So I know it has been a while, okay literally years since I’ve done a post on here again but that doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about it or missed having an excuse to go brunch hard with the people I love. In my time away we’ve moved, I’ve had a few jobs, hubby changed jobs twice, and we welcomed both furry and not so furry additions to our family. After being cooped up most of last year between new mom life and a global pandemic, I figured now that I’m vaccinated and starting to feel more comfortable going out to eat in restuarants again, why not take up the occasional keyboard and write about the places I get to enjoy again. Afterall any time I talk about the things I’ve missed in quarantine, restuarants and seeing people always top the list.
For this first foray back into We Brunch So Hard, a high school friend of mine Megz (you can check her adventures out over at http://livelifedecadently.blogspot.com/) and I went on a brunch adventure to The Inferno Room, where of course we ordered almost the entire menu plus a good sampling of cocktails. The Inferno Room’s tiki lounge decor and low lit atmosphere is exactly what I would want if I were hungover, so that definitely fit their late hangover brunch theme. Thankfully we both got to enjoy the brunch sans that malady, though upon leaving at the end the sunlight shocked us back to reality.
To start the cocktails were refreshing and delightful (The Inferno Room never disappoints on that front). My Tropical Mimosa was a seamlessly combined array of lovely fruit layers and didn’t clash with anything we ate. Megz Nasturtium Gimlet was light and grassy, definitely very unique and I LOVED the color (such and awesome emeraldy green)! We also love the flowers on so many of the drinks and dishes, they just made us happy.
Our first food out was the Scallion Pancakes which were savory, crunchy, buttery goodness. Next the Spam Musubi is exactly what I was hoping for with the delicate sea taste of nori and tasty rice that could have been better compacted but was tasty nonetheless. After my terrible attemp at splitting it I definitely think we should have ordered two, but I did get to whip out my hand eating skills to gobble up the yummy rice. The Mofungo with pork belly was a nice, soft, no frills hash both savory and satisfying. I could definitely see the appeal of Mofungo for a hangover however the dish really didn’t need the kale salad. I get in concept of having some greens and veg to balance out the hearty hash though it felt unnecessary. The fact that tomatoes were in season and the pickled onions were super tasty are basically what saved it for the few bites we had.
Now the Pork Sung Buns were so perfect (probably my favorite item we tried).The slightly sweet, soft bread gave way beautifully with each wonderful bite. I really loved the onions inside that reminded me of White Castles griddled onions for their sliders (I know sue me) in the best way. I slowly savored every bite of this bun and was a little sad when I was done. Definitely thought that I should have gotten one to go for hubby when I was already on my way home. Overall this just makes me want to find more milk bread things as I’m sure they will add joy to my life.
When the beautiful Mochi Waffle arrived on the table, you could easily have dismissed it as another good but standard brunch waffle. That was not the case mostly due to the awesome butter on the mochi waffle which beautiful and fruity lime the star of this dish. Great, springy texture of the waffle along with the fact that it was not overly sweet beautifully balanced with the berries. Megz also did the sweetest precision division of this waffle dish down to counting berries to be fair. I had to take a pic even if it didn’t quite capture the moment as I had hoped.
Our butter mochi started with honey that hits your palette then gave way to the crunch of the buttery, crisp crust against the soft almost creamy and chewy interior. Unfortunately the underripe mango didn’t add much but a slight fresh break of subtle tart fruit against the rest of this stellar treat.
My one disappointment was that they ran out of the mango lassi cake that was at least 50% of the reason I decided we had to come today. Sadly in the bustle of the brunch rush our server had forgotten we ordered desserts at the beginning of our meal with everything else, so we missed out on it. I hate to say that I was almost literally brought to tears by missing out on this until we found out it is luckily on their regular menu. That tempered my disappointment, and made me determined to grab it later this week (possibly with one of their great Spam Sliders).
Last up was another mimosa for me and Megz spakling mai tai that was light and boozy though maybe a bit too delicate for my stuffy palette (as I am still recoverying from a cold, not COVID I got tested twice last week to be sure).
All in all a great #outing with wonderful company and food. Here’s hoping we get to do more of these though I can’t promise it’ll be super regular. Until then stay safe and eat well friends.
Sorry to have skipped another few weeks. I just got caught up in all that we were doing and just totally spaced finishing this post.
After spending a weekend enjoying our friends in Indianapolis we capped off the weekend with a brunch at Lola’s. Although I had a good amount of Filipino friends in high school whose parents would have lumpia and other goodies when I came over, I can’t say I ever really got to try Filipino brunch or breakfast. Although Lola’s offerings had a mix of American influence as well it was nice to shake things up a bit.
