Yellow House Hotel

Sunday brunch is a special time to sit down with friends and family and enjoy a meal. This surprise brunch outing took us to a wonderful little place called Yellow House Hotel. This hotel was built in 1801 and served originally as a stagecoach stop and country store. Later, it was a general store, a switchboard for the town and a post office. Despite the passage of time, it is still a charming little bed and breakfast. The first floor is the restaurant, decorated with old style light fixtures, dark wood and Victorian style wallpaper. While pursuing the menu, we sipped champagne and tasted the assortment of breakfast pastries. I am not quite sure what everything was, but I do know that there were mini cinnamon rolls, a strawberry coffee cake and potentially cornbread style bread. I decided on a mini cinnamon roll which had a nice cinnamon mixture and a light glaze. It was nice that it was small since the real part of the meal was still to come.

For my selection, I chose a Belgian waffle topped with chocolate chips and served with maple bacon, fruit and whipped cream. The waffle was nice and fluffy, but to be honest it was just kind of a normal waffle, nothing to write home about. The chocolate chips and whipped cream did make it slightly better. However, the real star of the dish was the maple bacon. I have had maple bacon before, but it seemed like the maple syrup was just lightly drizzled over the bacon. This bacon had an actual layer of crunchy, sweet maple deliciousness on it. It was cooked so that there was crunch to it while still maintaining some tenderness. This was a quaint little place full of history and charm, a unique Sunday brunch setting. If you are ever in the area, be sure to stop on into the Yellow House Hotel.

Down House Brunch

One of my favorite things to do is catch up over brunch. It is one of the few times where I don't feel rushed and everything just seems to taste better. I have been hearing rave reviews about Down House in the Heights, so I figured it was time to make a visit. The restaurant was a bit larger than I expected and have a nice shaded outdoor patio. Even though it was one of the hottest days we have had this year, it was pleasant in the shade. How else can you kick off brunch then with a mimosa and a popover? The popover, which had a nice crunch to the outside was served with butter, raspberry jam, and lemon curd. The popover wasn't too awesome on its own, but definitely paired well with the lemon curd and raspberry jam. Plus lemon and raspberry just make a perfect pair.

After perusing the menu and having to decide between lunch and breakfast, I ended up with breakfast tacos - black bean and egg and bacon, served with some lovely minted fresh fruit. These tacos were actually a bit deceiving because they look pretty small, but were filled to the brim with deliciouness. One taco was black beans, queso fresco, avocado, and a bit of pico de gallo. The other was scrambled egg, cheddar cheese, and big pieces of applewood smoked bacon.

These were definitely some of the best tacos I have had in a while and gave me the fuel I needed to take on the day. The next time I am definitely trying the chicken and waffles. Not only have I not ever had chicken and waffles, but because the spicy honey glaze on the chicken is out of this world. Down House is a great place to relax and enjoy good food and great company. So if you are looking for a place to grab brunch or unwind, head on over to Down House and enjoy!

Brunch at Saint Genevieve

There are places that are just so good you need to go back and try multiple times. Saint Genevieve is definitely one of those places. I heard they had an awesome brunch and so of course I had to go try it. They have their full drink list plus an array of special mimosas. We opted for pineapple coconut mimosas which immediately transported you to a beach. (It was even more appropriate considering it was a perfect day outside!) The mimosa wasn't overly sweet and had a very nice balance of flavors....definitely something to sip on while laying on the beach or poolside. Fortunately, my sister is like me and was having a difficult time deciding between sweet and savory... so I convinced her to split one of each with me. 

