The Panini That Transports You To An Idyllic Countryside

It was a quiet Sunday as my girlfriends and I were looking for a brunch spot in our neighbourhood. Downtown Cloverdale is rustic and pastoral, with an idyllic countryside feel. So, what could be a better choice than The Rustic Rooster, a family establishment that feels and tastes like grandma’s kitchen?

Like a sitcom set, The Rustic Rooster Bakery Cafe & Gifts was filled with kitschy trinkets and farmer market finds surrounding wooden picnic tables and upholstered seats. I couldn’t wait for my Chicken Cranberry Brie Panini, looking heavenly written on the menu.

We settled into our seats among an older crowd, whose chatter was quiet yet comforting. Our conversations were on a roll when the server brought my panini. Simple and refreshing, the panini came with two slices of fresh cucumber. There was no need for frills or extra decorations. The smell of the panini was so alluring that I accidentally took a bite before I could snap a picture!

Did I make you daydream? Imagine then a chicken licked by the flames of a fire as it cooks, juices dripping. The layers of chicken were so delectable, they made me take a bite – I swear officer!

The bread, warm and toasted, enveloped the herb-encrusted chicken. It was a supporting character, never too doughy nor too much, letting the other flavours shine. The brie dripped enticingly as I broke apart the panini. The taste was so rich, it bordered on greasy.

But the secret was the homemade cranberry sauce. Unlike the familiar bitter cranberries, Rustic Rooster’s homemade sauce was deliciously sweet. Its sweetness contrasted well with the creaminess of the brie. While there were only three ingredients inside this sandwich, each of the three flavours were all strong enough to stand on its own.

We sat and we chatted. We ate a dream that transported us to the countryside fields. Could there be a better Sunday?