I started off with a Mimosa, which was a lovely light and bubbly version. It definitely grew on me as I continued to sip on it. I also found it solidly boozy which is especially good if like us you are in need of some hair of the dog to soothe your Sunday morning hangover.
We ordered our entrees and a little appetizer to split, or so we thought. A while later we were brought out a tangy beef stew, whose name escapes me. The name however was apparently very similar to the Dim Sum Platter we thought we had ordered. We let our waitress know and the owner comped the dish and set about making sure we still got the Dim Sum Platter. As I said the stew was nice, thick and vinegary. I’m not sure I would order it again, but it was good over rice and nice to experience something different.
After a little miscommunication about the Dim Sum Platter, it arrived along with our entrees. Everything looked and tasted great, so it is hard for me to pick a favorite. I loved the fluffy Bao with a beautifully silky and flavorful pork filling. The dumplings made me smile with the tender exterior and delicious interior. I gobbled up a few more than my fair share of crispy lumpia with the lovely sweet chili sauce. Last but certainly not least the wonderful, subtly sweet sesame balls were a joyful ending to the plate. Definitely a great sampling of Filipino goodies.
I ordered one of two Crab Fried Rice plates at our table, and both myself and the other diner found the portion more than generous. I was able to take home a little more than half of this plate and have leftovers for two more meals. I was excited about the dish, but found it missing some flavor and spice. Although the texture was lovely and there were some nice bits of crab, I enjoyed my reheated home version with a fried egg and sambal that brought some richness and heat I found lacking.
Hubby’s Pork Tocino didn’t look like much, but reminded me of one of my favorite breakfasts my Oma would make me: Spam and Fried Egg over Rice. The pork was tender and juicy with a slightly sweet flavor. However it was the gooey egg that brought all the elements together into perfect bites. Although not pictured the fresh salsa this was served with was a refreshing and light contrast to the rest of the dish.
Not a bad overall first experience, but not a thrilling one either. The interior decor was quaint and fresh, I always love fresh flowers on the table. The service was a touch slow for the amount of people there (we were there an hour and half with maybe two other tables of less than four people and at least four servers), but they seem to have a fairly young staff so maybe this will improve as they gain experience. I’m also willing to overlook the minor mix up with the Dim Sum platter as it had no financial impact on us and actually gave us the opportunity to try something new. I think Lola’s is probably a great little local spot that brings some variety to the area and will hopefully only get better with time. For now it is definitely worth a try, I would give it another shot.
Until next time keep eating and drinking well in great company (even if you are nursing a hangover).
Today’s featured brunch: Lola’s Bowl and Bistro, 9045 Crawfordsville Rd, Clermont, IN 46234
Our realtor recommended Fireside Grill when we first moved down here so we tried it for dinner on a weeknight, but can’t say we were impressed enough to come back. However, when I saw they were doing weekend brunch, I figured it was worth giving another chance.
It was busy enough for a ten minute wait when we arrived, but the bakery/carryout area had some free samples of cake and complimentary coffee set up to tide us over. It was nice to sample some of these treats and I found the cake options particularly delightful. I will definitely have to come back and pick up a slice of cake sometime.
After our short wait we were led back to a cozy booth surrounded by warm wood paneling. Though the decor was a bit dated it had the appeal of a beloved local spot. I ordered a Mimosa that did not skimp on the champagne and was perfectly solid at $3 a pop.
Hubby and I decided to split Patty’s Homemade Coffee Cake which came out warm, soft and lovely. The giant slice was moist and just a touch crumbly with a beautiful cinnamon-y sweetness. I’m a little sad I didn’t order a coffee to wash it down with as I’m sure that would have been a perfect compliment.
A little while later the rest of our food came out in generous portions. My “I Want It All” Breakfast Casserole may not have been the prettiest plate, but it was hearty, warm and satisfying. There was a ton of cheese and a well cooked egg that made this dish wonderfully ooey gooey. The foundation of roasted potatoes were cooked well and also had a nice bit of flavor. In addition this dish came with a biscuit and side of gravy which served as a sort of half order and was a nice way to try them. However the biscuit was a bit on the dry and crumbly side, while the gravy was creamy and serviceable it did lack the punch and flavor to be considered top notch.