We ended up with Nutella french toast and an egg white and goat cheese frittata. The frittata was light and fluffy. It was topped with a whole roasted tomato and arugula. The arugula added some mustard like flavor and crunch. However, I wish the tomato would have been incorporated into the frittata instead of on the side. It was a great option if you are looking for something on the healthier side. I'll be honest, some how whenever I do this the super unhealthy choices usually wins (maybe that's because it's always the sweet option and I do have an affinity for sweets), so this time the Nutella french toast won hands down! The whipped cream like Nutella dollop on top melted and covered the french toast on goodness without being too heavy. The banana slices paired nicely with the Nutella and the french toast had a nice golden crust on it. This is a great brunch place, but be sure to make reservations because you might not be seated if you don't. They do their seatings at 11:00am and 1:00pm, which isn't advertised on the website and it was only by chance that we got in. So learn from our almost mistake and go ahead and make reservations.

Saturday Brunch at Backstreet Cafe

Every time I get to go to brunch I get really excited. There is something magical about the breakfast and lunch combinations that are on the menu. This brunch visit took my friend and me to Backstreet Cafe. Tucked away this quaint little has a shaded private patio that is a perfect way to enjoy a Saturday morning. After enjoying the mini muffins, scones, and an Italian mimosa, it was time to get to the main meal. Luckily for me, my friend let me taste hers so I got my little bit of sweet and a little bit of savory. She ordered the stuffed french toast with bananas, maple syrup, and a caramel sauce. There was just a touch of crunch on the outside and the bananas maintained their texture, so it wasn't just a melted blob. The caramel sauce added a interesting twist to the maple syrup. The bread was able to hold all the delicious filling without getting soggy.

I ordered the migas. This was a scrambled egg mixture with tortillas chips, peppers, black beans, bacon, a toasted tortilla and some salsa. This is a fun dish because you can mix it all together, eat it all separately, or make your own little tacos. I did a little bit of all those options. This way I got to try everything on it's own and then together. The salsa was spicy and fresh. I was surprised at how yummy the tortilla was. It was toasted so there is just a hint of crispiness to it. The eggs were some of the best I have had in a while. They were well seasoned and fluffy. The tortillas chips weren't at all soggy and the veggies in the eggs added some textural differences. I would definitely recommend this as a fun brunch place. But be sure to make a reservation as it gets pretty busy.

To MAX's!

I know that I recently talked about my first brunch experience at MAX's Wine Dive, but it was so good I needed to go back and share the experience with some more of my friends. Plus I needed to try the red velvet pancakes because that's all I kept hearing about! However since I brought a long a friend, I didn't have to decide between savory or sweet this time at brunch. I got the best of both worlds. The menu this time was a mushroom omelet with jalapeno cheddar grits, eggs any style, and red velvet pancakes. Though I didn't try the eggs any style, it came with homefries, bacon, and toast and it smelled delicious. The mushroom omelet was fluffy and smooth. The thyme and mushrooms gave it an earthy quality and the cheese added a perfect touch of creaminess. The grits were amazing. I haven't had a lot of grits before, but these were smokey from the jalapeno but not spicy. The completed the flavors of the omelet very well.

What's brunch without dessert? These red velvet pancakes, RVP, were topped with a dallop of lemon cream cheese and it was like a fluffy heavenly cloud. It tasted like red velvet, but wasn't overly sweet and the lemon was a nice touch. It added an extra something special and something I will definitely add into my next red velvet cake. If you get a chance to try these, I promise you won't be disappointed. Next up on the menu for my next trip to MAX's wine dive are the Nutella banana crepes and the creme brulee french toast. I would say that there is plenty left for me to, brunch or dinner, so I am sure that I will be back many more times. Thanks again MAX's for such a delicious meal!

Brunch at MAX's Wine Dive

I would have to say the brunch is some of my favorite meals. There is something sweet, something savory, and there are always yummy drinks. For me, when I go to brunch time slows down and I get to relax, catch up with people and enjoy life. However, I don't get to go that often, so I am not really familiar with all the best brunch places. I heard that MAX's Wine Dive had a super brunch and the menu looked delicious! I had actually been there one time before for dinner and had MAX and cheese, which was to die for! I am a huge fan of macaroni and cheese and this one is definitely tops the list, so I figured that brunch would be just as good. Of course brunch stared off with yummy mimosas, so that set the tone for a good time. I got really excited when I saw that the MAX and cheese was a brunch option! I don't usually order the same thing, but this was just heaven in a bowl, so I decided to order it again. I was even luck enough to convince my friend to share with me, so I did get to try something new as well.

