What: Country meatloaf
Where: Sweet Basil California Eatery, 73655 El Paseo, Suite L/M
How much: $29
Contact: 760-610-1698; www.sweetbasilpd.com
Why: The mushroom gravy flavor bomb.
Most of the best entrées are greater than the sum of their parts—and the country meatloaf at Sweet Basil California Eatery is an excellent example.
By itself, the meatloaf is a touch bland—but it has a fantastic texture; it’s tender and juicy in the middle, and a touch crispy on the edges, just as meatloaf should be. By itself, the mushroom gravy is salty and rather intense. But put them together, and wow: You have a near-perfect dish.
Sweet Basil’s origin story is fascinating. After working various restaurant jobs, the chef/co-owner, Sally Hill, enrolled in the culinary program at College of the Desert in 2000. She went on to open Sweet Basil Bistro with her husband, Martin, up in Big Bear in 2007. After numerous cold winters, they decided to move back down to the Coachella Valley and prepared to open Sweet Basil California Eatery … in early 2020. Eek. Despite the pandemic, Sweet Basil opened in late 2020, and has been serving tasty lunches and dinners on El Paseo ever since. When you go to Sweet Basil, there’s a good chance Sally Hill will be there, joking around and helping with your service.
The hubby and I stopped in with our friend Bryan for dinner on a recent Friday night before a show at the McCallum Theatre. While the dishes the hubby and I ordered were good, Bryan was the fortunate soul who ordered the meatloaf—and that’s what I’ll be ordering on my next visit. I’ll ask for a little more gravy on the side, just to make sure every bite has the right, balanced mix of meat and sauce.
My mouth is watering just thinking about it.