On top of the casserole I got one Blueberry Crunch Pancake that was truly yummy. The wheat pancake itself was soft and fluffy which contrasted the golden crunchy granola perfectly. With the blueberry compote to round out the subtly sweet yet rich fruity flavor, this turned out to be a great choice.
Hubby got the Build Your Own Breakfast Sandwich with turkey sausage and American cheese. The english muffin it came on was nice and fluffy with a good buttery flavor, though hubby would have liked it toasted. The turkey sausage was fine, but nothing particularly special. All of the individual elements came together into a nicely portable brunch item.
All-in-all Fireside Grill had a decent menu for a reasonable price. It’s not the most exciting brunch spot we’ve tried, but it has a comforting appeal.
Thank you again for checking out this little post, I hope you enjoyed it and will do my best to keep bringing you more.
Until next time, keep eating and drinking well in the best of company.
Today’s featured brunch: Fireside Grill, 7611 IN-60, Sellersburg, IN 47172
Sorry to have taken an extra week than I planned as a break. Work and life have yet to calm down and so it has been a struggle to find the time to write as well as just enjoy life. Hubby and I did have a lovely weekend with family and friends though. From a friend’s wedding to a lovely little Mother’s Day brunch with hubby’s family at Granite City Brewery, we were surrounded by love.
When we lived in Indianapolis, hubby and I loved to come and enjoy Granite City’s Sunday brunch during football season. We could order a pitcher of good beer and leisurely sample all the brunch buffet at Granite City had to offer. I was excited to see many of our favorites and celebrate some of the moms in my life.
This morning was a bit on the chilly side, but the restaurant was already packed when we got there a touch late for our 9:30 reservation. It didn’t matter that we were late though since there were so many other people also waiting to be seated. As soon as we made it to the front of the line though we were taken right to our table.
It took a little while for our waiter to make it over to us and ask for our drink orders, but again it was Mother’s Day so our waiter did well under the circumstances. I ordered myself a Bloody Mary which was spicy as I had requested and generally serviceable. The best part was probably the garnishes though as the plastic skewer was packed with a little bit of everything including a nice little shrimp.
I only took the time to have a few sips before heading to the ever-growing buffet line. As I said our reservation was pretty early, but the dining room was never not packed which also meant the line was fairly steadily long. After a couple of minutes gabbing in line I was able to pile up my first plate mostly with the greatest hits of Granite City’s offerings.
When we saw the Ale and Cheese soup, both hubby and I were super excited. It has been one of our favorites since first we tried it. Somehow this velvety mixture still manages to have a flavorful bite that the rye croutons atop each bowl certainly rounded out and added to. The fruit and bacon were good, but nothing special or crazy, along with the wonderfully cheesy Hash Brown Casserole.The Biscuit and Gravy was better than I remembered, with a fantastically smooth and peppery gravy with some yummy sautéed onions in the mix adding a gentle sweetness. One of my favorite things from Granite City’s brunch buffet the is the Prime Rib. The Prime Rib is always superb here, savory and beautifully seasoned with a lovely horseradish sauce to compliment. I could literally eat nothing else and die a happy woman.
Hubby also enjoyed the turkey at the carving station remarking how wonderfully moist and flavorful it was. He apologized for not having me try some, but that certainly is a testament to how good it was since this was a while after he had eaten it all. Hubby also got a pretty tasty looking omelette along with a few others from our party, and none had any left on their plates when they finished so I’m sure they were great as well.
Our waiter checked on us periodically as we ate and talked to us about some of the things we could order included with the brunch. So as we waited for the buffet line to subside we were able to order some of Granite City’s special ala carte items. The sweet, doughy and delicious Caramel Nut rolls were huge and amazing. I could see why other tables had heaps of them. Even hubby enjoyed his fair share and commented on how good they were. My sister-in-law got the French Toast, which looked small but she assured us it was super tasty. I ordered my Eggs Benedict before getting in line for my second plate, which was apparently a mistake as it arrived shortly after I got up. Since the line had grown since our first time up it took me a while to get back to them. Though I enjoyed the generous addition of paprika that gave them a deviled egg vibe that sets them apart, they probably weren’t as good as they would have been had I stayed at the table until they arrived. The hollandaise was still good and the English muffin nice and buttery, but as I was filling up I didn’t quite finish.
