Essence is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in town! It is just amazing that you can now buy some of the best french macarons in the world right here in little ole Tempe!
Essence's owners and gracious hosts Eugenia and Gilles make me feel so welcome every time I stop by. The place is very simple and comfortable. It has a few really cute touches, such as origami flowers in bud vases on the tables, but these things are largely unnecessary because once you get a bite of the delectable fare you are going to be transported clear outta there and into a world of flavors and textures that will obscure your other senses post haste!
The mediterranean platter is my favorite of their offerings and it is a perfectly balanced plate. It comes with a serving of hummus, some toasted baguette slices, stuffed grape leaves and a salad of halved cherry tomatoes, olives, and red onions in a vinaigrette. The hummus is the best in town and believe me I have been on a quest to find it for the 19 years I've been a Zonie. It has just the right garlicky, lemony, pasty consistency and taste. The grape leaves were a revelation to me because I have eaten them many places and have loved them but always experienced them as fairly dense and somewhat bland. The stuffed grape leaves at Essence are delicious! They are dense yet moist - they are so flavorful and the ingredients are diced in such a way as to allow the palate to separate the flavors of each finely diced little morsel.
The macarons...ahhhhhhhhh. What can I say? The words fail me now. Just go. Eat them. Take some home. Try not to dream about them! I haven't had any as good since I first tasted them in Paris at Laduree off of the Boulevard Saint Germain du Pres. Incroyable!