Maligne, a clever take on gastronomy

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(screenshot from https://www.restaurantmaligne.com/)

Anna and I have always looked for opportunities to eat delicious food. During our most recent trip to Monterey, our research led us to Maligne, a restaurant in Seaside, CA. The restaurant is located at the corner of Broadway Ave and Hillsdale St. We were expecting Danville or Walnut Creek vibes (e.g., brightly lit streets with a bustling restaurant scene). Instead, we drove into a quiet city where the shops were closed when we arrived. The corner street lamp highlighted Maligne's minimalist (or brutalist) concrete façade (it was hard to tell; I'm not an architecture expert). 

Maligne is small, with about 10 to 12 tables (if I remember correctly). The distance from the door to the open kitchen and the dining area was so short that I felt awkward standing there, not wanting to seem like I was ogling at people eating their dinner while waiting an hour for my family's table to get ready. To me, the wait meant that this restaurant must serve great food. All tables were fully occupied.

The food was worth the long wait. We ordered the chicken parmesan, the Wagyu steak, and the little gem salad. Donan absolutely loved the chicken parmesan while the adults all savoured the steak. However, the little gem of our dining experience was the little gem salad. It comprised little gem lettuce, parmesan cheese, and vinaigrette (or lemon juice?). It has been weeks since we've eaten in Maligne, and we're still discussing this salad! Daddy is trying to replicate this salad at home but has been using romaine lettuce instead. It's a puzzle that we haven't figured out yet. 

The 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation is well-deserved. Maligne is worth the drive and the wait. 

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