Spending this past weekend in the Monterey Peninsula, Dan and I went back to one of our favorite towns in the area called Carmel-by-the-Sea. We've been there about two years ago and the picturesque surroundings impressed us so much that we were eager to come back and enjoy a lovely brunch yet again at Basil Seasonal Dining.
Lucky for us, Basil Seasonal Dining serves brunch on Sundays and that's consequently when we decided to pop in. I made a quick Open Table reservation, which worked out beautifully. Upon arriving, we noticed that the majority of the clientele brunched al fresco and because most of those seats were taken, we sat inside. This was more than OK with us, and we even chose the same table as last time, just for nostalgia's sake.
Food:
Although I can't say that Basil's Sunday brunch menu is extensive, the items that are featured on it are enticing and excellent. The fact that the menu is so focused helped us choose quickly and we didn't regret our options one bit.
Poached Egg Sliders - This was something so unique and delicious and consequently featured on their menu's cover that it completely piqued my interest. The portion looked small but was totally filling, featuring fluffy eggs, sauteed fresh, local spinach and a lemony hollandaise sauce that brought everything together in harmony. Even the soft and slightly warmed up potato bun was perfect, soaking up all that eggy goodness.
Basil Egg Burger - Wowza...this thing looked impressive and tasted equally so. Dan was very happy with it, savoring the juicy, grass fed beef, the runny egg on top and slivers of slightly tart heirloom tomato. Once again, the bread was excellent, consisting of a buttery brioche that was the perfect vehicle for all those savory ingredients.
Bloody Mary - Dan ordered a classic morning cocktail, which was on the spicy side - dressed with lots of horseradish and hot sauce. A topping of celery and olives completed its classic look and overall this cocktail passed the muster.
Service and Cost:
Just like last time, the service at Basil Seasonal Dining impressed us. Not only was our waiter completely knowledgeable about everything, he told us more about the seasonal ingredients, accommodated all our specific wishes and then some.
Costs are on the higher side at about $12-$14 for entrees but totally worth every penny, considering the delicious experience you get each time. I'd be back in a heartbeat and think it can very well be in the cards again.
3 Mmmms
Basil Seasonal Dining - San Carlos between Ocean & 7th, Carmel, CA 93921
831.626.8226
www.basilcarmel.com
Another amazing Portland eatery I must highlight here is Olympic Provisions. It's a unique kind of place that focuses on (you guessed it) high quality meat, most of it in a cured format. I was so impressed by the impeccable execution of everything that I'd be happy to check it out again next time I'm in town. As you can see, Moses, Sonya and I tried it for brunch, but I'd be curious to explore their dinner too.
Atmosphere:
Reminding me of an industrial area such as LIC, that has been since reinvigorated, the Southeast outpost of Olympic Provisions is set in a similar type of spot. Located in a big industrial warehouse building, it's now a functional office space on top, but houses this fabulous eatery on its ground floor. While the neighborhood feels quite deserted from the outside, you quickly forget where you are when you step inside.
Welcomed by a warm space, both literally and figuratively, you're greeted by something that looks like a cross between an old fashioned salumeria and a newfangled cafe. It all feels very Northwest (and very Portland), as the nonchalant staff prances around the space, pitching in however they can, adorning their intricate food-themed tattoos. I love the open kitchen concept, which not only lets you observe the magic that goes behind this proverbial curtain, but also lets you soak in the amazing smells of their carefully prepared dishes.
Food:
We came for brunch, which was highly recommended by a fellow food blogger, Marisa, from Margaritas in the Rain. Since Sonya and Moses both love brunch food, it didn't take much convincing on my part, as were all game to try it.
English Breakfast - I was excited to learn this item was new on the menu and that it quickly became a staff favorite. Given a fair warning that it's a "very large dish" that I should share with someone, I knew Moses would help. However, when it arrived, I realized that I can totally put it down by myself, so no reinforcement was actually needed.
Made up of a heaping plate of hearty ingredients such as kasekrainer sausage, baked beans, confit mushrooms, two beautifully fried eggs and a biscuit on the side, it was no light meal. I loved the juxtaposition of flavors - from the smoky sausage to the earthy mushrooms, and the buttery, flaky biscuit. Even though it offered a bevy of textures and tastes, I thought it all worked really well, resulting in a comforting dish with a touch of sophistication.
