Lunch Break: Food Doesn’t Have To Be Complicated
Sampling dishes and diners in and around Miami County
Englewood might seem a little out of the way, but it’s a local town in the area that, for me, has many untapped restaurant possibilities. This week, I decided, like most women in their twenties, to eat a little healthier on a random weekday. Venturing out into the Englewood restaurant scene, I settled on a small Mediterranean restaurant tucked into a plaza between a boutique and Everybody Fitness.
Cafe Attaleia is quaint, but its cozy and quiet atmosphere matches the vibe of its simple yet delicious menu.
It was later in the day, but I still had breakfast on my mind. Many cafes have their version of a
two-egg breakfast. Waffle House has the classic and my personal favorite. Every place I've been to has some sort of dish with two eggs, toast, hashbrowns, or another side. Similarly, at Cafe Attaleia, there are many options like this, and I settled upon the Mediterranean Breakfast. The small and appetizing dish included two beautiful runny eggs, over easy, and a textured sesame bagel with a warm and fluffy interior. I was also given a few slices of a uniquely flavored Turkish sausage and little grazing cups of jam, feta, olives, and walnuts. The feta was an excellent addition when sprinkled on the eggs. However, I am a feta cheese enthusiast and found myself resisting the urge to finish off the little grazing cup like a Jello Shot. This aesthetically pleasing array of food was simple yet filling. That being said, I am aware that an egg and a bagel are a little boring, so I indulged in a potato and onion-filled flatbread.
This flatbread was incredible. The flaky pastry-like crust was filled with warm and juicy potatoes, onions, and melted feta cheese. As I was devouring it piece by piece, I thought to myself how, although I'd never had this specific meal before, I felt a sort of nostalgia when eating it. The caramelized onions and bread reminded me of when my mom would bring me French onion soup on a cold day when I was sick. The flatbread and potatoes also reminded me of the delicious warmth of pan-fried perogies. The onion and pastry mix brought me back to the time I tried scallion pancakes. All of these reminded me how so much food is universally comforting.
This Mediterranean rendition of a potato onion flatbread is similar in so many cultural dishes. Comfort foods built on staples as simple as onion and bread are what bring people together. I think that sometimes, when a food like potato onion flatbread tastes nostalgic, yet you’ve never had it, it’s because you can taste the love that has been passed down in a simple recipe for generations.
When I left Cafe Attaleia, I left with a newfound appreciation for Mediterranean cuisine, as well as for the simple recipes and dishes that bring families, cultures, and generations together.