As you circle the hors d’oeuvre tables and snatch deviled eggs and skewered shrimp from passing servers at parties and openings, spare a thought for our introverted friends missing the spread. Even for the most outgoing among us, there are some people whose company is a high price to pay for a well-laid cheese platter. But will those for whom social interaction is truly uncomfortable ever know the joy of the first swipe of crostini through a chafing dish of hot artichoke dip?
A solution presents itself at Renata’s Creperie (1030 G St.), that longtime Arcata brunch staple. It’s not so crowded just off a weekday lunch hour and the interior, with its warm color palette and distressed furniture, welcomes like the home of an old friend/art teacher. Find a homey corner table among the punched tin hearts and sunset-colored walls, and order the Got Yer Goat crepe ($11). The batter is a nutty buckwheat — that glamorous whole grain of caviar blini fame — that stands up to strong flavors and fillings, like the tart Kalamata olives, sun dried tomatoes and marinated artichoke hearts within. Add the mild fresh basil, an even-handed measure of Loleta jack cheese and the creamy tang of goat cheese, and you’ve got the makings of a casual get together without the mingling. You can even order it to carry out and enjoy the party in blissful solitude.
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This article appears in One Year Later.