For my second plate I stuck with more of the lunch side of the buffet. I was pleasantly surprised by the Watermelon and Basil Salad which was wonderfully light and refreshing. I love the herbaceous tones of the vinaigrette and although I’m not generally a big fan of fruit in my salad I thought the watermelon in this one was the perfect thing to round out this Caprese like offering. The Chicken Diavolo Pasta was also super tasty with a nice bit of heat to balance the creamy sauce. I think best of all though was the Ponzu Salmon. It and everything in the chafing dish with it was superb. I’m always amazing when fish at a buffet isn’t dry and rubbery, but this salmon was perfectly cooked. The flavor was also wonderfully composed with the lovely ponzu glaze that had a slow heat to it as well that worked nicely with the sweetness. All the vegetable and rice that came in the same dish were delicious as well and I would love to come back and have just this dish for dinner. Of course even though I was filling up I still had to get another slice of Prime Rib too, it’s just too good to pass up.
As busy as we’ve been lately and as hectic as a good brunch place can be on a holiday like Mother’s Day I was so happy to go and be with family at Granite City. It has a lovely casual atmosphere and consistently good food and drinks. The prices are generally reasonable and the service solid. I know it’s a chain, but I think it’s one that knows what it does well and offers a lot. Even on non-holiday Sundays the brunch has a great selection so I hope you check it out.
Until next time, keep eating and drinking well in great company. Also don’t forget to celebrate those you love.
Today’s featured brunch: Granite City Food and Brewery, 150 96th St, Indianapolis, IN 46290
Hubby and I have watched this corner of New Albany transform into a new dining establishment over the last few months, but had yet to try Brooklyn and The Butcher out until we saw they were starting to serve brunch this weekend.
We walked into the beautifully rehabbed building greeted by an entry lobby full of light with a contemporary and neutral decor. All around were quaint little touches that tried to channel a little vintage flair, such as the key rack behind the hostess desk which served as a nod to the building’s history as a hotel. It was pretty quiet when we came in a little before noon so we were seated right away. From our booth I could see right into the kitchen so I was entertained by watching the line calmly assemble dishes. There were also some other references to the butcher name on the walls, a cleaver and apron hung on a hook near the kitchen and an assortment of turn of the century photos.
We had already looked over the menu at home, but I was still debating what drinks to try when we settled on the Julep and Mimosa Bar. Our visit accross the establishment to the bar to concoct our own cocktails, also came with complimentary commemorative derby glasses. Both great and terrible for the indecisive the julep and Mimosa bar offered a variety of liquors, herbs, and fruit purees to customize your beverage with. I had never tried a julep before so I asked the bartender for some basic recommendations to get me started. I ended up with a little peach puree, Old Forrester, simple syrup and a bit of mint all of which was a wonderfully light and refreshing.Hubby got a simple little strawberry mimosa, that was pleasant if a little sweet. I really enjoyed easing into my morning with this lovely drink though next time I might have to go with their tasty sounding Bloody Mary.
For as quiet as it was it the food service did seem a bit slow, but between reading the interesting names of derby winners on our glasses and watching the kitchen staff we were able to pass the time. When the food arrived we were excited to dig in.
My Shortrib Roesti looked lovely and tasty, generally the taste lived up to the look. The shortribs were beautifully tender, each chunk just falling apart, and full of delicious umami flavor. Some of the other elements lagged a bit behind them though. The potatoes though adequately cooked to a nice soft consistency, would have better complemented the other parts if they had been prepared to a more golden, crisp finish to add some contrast. The mushrooms and asparagus were also fine, but didn’t necessarily add much to the dish. I could see where the combination was going, but richness of the dish craved some balance, so I was a bit disappointed.
My Shortrib Roesti
Hubby got The Croque which was a wonderfully delicious mess. The waffle bun was a lovely crunchy yet soft vehicle for the variety of scrumptious interior elements, which sadly gushed everywhere with each bite. The roasted potatoes that came as a side were also pretty crunchy and yummy, but were made better by the surprising maple aioli. Our server was kind enough to bring two containers of the aioli when he realized they were left off the plate.
The Croque with yummy potatoes
Hubby and I also shared the Omelet of the Day, which was nicely prepared and filled with spinach, goat cheese and mushroom. We both thought it was fine, but were mostly happy to have some extra potatoes.I’m not sure the roasted pepper added much to the potatoes, but they were seasoned well enough on their own. I kind of wish I had given the pastry plate a try instead. Oh well, live and learn.
Omelet of the Day
Overall it was a decent first experience for a brand new brunch spot. There are certainly areas that could be improved upon, but I think Brooklyn and The Butcher is at a good starting place with its opening weekend for brunch. In a few months I’m sure it will be great.