Enter chicken wings on jalapeno corn pancakes. I can honestly say that this is probably something that I would never order on my own, but boy was it good. The chicken wings had a nicely flavored coating on them that wasn't too spicy and wasn't too overwhelming. The jalapeno corn pancakes were delicious! The jalapenos provided a smokey note to the pancake, which was nice since I was expecting it to be super spicy. They were moist and fluffy and actually really good with the maple syrup. It was a little bit of sweet and a bit of savory in each bite, plus you got to pick up your food and eat it. MAX's is definitely some where I will be going back to for brunch, as I hear that their red velvet pancakes are heavenly. Guess that means I know what I am getting next time. Whether you are going for brunch or dinner, MAX's is somewhere you need to try, but make a reservation or get there early as it gets really busy.

Sunday Brunch at Norma's

Brunch is one of my favorite meals because you can have sweet, like pancakes and waffles, or salty, like eggs and hash browns. For me it's always a challenge to pick between the two. However, when I stopped by Norma's at Le Parker Meridien, I was in luck. I got to have a little of both in one dish. When we sat down, the chef sent out a blueberry mango banana smoothie. It was served in this cute little shot glass and was refreshing and light. I could definitely drink that every morning... if someone made if for me of course. The coffee was served in a french press table side, so it was definitely much better than the coffee made in big batches. But that was just leading up to the star of brunch. Super cheesy french toast. I know, I know it sounds odds and I was hesitant at first, but I am telling you it was so incredibly delicious! The bread used was not the traditional challah bread and there were caramelized onions in the middle. (I have no idea how them got them there, but it was such a surprisingly yummy addition.) It was topped with shredded cheese and pepper bacon and served with au jus and maple syrup. I have didn't jump on the maple bacon bandwagon a while ago, but I should have because it's so delicious! This dish was salty and sweet all in one bite - the bread and caramelized onions were slightly sweet, the cheese and bacon were salty, and the syrup was the ingredient that tied it all together. I would have to say that this is by far the most creative and best french toast I have had. If I had my choice, this would be my "go to" for brunch. If you are in the area make sure to pop in an enjoy a delicious brunch, but go early or make a reservation because it fills up quickly.

Benjy's Brunch

Brunch is a combination of sweet and savory, where I struggle to decide which direction I want to go. So for this brunch outing, I decided to try somewhere new. Benjy's, a modern American restaurant, focuses on local ingredients with a seasonal menu. It's quaint little place with white leather 50s style chairs that make you feel right at home. Though, I do have to admit that it was pretty crowded and slightly hard to get around because it was so full. However, the super delicious muffin sampler served with apple butter was a pleasant surprise.

Even though I have this weird relationship with tomatoes, I decided to order the mozzarella, basil, and tomato omelet. This omelet was served a bit differently than how I usually get them and I think I actually prefer it. The egg was made into a tortilla and then the filling was wrapped inside. The best part is that there was no shortage of deliciousness, with red and yellow tomatoes tucked inside. It was topped with pesto, so the combination was fresh and light with a hint of saltiness from the mozzarella. It was served with fruit and oven roasted potatoes. The potatoes had a crunchy outside and soft inside, which made them delicious and some of the best brunch potatoes I have had. 

One of the dishes that Benjy's is known for is their nut crusted french toast. I would have never put those two things together, but the crunch from the nuts added a great textural element. It had a berry drizzle and was topped with fresh summer berries. It wasn't an extremely sweet dish, which was surprising because sometimes french toast can be overly sweet. It was served with homemade chicken sausage. The sausage was touched with cumin, creating a very unique flavor profile. I can say that I have not had anything like it and it was definitely a winner. Overall, brunch was a success and I will definitely be returning to check out their lunch and dinner menu. Plus, I hear they have a to die for chocolate cake, so I will be trying that.