“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth.” ― Edith Sitwell
As the season changes with its shorter days and chilly evenings, it’s only natural to crave warm and hearty food bursting with the color we’re missing from the rainy grey skies. We’re excited to introduce our new Winter Menu, which includes some totally new items, the return of a popular Chef’s Pick, and a couple really tasty reinterpretations of favorites from our past. Without further ado, here are the new stars!
Roasted Butternut Squash & Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad: Maple-Glazed Butternut Squash, Shaved Brussels Sprouts & Kale, Heirloom Red Rice, Grana Padano Cheese, Asian Pear, Honey Roasted Almonds with Hadley Fruit Orchard’s Date-Sherry Vinaigrette – 9.95
Coming off the heels of Thanksgiving, this new salad is a celebration of cooler weather seasonal produce, from the sweet and tender butternut squash to the crunchy and earthy Brussels sprouts and kale. The addition of heirloom red rice boasts significant amounts of potassium and magnesium, and will entice you with its complex nutty flavor, soft texture, and beautiful russet color. The firm and juicy julienned Asian pear is like a ray of sunshine on a cold day, and our new date-sherry vinaigrette brings it all together with natural sweetness. The salad is topped off with delicately shaved Grana Padano, a slow-ripened Italian hard cheese that’s milder than a standard Parmigiano Reggiano.
Winter Ham & Pretzel Melt: Seared Prime Honey Ham, Caramelized Onion & Gala Apple Chutney, Wilted Spinach, Mountain Gruyere, Smoked Gouda, Mendo’s Secret Mustard on Panini-Pressed Pretzel Roll – $9.45
Devoted Mendo fans might fondly remember our Ham & Gruyere grilled cheese, which was taken off the menu a few months ago. We’ve brought back that classic and craveable combination of melted ham and cheese, but this time with another much-requested guest favorite — the pretzel roll! This version is an upscale interpretation of comfort food, and each bite delivers creamy, rich, sweet, and savory flavors. Order it with a side of soup and get down with your cozy self.
The Smoky Sweet Hippie: Double Maple-Glazed Tempeh Bacon, Alfalfa Sprouts, Tomato, Pickled Red Onions, BBQ Vegenaise on Toasted Rustic White – $8.95
This sandwich is a throwback to the early heyday of health food, but with a tasty modern spin. The hippies introduced us to temeph and sprouts back in the late 60’s and 70’s, and we’ve brought these nutrient-packed ingredients up to date with a deeply savory, perfectly smoky, and somewhat spicy caramelized maple glaze, piquant and creamy BBQ Vegenaise, and house-pickled red onions to add brightness. If you really want to channel your inner hippie, add avocado for just $1!
Short Rib Sunday Supper Trencher: Braised Short Ribs with Sunday Sauce (Red Wine-Tomato Gravy, Braised Kale, and Mirepoix), Mendo’s Krispies, and Local Horseradish Ricotta Crema on a Panini-Pressed Soft Roll – $10.45
You may remember this beauty from our Chef’s Pick several weeks ago. When our co-founder Mario was growing up, his Italian-American family would have big Sunday meals that were a combination of lunch and dinner, called “Sunday Supper.” This sandwich brings all the elements of those beloved family meals together, including the tender and savory braised meat, the rich, warm red sauce, and the hearty bread to help soak up all the tasty juices. We cut our roll “trencher-style” (vertically down from the top) and serve the sandwich up in a bowl, so don’t be alarmed when you see all your generously portioned ingredients exposed! As the label on the lid says, “it’s not topless, it’s a trencher!” Dig in with a fork, if needed!
Our Updated “Modern Caesar”
Along with the new menu offerings detailed above, we’ve also upgraded a few of our guests’ favorite menu mainstays. Our Kale Caesar is now dubbed the “Modern Caesar” and features a brand new classic Caesar dressing that’s creamy, savory, and perfectly briny. Please note, this dressing does contain the egg and anchovy that are standard in the classic Caesar world, so if you prefer the Lemon Parmesan Vinaigrette please just ask your host and we’ll be glad to accommodate your request! We’ve swapped the former black kale for curly kale, which is much lighter, easier to eat, and holds the dressing perfectly. We’ve also swapped out the former Parmesan cheese to delicate hand-grated Grana Padano, which truly melts in your mouth.
We’ve also added a delicious balsamic reduction to our Steak BLT and the Mendo’s Cobb Salad, introducing extra brightness, sweetness, and depth of flavor to these two beloved menu items.
We hope you’ll enjoy our new seasonal offerings and menu upgrades. Give them a taste and please tell us what you think!