Hope you enjoyed this week’s post, I’ll be taking off next week due to some time consuming work engagements. I hope you all don’t mind missing my ramblings for a couple weeks. Until next time keep eating and drinking well in good company.
Today’s featured brunch: Brooklyn and The Butcher, 148 E Market St, New Albany, IN 47150
Sorry about skipping last week friends. My back decided to spaz out on me leaving me incapacitated and bedridden for a few days, so I wasn’t really up to going out or writing up a post. I’m almost back to 100% though so hopefully this post helps make up for last week.
I stumbled across reviews for Lydia House looking at posts for some other brunch places and bookmarked it to check out at a later date. We got around to checking out Lydia House on a sunny Saturday morning. It’s located in a little residential area not far from the University of Louisville campus, the exterior is pretty modest with a fun public bulletin and free library box. Stepping inside we found a cozy and hip vintage vibe, where you order at the nicely worn in wooden bar. The menu is small, but the service is as playful as it is friendly and helpful. After placing our order I heard the staff jokingly banter with some regulars, which seems a regular occurrence.
They were trying out some new drinks so I thought I’d give one a try. The Match Boba Tea with coconut milk was certainly a pretty green, the tea nice and creamy, but the boba were a bit chalky and possibly underdone. However this was a new item though so I’m definitely willing to give it some leeway. There were also a lot of other great sounding beverages I’d like to give a try next time.
Matcha Boba Tea
After a short wait our morning meal was brought to the table looking delicious. My Hot Mess arrived with a look living up to its name, the essence was super hearty and satisfying with a nice bit of spice throughout. All the elements kind of blended together into a wonderful mass of warm yumminess. After trying to parse through it all I was able savor the individual parts of smoky ham chunks, nicely roasted potatoes, creamy gravy and sweet onions covered with ooey gooey cheese. I was entranced by the wonderful layers of flavor and gorged myself until near bursting. Even then I still needed a little box to take home the remainder.
Hot Mess
The Sweet Griddled Bread Pudding had a lovely textural balance between the golden exterior and velvet custardy interior. The bread pudding itself was lovely and subtly sweet, but the seasonal jam really made it stand out. This jam had a great heat to it and rich depth of fruitiness, but the flavor of the fruit was hard to place. I finally asked a server, who told me it was their Cherry Habanero Jam which happens to be one of his favorites. The Sweet version certainly gets my vote and I’m sure the Savory version is also delicious, but didn’t get to try it this time.
Sweet Griddle Bread Pudding
Hubby got the Classic with housemade sausage patties and over easy eggs. The sausage was delightfully seasoned and just a touch sweet, while totally well-prepared. Hubby struggled a bit with the heat of the seasoning on the potatoes, but found them more tolerable when mixed together. You should also keep in mind that hubby is often a lot more sensitive to spice than I am. We both rather enjoyed the texture of the potatoes which were perfectly soft and sumptuous inside while maintaining a lovely crisp and crunchy outside.
Hubby’s Classic with housemade Sausage Patties
Overall I think Lydia House is a great little spot with a wonderful vibe and staff. The service was attentive and the food filling and tasty. The amount of spice in just about every dish was an invigorating change for me, though hubby was a little less enthused. I doubt that the sriracha and hot sauce on every table are used often during breakfast if ours were any indication. I would love to come back and explore their lunch and dinner options sometime.
Thanks for checking out this post, sorry again for the skipped week. Until next time keep eating well with good company.
Today’s featured brunch: Lydia House, 1101 Lydia St, Louisville, KY 40217
We have often driven past Highland Morning as there are a plethora of great food options around Bardstown Road. Somehow we made it half a year into this brunch blog without trying this popular spot.
part of Highland Morning’s great exterior mural
We got a bit of a late start on the day we venture out to try Highland morning. The sun was out in force, just starting to warm up the day. Inside,it was pretty packed when we put in our names. The hostess quoted us a 25-30 minute wait (which was expected mid-morning on a Saturday) and took our phone number. We used our time to pick up some bakery treats to take to hubby’s family.
Our trip was a short jaunt down the road, but took up most of our 20-25 minute wait. We returned in time to hear the chimes at St. James ring for 11AM and were seated shortly after. Our hostess showed us to the table with menus and our waiter checked in to see if we had any questions. After taking us quickly through the menu addressing half orders and side options, he left us to mull over drink options.
