ceviche. Lastly the tamarind chicken wings that I wished had a more pronounced tamarind flavor but were still devoured. The Cazuela Voladora, a shareable cocktail concocted with tequila and fresh juices was uniquely presented in a large clay bowl topped with cucumbers, not overly sweet nor had the strong liquor flavor that can make you cringe after sipping.
Awaiting our entrees, we started to question if our eyes grew bigger than our stomachs when we gazed over the menu. Wondering to myself if we ordered too much, we ask the waiter for a second drink. 2 Canelos, mezcal drinks that are perfectly spiced and garnished with a roasted cinnamon stick. As you place the glass to your lips, the smoky and spicy aroma fills your mouth creating a very smooth swig. Enjoying our cocktails, the entrees come out, along with our appetite again. I tend to steer clear from ordering pork chops as I usually find them more on the dry side. So I was pleasantly surprised watching the juices of the Cuban Mojo Grilled Pork Chops flow onto the plate as we sliced into it. The savory sides and fried plantains paired deliciously with the pork chop. Then the Culeton con Chimichurri Estillo Argentine, although prepared more medium well then medium was marbled with the perfect amount of fat which made it still melt in my mouth. After devouring our entrees, I was tapped out and now ready for an after dinner nap.
If you are looking for a place to celebrate, you will definitely want to check this place out. Whether having an intimate dinner party or a wedding in their secret garden, it's definitely a place to rejoice and honor your loved ones.
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