More than a decade ago, I ate at a pub outside the walls of Windsor Castle in England. I had at that pub a shepherd’s pie unmatched in its yumminess by any cook before or since. That is, until last week, when I ate the shepherd’s pie at Mousse Cafe and Bakeshop in Portland’s Monument Square.
I’d say it was beyond describing except I’m going to tell you about it.
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First of all, it was a hunk of comfort food perfect for the rainy and windy day on which I ate it. I was able to get two meals out of it, which makes its $7.99 price tag a deal. There must have been an inch-thick layer of mashed potatoes (with a top browned to perfection) capping ground beef mixed with carrots, onions, peas and bacon. The taste was simply mouth-watering. The shepherd’s pie also comes with a side salad.
One of my companions ordered a half chicken salad sandwich on wheat bread with a cup of fish chowder ($5.99). The chicken salad sandwich looked so good that I went back to the cafe earlier this week to try it. I’m very particular about chicken salad — it’s so easy for the mayo to overwhelm it — but it was great.
My other companion ordered off the breakfast menu (breakfast is served all day). She got the huevos rancheros — two eggs, chorizo sausage, black beans, onion, chilis and Monterey jack cheese on corn tortillas with salsa and sour cream ($8.99). Everyone liked their meals.
The cafe offers takeout as well as eat-in and delivery options. You order at the front counter, where there are many tempting treats. If you are eating in, a member of the staff will wait on you at your table.
Breakfast items include biscuits and gravy for $5.50, a bowl of oatmeal for $5.50 and vanilla-scented challah french toast for $7.99.
On the lunch menu, you’ll find homemade turkey chili ($4 for a cup, $6 for a bowl), angel hair pasta with prosciutto, blistered grape tomatoes, asiago and fresh basil for $6.99, a BLT for $5.99, a garden burger for $6.99 and a veggie quesadilla for $6.99.
The Features staff of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram anonymously samples meals for about $7.
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