Banana Bread French Toast - In the midst of this very filling meal, I was glad to see that the French Toast came in a mini format. Giving us just a little sweetness with our hearty brunch, it totally hit the spot, boasting a slightly golden exterior and a soft (almost custardy) middle. The banana flavor was subtle yet still noticeable, organically incorporated right into the egg batter. Deelish!
Other Dishes - Both Sonya and Moses were really happy with their meals, which consisted of of the Hash with kielbasa and Olympic's special version of an eggs Benedict. Both were delicious and incorporated unique elements such as the layered potato cake that came with the Benny or the crispy lardons and the poached egg on top of the hash. All in all, it's hard to pick something less than scrumptious.
Cocktails - Another big highlight of our experience were the morning cocktails. I love me a good, strong Bloody Mary and I wanted to see how this one would measure up to the one I just had at Tasty n Sons. Strongly preferring the one here, the Olympic Mary was generous in size and came topped with a spear of savory ingredients such as a salami swizzle, a pickled egg, and some pickled jalapenos. It very much reminded me of the unforgettable bloody Mary I had last year at one of my favorite Miami restaurants, Yardbird. If you're a bloody Mary connoisseur, you gotta try it.
Service and Cost:
I can't say I was in love with the service, as we had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated and then were more or less ignored for about 10 minutes after we sat down. Once we got properly acquainted with our waitress, things changed for the better, but overall, I wouldn't call the service stellar.
Costs are on the moderate side, but definitely doable for the ridiculously tasty food and the fun atmosphere. The above mentioned brunch with morning cocktails set us back about $25/person with tax and tip.
For more about Olympic Provisions, I encourage you to explore Marisa's post on Margaritas in the Rain, who's a Portland local. Also for other Portland foodie scoop, check out Sue's latest post on Tastoria.
3 Meaty Mmmms
Olympic Provisions - 107 Southeast Washington Street, Portland OR 97214
503.954.3663
www.olympicprovisions.com
I know it’s cheesy, but I just had to make the reference to the female rap icon who shares this restaurant’s name. Not sure if they’re in any way related, but I found the name kind of funny and random.
We trotted (again, sorry for the bad reference) upon this place while vacationing in Fort Lauderdale with our friends Matt and Kate who live there. They’ve been there on a number of occasions and are big fans. Particularly praising the brunch, we looked forward to trying this “little hidden gem,” as Kate called it.
Atmosphere:
Set at the edge of Downtown Fort Lauderdale and Victoria Park, a residential neighborhood, the Foxy Brown is easy to miss. I imagine Matt and Kate stumbled upon it, when driving through their neighborhood, or others may know it through its sister location, Coconuts, right by the beach.
Foxy’s interior is warm and inviting, with a brown and red color scheme, and its signature cartoon fox that adorns the walls. When we walked in at just before 11 a.m. it was already buzzing with brunch-goers, who for the most part were young thirty-somethings.
There’s a cute little outdoor garden in the back, which is where we sat, and it was nice and quiet. Although it didn’t exemplify the energy of the interior, it was relaxing and a nice way to enjoy a leisurely Sunday brunch.
Food:
The brunch menu was impressive and boasted a variety of pancakes and waffles, egg dishes, bigger entrees, salads, sandwiches and some inventive appetizers. The morning cocktails were exciting as well and we just had to get a little bit of everything.
BLT Sake Mary – This sounded too good to pass up, and three out of the four people in our party ordered it. It came with a big piece of bacon that also served as the stirrer, which was perfectly crispy and smoky. The most interesting part of the drink was the green celery/lettuce ice cubes that not only made the drink look beautiful, but that gave it a hint of earthiness.
Southwestern Pancake – The day’s special pancake was also intriguing, and I didn’t regret my decision to get it. Boasting a beautiful soft texture, the pancake was on the savory side, as it was made of cornmeal, which was further studded with pieces of chorizo. Further topped with some mild cotija cheese, guacamole, pickled onions and a runny egg, it was an inventive spin on a Mexican brunch entrée. I appreciated how whimsical it was, making it clear that the chefs had a lot of fun coming up with it.
