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Local Guides
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STAIRCASE WORTH THE CLIMB
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by
Leanne Kemmler
April 28 – May 4, 2005 |
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I took my mother to the Staircase Café with high hopes.
The building is part of my family history.
At age four, I snuck $20 from my mother’s purse, went to
the corner store, bought a candy bar and consumed it on
the front steps of what would one day be the Staircase
Café and Theatre. I threw the remaining money down
the sewer in the belief that, without evidence, no one
could know I had committed the crime. Unfortunately, my
very poor family had been hoping to buy its groceries
with that $20. I have yet to live that incident down.
Returning to the scene of the crime we were pleased to
find the café bustling with activity. The Tower Poetry
Society was meeting and reading their work, and there
was one table left open on the dim balcony above.
We treated ourselves to some warm goodies before
ordering our meals. My mother enjoyed a mild chai latte
($2.65) with a delicious foamy head, and I delighted in a
sweet vanilla Steamer ($2.39). Our server was attentive
and helpful, despite having to continually climb up and
down the back stairs to reach our fellow balcony patron
and us.
Shortly after the drinks were delivered, we received our
appetizer, Black Bean Hummus Dip ($5.50). The slightly
sweet dip, freshly made on site, came with a generous
pile of Greek–style pita and sliced bread stick. The
breads had been warmed and lasted the entire dish of
hummus.
A short while later our entrees arrived. My mother had
ordered the Stairfry ($12). It was a stirfry of vegetables
and fruits over rice noodles in a maple teriyaki sauce. A
choice of beef, chicken and tofu was offered and chicken
was chosen. The combination of maple with teriyaki was
very clever and tasty, and the portion was quite large.
My main meal was the Yeti Forest ($13). I fully admit
that I chose this dish mainly for the intriguingly goofy
name. The pasta featured mushrooms, asparagus and
broccoli in a tomato cream sauce over fettuccine
noodles. The choice of asparagus and broccoli was an
interesting accompaniment to the creamy sauce. My
appetite was quickly sated.
The combinations of tastes offered by the Staircase’s
menu was very interesting, and I was happy to see a
couple of vegan options available as well as vegetarian
and meat.
I was, however, disappointed with the meal on two
points. The first point: the Stairfry sauce had so much oil,
presumably to help keep the rice noodles separated,
that my mother became disenchanted with her meal very
quickly. The second point: the cream sauce in the Yeti
Forest was cooling and congealing by the time it arrived
at my table, making the entire dish stick together in an
unappetizing way.
On the whole, we enjoyed the tastes of the food. I would
definitely go again, but I might stick with something like a
sandwich or pizza next time. Perhaps I can convince my
mother to come out for another chai latte. V
THE STAIRCASE CAFE
27 Dundurn St. N.
Hamilton
905.529.3000
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