Menu Tasting at Newly Opened Cafe Express, Kvadrat Shopping Center

Cafe Express Kvadrat Manager Nina Kristin Gudmundson, head chef Helge Breivikås and myself.

Cafe Express Kvadrat

Kvadrat Shopping Center
Sandnes, Norway

Website: http://www.herlige-restauranter.no/cafeexpress

Tele: +47 51 96 07 85
E-Mail: booking@herlige-stavanger.no

This past Friday I was invited to a  menu tasting at the newly opened Cafe Express in Kvadrat Shopping Center. While Cafe Express, a Herlige Stavanger outpost, has been open in Kvadrat for years, the new menu and decor have been revamped in order to reflect the cafe's new commitment to locally produced ingredients & internationally inspired dishes.

The newly opened Cafe Express takes its commitment to providing quality, local ingredients so seriously, it invited 2 other bloggers and myself to taste several items on the new menu and give feedback.  

AMBIANCE

Guess what this is? A light. Yeppers. A light. Oh . . .and my favorite shot of the day.

More of the lights and general ambiance.

Fresh plants on each table 

A bay plant (aka bay leaves in their natural state) and rosemary

Not quite a painting, not quite a wall treatment but modern all the same

MENU 

Say hello to our menu tasting meister, Petter Joakimsen (Twitter: @PJoakim)

Organic bev'eys from Stavanger's own Safteriet

One of my favorite dishes - marinated herring with dill, red onion and mayo

Brunch sampler platter - yogurt with mango compote and Cafe Express' own musli mix - fruit salad, fruit bar with dark chocolate - västerbotten cheese with orange marmalade

Yogurt with mango compote and Cafe Express' own musli mix

Västerbotten Cheese with Orange Marmalade

Open faced bacon, spinach and fried egg sandwiches 

Asian inspired salmon salad

Angus beef burger with caesar salad and rosemary and sea salt pommes frites 

Petter Joakimsen (Twitter: @PJoakim) and the toaster which browned my buns (you all already know how I my LOVE of toasted buns)

Chocolate cake

Chocolate chip cookies

Brownies

Kid's Menu

BUY AND TAKE HOME

The verdict?

As one who appreciates well made un-fussy food made from scratch, I very much enjoyed the new concept at Cafe Express. I (of course) LOVE Cafe Express' commitment to support local food producers AND give those looking to break the "fast food" or "sandwich only" habit at Kvadrat a reason to stop in all the same.

While the menu lacks options for vegetarians and gluten free notations on the menu (gluten free options are available - such as the Asian inspired salmon salad - one simply has to ask for them to be sure), the friendly staff & kid's menu as well as warm atmosphere make this a place I'll come back to next time I am at Kvadrat.

***Disclaimer**
Although the food reviewed in this post was provided for by Herlige Stavanger/Cafe Express, the review remains the opinion of the reviewer.

In other words, although Herlige Stavanger/Cafe Express paid for the food highlighted in this review, the opinions expressed are my own & unbiased.



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