Story

at pangaea grill, fusion is celebrated as more than just a blend of diverse ingredients.

In 2018 on New Year’s Eve, Pangaea Grill opened in downtown Carmel, bringing a chic dining aesthetic and East-West fusion to the city’s Mediterranean dominated restaurant scene. Locals and tourists have raved about Pangaea’s bold flavors and ample portions, as well as the vital new voice that Chef-owner Mira Porges brings to this new venture.

“I like to call everyone who comes to our restaurant guests,” says Porges. “They aren’t tourists, or customers, they’re all guests. And I want them to feel welcome and to offer them different flavors and something new.”

The menu is literally divided by its East and West dishes. Familiar fare like the calamari starter and filet mignon main are well executed, if typical for the area. The venue’s succulent Korean Short Ribs and tangy Kim Chi Fried Rice, however, are by far the most ordered items.

Both dishes represent some of the most prolific flavors in Korean cuisine.

“If anyone asks what Korean food is,” Porges says, “you have to talk about kim chi and short rib.” For the fried rice, Porges follows a rigid six step process that guarantees fuller and more complex flavors than what her guests may have experienced at other restaurants.

She says, “I’m cooking what my grandmother used to cook. It’s comfort food.”

-By Clayton Schuster

Carmel Magazine, Spring/Summer 2019