Philly Pretzel Bread – Being a huge fan of pretzel bread, Dan chose this as something to share with our friends. We were impressed to see that the pretzel bread came out piping hot and was accompanied by a variety of interesting spreads such as a beer cheese and a smoked whitefish spread. There were some cornichons too, which paired nicely with the saltiness of the pretzel bread, and the whole thing reminded me of something one would have at a German beer hall.
Other Brunchies – While I didn’t try it all, everyone ordered something different and they all seemed to enjoy it. I had a bite of Dan’s savory waffle, which was marbled with ham and then topped with some melty cheese and an egg. The ingredients were simple, but the preparation was once again interesting and unexpected. Matt and Kate both got egg-based dishes, including the Short Rib Benedict and the bangers and eggs, which they devoured. Kate mentioned that the short rib dish is something they’re known for here, and I just may have to get it next time.
Service and Cost:
Given that it was Sunday morning and a holiday weekend to boot, the service was impressively on-point. Our waitress was more than attentive and totally on the ball with everything. She was pretty communicative with us, and I appreciated her honesty in letting us know when our respective dishes would come out.
Even though the food here is great, I think the costs are quite expensive, especially since you have to order everything a la carte. The entire brunch set us back about $30/person including tax and tip. Costs aside, it was so yummy, that I’d definitely go back in a heartbeat.
3 Mmmms
The Foxy Brown – 724 East Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
754.200.4236
www.thefoxybrown.com
While at SXSW last week, I of course had to take advantage of all the amazing food Austin has to offer. And even in my fourth time in this city, there's never a shortage of something new and delicious to discover. Olivia, a modern farm-to-table restaurant was definitely on my list, especially as it came up when working on the Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants in America.
Atmosphere:
Located in the beautiful, trendy neighborhood of South Lamar, Olivia was one of many interesting restaurants found there. The main attraction for me was their farm to table philosophy, and the fact that you can literally go and check out their gorgeous little backyard garden and chickens, that reigned freely on the grounds, proved its authenticity.
The restaurant is really modern and sleek inside, with earthy muted colors that work well to relax the senses. There's a few cushy booths as well as more traditional tables and a vibrant bar. I first situated myself there while waiting for my friend Jessica to arrive. Greeted by the friendly bar staff, they were already taking care of me and I enjoyed the Southern hospitality.
As I was there for brunch, it was quite busy both inside and in the outdoor seating area. This was testament to Olivia's solid reputation for great quality food, and the crowd didn't thin out at all during our entire stay.
Food:
There was lots to choose from, but I had my eye on something authentic and asked the bartender for his specific recommendations. He steered me to the friend oyster benedict, which is what I ended up getting.
Fried Oyster Benedict - Loving my oysters, this certainly wasn't a hard sell, especially when I saw they were paired with farm fresh poached eggs. I can't properly describe how satisfying it was to break the yolk on these babies, as they released the most beautiful orange color. They tasted even better than they looked and the texture was just out of this world- soft, velvety and luxurious. I was surprised (well not really) when a woman next to me got the same dish and thought there was something wrong with the eggs because they were so bright. It's astounding, but we're so used to eating poor quality eggs that getting something as beautiful and rich as this, is so far from the norm.
Sticky Buns - Having a nice view into the kitchen, I kept my eye on the golden, fluffy sticky buns, which we decided to share. One portion was good enough for at least three, and they were fantastic. Moist on the inside and glazed with a rich, bourbony concoction, they were also made with chunky pecans, together creating a modern take on a classic Southern comfort staple.
Service and Cost:
While the initial service here was awesome, it suffered quite a bit once we sat down. Unfortunately my friend was a bit under the weather and needed more TLC than usual, which wasn't granted. Our waiter seemed to be really unaware of what we wanted and acted surprised when we asked for something that should've been given to us from the get go.
