Internal glee — I won the team competition this week, so I got to choose the theme for our weekly team lunch. I decided on brunch, as I had long been eyeing Cafe Medina, just a three-minute walk from the office. This popular spot is often daunting due to its queue, but today was different.
At around 11:50 am, I headed to Cafe Medina to get us on the waitlist for a table of three. I provided my phone number, and they promised to text me when our table was ready. At 12:25, my phone buzzed with the message. We rushed downstairs and walked to the beloved brunch destination.
Cafe Medina's menu isn't your typical brunch spread. You won't find traditional pancakes or French toast here (waffles and avocado toast are still available). Instead, the menu boasts Mediterranean-inspired flavours like Merguez sausage, spicy Moroccan lamb meatballs, and harissa spiced beef. The choices were so unique that deciding on a dish was a delightful challenge.
After much deliberation, I settled on the paella. It came with a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg with a runny yolk, adding rich creaminess to the dish. The orzo was cooked to tender perfection, providing a comforting, rice-like texture that soaked up the flavours of the dish beautifully.
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Paella from Café Medina 1 sunny egg, orzo, chorizo sausage, roasted vegetables, Grano Padano, avocado, spicy charred tomato salsa |
Then, the Spicy Chorizo Sausage added a delightful heat to the meal. Pair that with the earthiness and slight sweetness of a mix of perfectly roasted vegetables, creating a wonderful flavour and texture combination.
The generous sprinkling of the aged cheese Grana Padano added a nutty flavour and a hint of saltiness. It melted slightly into the hot skillet and added a creamy richness to the paella. Then, slices of fresh avocado brought a cool, buttery contrast, their creamy texture providing a delightful balance to the spicier elements of the dish.
The spicy charred tomato salsa added a smoky depth and a fresh, tangy heat that tied all the components together to complete the dish.
Hooray for a company-paid team lunch at a new and exciting spot! As we enjoyed our meals, we noticed a Michelin Guide sticker proudly displayed on the window—a well-deserved accolade for Cafe Medina.
