Erik P.'s Profile

Given the barren landscape of downtown Winnemucca, this tiny cafe was a lovely discovery. Between the ambiance, the decor and the staff, you'll feel as though you've just stopped in for a break while walking down Telegraph Ave. or Haight St.

With an old school La Marzocco espresso machine on hand, your best bet is to enjoy one of their Americanos, cappuccinos or lattes rather than opting for a drip coffee. Also, be sure to spend a few minutes looking through the handmade earthenware mugs on display, as they are quite remarkable!

Hippies, foodies and red-faced snowphiliacs converge on this delightful, rustic treasure hidden away far from the tourist trap garbage clustered around Stateline.

From the road, the unassuming strip mall Sprouts call home will fail to catch the eye of most passing by, but rest assured, Sprouts stands out in every other way.

The decor is charming and woodsy, but not in that awful McCabin style that permeates most South Lake businesses. The lack of Ikeafication certainly ramps the comfort level up and makes you feel at home rather than stuck in some cattle run designed for profit rather than pleasure.

Adding to the comfort is the amazing staff. It seems that there are few "old timers", and their literature indicates employees are intentionally seasonal; working an entire winter or summer, for example. With the customer service industry as a whole, and especially in areas reliant on tourism, high turnover and low motivation is almost a foregone conclusion. But here, Sprouts continues to shine. These folks are young, vibrant, friendly and bubble over with enthusiasm for what they do. At times where there have been minor issues with service, they are profusely apologetic - even with something as trivial as a few minutes' delay due to a large order or high volume. At the risk of sounding shallow, it's an added bonus that Sprouts attracts some of the most naturally beautiful women around to work here. With the backdrop of Lake Tahoe just outside, it's nice to continue experiencing the area's beauty while breaking for a meal.

Most important, though, is the food. Given the somewhat remote location and insular infrastructure of South Lake, it's nothing short of miraculous that the food is so fresh and affordable here. For less than $15, you can eat like a king; and the food rivals what you'd get at a similar venue in Berkeley or Palo Alto (without the pretentiousness, of course). Their salads and soups are amazing, and if your appetite is ravenous, you'll delight in one of their richer offerings, like the breakfast burrito, tempeh burger or quesadilla. Despite using cheese, eggs and cream in many of their dishes, the food never feels greasy or unsavory; in fact, they appear to care a great deal for presentation and it seems that any excess fats and oils are removed prior to serving - as they should! The ingredients are fresh as can be, which is a feat unto itself given how far away Sprouts is from the most obvious sources (the nearest Whole Foods is 40+ miles away, for example). For picky control freak types, the kitchen/prep area is front and center, so you can watch your meals come to life and put your mind at ease knowing that these folks are eager to serve you a delicious dish.

Clearly, enough good things cannot be said about Sprouts, and it will likely take longer to read this mini novella than it will to eat your meal. If you aren't yet convinced that you should be eating here, well... there's a McDonalds up the street; hope you don't get sick!

If I could make love to an eatery, this would be the one.

The food here is superb and FRESH. So, so fresh. Think Will Smith before he got all Hollywood and started pumping out soulless action flicks. Seasons 1-3 of The Fresh Prince fresh. Like, before they switched moms and turned Hilary into a complete airhead.

While it can be a little tight when it's busy, it's well worth sitting inside. It looks like a set from Total Recall, but with far less annoying dialogue. Ambiance is killer, and makes for a very relaxing place to weep openly at the marvelous bounty laid out before you.

The hummus plate is a good place to start, though if your experience of hummus has been limited to store-bought mainstream brands, you'll probably be disappointed at how little it resembles the snot of a toddler. This is the real deal, and then some.

You can't go wrong with any of the entrees, though you're welcome to try. I had the grilled chicken pesto sandwich once and I swear I transcended consciousness and was able communicate with the dead for a few minutes. Your mileage may vary.

For those of you counting calories, F@#K IT! Grab some of the delicious vegan sweets under the glass and pig out like there's no tomorrow. Don't worry about your self-respect - the desserts are so good that you'll forget all about it halfway through the first bite. There'll be time to hate yourself for it in the morning, but for now... *gurgles*

I've never been to Thailand, so there's that.

This food, though? Makes me feel like I have. Like someone up and dropped an entire chunk of Southeast Asia into my mouth. But in a good way!

Much of my visits here are a blur of blissful devouring, but I distinctly remember loving the chicken satay so much that I may have asked its hand in marriage. Given that cooked chicken lacks cognizant functions such as speech, I left with that dream unfulfilled. I highly recommend you try it - the consumption of Manora's chicken satay, that is, not the misguided attempt at matrimony.