The following is a guest post by Matt Gibson.
Last fall while visiting Northern California I was treated to lunch by Stephanie Fermin and Jaclyn Babcock of the San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau. Jaclyn and Stephanie are very involved in the local tourism industry and, knowing that I’m a travel writer, they wanted to show me the very best that their town had on offer, so they took me to All Spice, an Indian fusion restaurant in a character house just off South El Camino Real.
Knowing that Stephanie and Jaclyn had something special up their sleeves, I made sure to document the lunch in photographs. I was not disappointed. We were served a variety of exotic dishes to sample. I made sure to take a picture of each on an empty table before we dug in.
1. We arrived in the early afternoon for a a late lunch.
2. There are few tables in the small character house. The atmosphere was warm and comfortable.
3. First came the appetizers. This one was coriander-cured hamachi with passion-fruit, lotus chips, and spiced guacamole.
4. Next came faro chaat with Peruvian potatoes and cauliflower florets in chaat masala vinaigrette.
5. Then cumin and lavender scallops.
6. And finally star anise and fennel confit chicken wings.
7. Before the main course I jumped back into the kitchen to watch the chef prepare.
8. Then headed back just in time to shoot the food coming out.
9. Here is the beef shortrib vindaloo with baby bokchoy. The sauce is inspired by the Portugese-influenced cuisine of Goa on India’s west coast. It’s All Spice’s most popular dish.
10. That was followed by mustard-dill seabass.
11. And then hare kebab.
12. And finally kulfi for dessert.
After those pictures, I don’t think I need to tell you how delicious it was.
If you’d like to try for yourself, the address and contact information is below. Be sure to make reservations–I’m told they get very busy!
All Spice Restaurant (650) 627-4303
1602 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94402
Are you a fan of “fusion” restaurants? Let us know your favorite!
19 Comments
John
March 27, 2012 at 7:08 pmJealous. Great job Matt.
Matt Gibson
March 28, 2012 at 2:29 pm@John: Thanks John!
Alexa Meisler
March 23, 2012 at 4:52 pmThe beef shortrib vindaloo and cumin and lavender scallops certainly got my attention. The presentation was exquisite judging by the photos. Everything looked great and thank you for sharing this. I may have to visit some time!
Brooke
March 22, 2012 at 7:25 pmSo hungry now! Thanks ;)
Matt Gibson
March 28, 2012 at 2:28 pm@Brooke vs. the World: I know! I may have to head over there one of these days soon!
Matt Gibson
March 28, 2012 at 2:28 pm@Brooke vs. the World: I know! I may have to head over there one of these days soon!
Pete
March 22, 2012 at 4:37 amoh my. I miss Indian cuisine and this looks amazing….
Matt Gibson
March 21, 2012 at 8:25 pmThanks guys! Glad you like the photos. There will be more to come!
Laurence
March 21, 2012 at 9:55 amLooks amazing, and some incredible food photos to boot!
Cailin O'Neil
March 21, 2012 at 2:11 pm@Laurence: Why can’t every meal I eat look so tasty?!
Cam
March 21, 2012 at 2:18 amWOWzas! Looks delish – fantastic photography Matt!
Cailin O'Neil
March 21, 2012 at 2:11 pm@Cam: He has a great eye for food and photographs!
Matt Gibson
March 28, 2012 at 2:32 pm@Cam: :-D Thanks guys!
Jamie Ouye
March 20, 2012 at 11:18 pmI live in San Mateo and have no idea why I haven’t heard of this place. I am definitely going try to get reservations ASAP.
Cailin O'Neil
March 21, 2012 at 2:10 pm@Jamie Ouye: Let us know how it is! :)
Randy Kalp
March 20, 2012 at 11:09 pmYum! This place looks fantastic! We will definitely have to check this place out the next time we are in the Bay Area.
Cailin O'Neil
March 21, 2012 at 2:10 pm@Randy Kalp: My thoughts exactly :) And isn’t what you would imagine from just looking at it from the outside.
Nora - The Professional Hobo
March 20, 2012 at 5:18 pmI’m salivating…… :-)
Cailin O'Neil
March 21, 2012 at 2:09 pm@Nora – The Professional Hobo: Doesn’t it look delightful?! :)