Costs are moderate and include:
Brunch entrees - $11 - 25
Dinner entrees - $21 - $32
You can also get a tasting menu for $75-$95 per person
3 Mmmms
Olivia - 20-43 South Lamar, Austin TX 78704
512.804.2700
www.olivia-austin.com
One of my favorite places to visit when in Miami is Yardbird, and this time around we also went there with friends, Matt and Kate. We were eager to introduce this gem to them, after raving about it so much, and even though Dan and I have both been, we’ve never yet tried their brunch. Just like the other two past experiences I’ve had here, the brunch was absolutely spectacular and a must-try. Here’s what we got:
Drinks – Dan and I started with an order of Yardbird’s signature bloody Marys – spicy, tomatoey and topped with interesting fixins such as bacon, pickled okra, and a cornichon-stuffed olive. I loved all the spices used in the homemade tomato juice mix, which went down easily with our delicious brunch.
Entrees – Going for a wide spectrum of eats, Dan and Matt both couldn’t resist the chicken and waffles, while Kate and I went with egg-based dishes – hers was the omelette special of the day, while I chose the Benedict BLT.
The chicken was fried in the most amazing (and slightly spicy batter), and the meat was soft, juicy and succulent when you bit into it. A perfect combination was to stack a big chunky chicken piece with a sweet waffle and their homemade maple syrup, which was really rich and pure in flavor.
The BLT Benedict was really interesting and I was happy I got it, containing a mixture of perfectly poached eggs, thick slab bacon slices and slightly browned, torn pieces of their signature biscuits, which are out of this world. The tomato portion of this BLT came as a separate side salad with some nice looking, sweet tomatoes and a crunchy frisee salad.
While I didn’t taste Kate’s omelet, she said it was really tasty, but in retrospect wished that she got something a bit more characteristic of Yardbird’s country cooking style.
Shares – Matt and Kate also shared a helping of fried green tomatoes, also done up in Yardbird’s signature style, with caramelized pieces of pork belly and a red pepper remoulade. I had a bite and went to heaven, loving the crunchy tomato, a bit of fiery spice from the remoulade and the sweet, smokiness of the pork belly.
Dessert – In honor of Matt’s birthday, we got the sweet donut topped with bacon, which sold me from the start. I absolutely love this combination, and Yardbird executed it perfectly – the donut being sweet and surprisingly airy (I think they used the same dough as in their biscuits) while the bacon was the perfect amount of savory, creating a harmonious union between the two ingredients.
Service and Cost:
Following the horrendous experience we just had at Prime 112, I’m happy to say that Yardbird continues to deliver on service. Not only were we seated on time and greeted with a cheery disposition, our waiter was totally on point and catered to our every need.
Costs are moderate and totally worth it for the quality of food and the fabulous ambiance:
Brunch entrées – $12-$26
Shares - $9-$15
Desserts - $8-$9
3 Mmmms
Yardbird - 1600 Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach FL 33139
305.538.5220
www.runchickenrun.com
Although Meg recalled having brunch here before, I was completely new to it. We both ended up choosing Southwestern brunch dishes including Meg's Huevos Rancheros and my Mojave Benedict.
Mojave Benedict - Because I love classic Eggs Benedict, I was eager to try this version with avocadoes, tomatoes and Mojave's own version of hollandaise (with avocado). When the dish arrived, I was suprised to see the ratio of homestyle potatoes to the eggs. More than half the plate constituted of the potatoes, which were yummy but the quantity was unbalanced. The eggs on the other hand were wonderful - as tender and runny as I like, and the avocado hollandaise had a nice spice to it. Enjoying the crunchy English muffins that the eggs rested on, they were the perfect vehicle to carry all that eggy, gooey goodness. Instead of the potatoes, it would be worth asking if they'd serve this with a mixed salad next time.
Huevos Rancheros - I got a bite of Meg's huevos rancheros and they were lovely. As you can see, the presentation was gorgeously colorful. I enjoyed the earthy quality of the blue corn tortillas and the spicy beef & pork chili that was found on the exterior. Also topped with fresh tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole, the whole dish emanated with personality. Meg seemed to agree, by her almost clean plate.
Service and Cost:
Our server was pretty diligent - almost to the point where we wanted him to lay off a little. He was nice though and think he was just trying his best, but generally, I prefer more laid-back service.
Costs are very affordable, and for a 2 person brunch and a coffee, we paid a total of $25 with tax and tip. Muy bien!
2.5 Mmmms
Mojave - 22-36 31st Street Astoria NY 11105
718.545.4100
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.mojaveny
