8FFLFOE MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE
■ RESTAURANT REVIEW ■ MOVIE TIMES ■ BEST BETS FOR ENTERTAINMENT
N R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W STORY BY RUTH SCHECHTER // PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHE HAUBURSIN
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Border crossing
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■ Mountain View Voice ■ MountainViewOnline.com ■ August 9, 2013
n many ways, the cuisine of Burma (also known as Myanmar) is a combination of the influence of its neighbors, Thailand, India and China. Many of the ingredients are the same but countered with different combinations of spices and sauces. At first glance, dishes can seem like familiar territory, made with the curry, chilies, noodles and coconut milk culled from any Asian menu. But there is definitely a difference. Green Elephant Gourmet,
located in Palo Alto’s Charleston Shopping Center, allows diners to sample some classic Burmese cuisine, as well as offering an extensive menu of easily recognized Chinese dishes. While Chinese food is in the majority, much of the appeal of Green Elephant is in the opportunity to try something new. The decor of the 7-year-old restaurant reflects a multitude of influences as well, from strangely decorative objets de art to Welsh dinnerware and Chinese cloi-
Clockwise from top left: Green Elephant’s tea leaf salad; fruity nutty prawns; poodi; and fried fish.
GREEN ELEPHANT OFFERS FAMILIAR CHINESE DISHES AND HARDER-TO-FIND BURMESE FLAVORS