to some, brunch is just eggs and potatoes, mixed in some fancy shmancy way … nothing fundamentally special.
to jy and i, it’s an INSTITUTION … a coma-inducing, high-calorie institution, but nonetheless, an institution.
eggs (omelettes, baybee), potatoes, sausages, bacon, french toast, belgian waffles, english muffins, fresh-squeezed oj, mimosa, the fine institutions go on and on and on … and usually, you can’t have ‘em all in one sitting … unless you go to a slamming, 5-pounds-in-one-session-gaining buffet … but i digress … i seriously, seriously digress (in my glorious daydream mmm bacon mmm) …
our first official date was over brunch (@ park kitchen in portland, oregon) … and after many more brunch dates together, i’m thoroughly convinced that all the “brunch haters” out there simply never had it gourmet. their “brunch experiences” include denny’s, ihop, and mcdonald’s … all fine in their own right but truly not worshipful.
for the real deal holyfield, hit up the following (if you’re in their respective towns):
norma’s | nyc
norma’s is not the most charming place. it’s sleek and aerodynamic (?). it requires reservations days in advance.
but man, does it pack a punch in flavor. check out the waz-za (above): a waffle (perfectly light and fluffy) with fruit on the outside, fruit on the inside, and a brulee top. absolutely sick, sick i tell you.
remember to make your man get the balancing salty (as jy does and i happily oblige). we tend to go conservative and order the eggs benedict wherever we go, so we can compare for blogs no one reads like this one. but at norma’s, the eggs benedict (above) ain’t your cookie-cutter eggs benedict. its foundation consists of rich buttermilk pancakes on a bed of asparagus (like a juicy steak). then, its smothered with this hollandaise sauce that can feed a village for days (yes, we felt guilty for eating it).
norma’s weakness? surprisingly, it’s the lackluster potatoes, which is a speciality of …
sarabeth’s | nyc
sarabeth’s has the complex (e.g., pumpkin waffle topped with sour cream, raisins, pumpkin seeds and honey as seen on the left), but its their simple (e.g., their brand name preserves on a croissant) that gives jy and i hunger pains and deep longings.
cafe des artistes @ corcoran gallery of art | dc
remember that brunch buffet i was daydreaming about? now, picture that glory with made-to-order malted waffles and omelettes amidst a fab art gallery (for walking them calories off) and a dancing, high-fiving gospel choir that features 3-4 big mommas (sunday only). i think that day was the first time jy saw me cry.
chart house restaurant | alexandria, va
brunch places by the river are a dime a dozen, but chart house restaurant in old town alexandria has a quiet charm that flows with the neighborhood. or perhaps it was the restaurant’s proximity to the u.s. patent office that brought out the excited nerd in me. or perhaps it was that big huge glass of mimosa …
cafe du berry | portland, or
jy and i have experienced the posh and the humble of portland brunch, including way too many (not enough?) late night affairs with the old crew (most of ‘em at the fir). but no place balances portland’s rustic cuteness with gourmet food quite like the very euro cafe du berry. with its cramped spaces and its cubist paintings, a morning at the cafe literally feels like eating at a place on the outskirts of paris. plus, the french toast is to die for (i.e., liquid gold, whatever that means).
- loren