After some debate over beverages I got the Bloody Mary Done Right, which totally kept its promise. They also had buckets of mimosas for $20 and a coffee drink called The Proud Kentuckian that sounded great. However since we had a substantial drive to visit family ahead of us so we responsibly chose not to imbibe further. The Bloody Mary came out in a cute little mason jar with yummy bacon salt around the rim, which brought a nice addition of umami to the party. The Bloody Mary itself was a great savory and flavorful mix with a nice bit of spice. I also loved the garnish of pepperoncini, pepper jack cheese and an olive, which served as a nice little snack as I waited for our food to arrive.
Bloody Mary Done Right
After sipping on a substantial portion of my yummy beverage our feast arrived. My Baja benedict was super satisfying with some exciting and original elements like the corncake base. The corncake was nicely crisp beneath a nice bit of chorizo, some poached eggs, hollandaise and a little fresh pico. There was a nice bit of heat that wasn’t overwhelming, the flavor provided by the veggies was enough that you could likely not miss the chorizo were you to order this dish vegetarian.
Baja Benedict
I have to say the Biscuits and Gravy here have to be some of my favorite I’ve tried thus far. The biscuits were solid and light, the gravy delightfully creamy with a wonderfully peppery savoriness. I don’t know if others would consider it a good thing but the gravy had this lovely condensed soup vibe too it I super enjoyed. I advise you at least get a half order, you won’t regret it.
1/2 order Biscuits and gravy
The half order of Key West Key Lime Pancakes I got as a bit of sweet was so monstrous that I cannot even imagine trying to finish a full order even if it was the only thing I ordered. The giant fluffy cake was yummy and buttery, but kind of drowned under an artificially lime sweetness. They weren’t necessarily my favorite thing, but my sister-in-law enjoyed the leftovers so it might just be me. There were certainly a plethora of awesome sounding pancake and waffle options.
1/2 order of Key West Key Lime Pancakes
Hubby got the Steak and Eggs, an out of the norm choice for him. The steak was really nicely seasoned and cooked, though I might have ordered it a bit rarer. Hubby got it medium and seemed quite pleased with the outcome. the scrambled eggs also weren’t I choice I would have paired with the steak, but they were well-prepared: fluffy and buttery. The little bit of cheese on top of the eggs was a nice touch as well. The grits might have been sitting out a bit too long as they arrived congealed. However the peppery flavor and creaminess was rather on point, though I might have been more satisfied if I had gotten the cheesy kind or special cinnamon sugar version of the day.
Hubby’s Steak and Eggs
It was a pretty great menu full of solid standards and slightly updated and exciting new twists. I can definitely see why this made the top 101 breakfasts on Urbanspoon. For as busy as it was while we were there we got some pretty great service. Everyone working in Highland Morning seemed to be cheerful and attentive. All the great looking choices and general positive experience left me sure we will be taking friends or family back to try it again.
I hope you enjoyed this little post and maybe enjoyed some nice time with family or friends during this great spring weather. Until next time keep eating and drinking well and with good company.
Today’s Featured Brunch: Highland Morning, 1416 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
We’ve been busy going out a lot and missing a few of our regular brunch buddies so we decided to change things up a little this week and host brunch at our place. Through the week we invited some friends, I looked up some recipe ideas and then on Saturday we power cleaned the house to prepare.
When the day finally came around we woke up bright and early then set about to work. Although this is the first day of spring and it was beautifully sunny outside, the weather wasn’t quite as warm as it had been earlier in the week. If it had been a bit more temperate we would have loved to have brunch outside on the deck. Alas, Mother Nature did not agree, so we set up our table inside with some good coffee and warm treats to keep us warm.
Our friends started to arrive mid morning as I was still finishing up most of the brunch dishes so I started the table setup with a simple little Cheese Plate of some brie, olives and figs. Sadly I hadn’t thought of bread or crackers so I had to use the Ritz crackers I keep around just incase and some cheesy pita chips, not ideal but doable in a pinch. I also like to add a little pepper jam to the party as it complements the brie well.
Cheese Plate, crackers, coffee and mimosas
When thinking up our brunch menu I like to plan for somethings to be ready quickly so guests can snack as other dishes finish. I had some Puff Pastry in the freezer so I thought it might be good to throw together a little Tomato, Goat Cheese, and Basil Pesto Puff Pastry Tart. Although I didn’t follow the homemade almond pesto part of the recipe it gave me a good starting point, and as my guests gobbled them up I don’t think anyone minded that I used jarred pesto as a substitute. Using store bought puff pastry as the base of a tart is a great way to do a fancy feeling, though simple to assemble treat when entertaining.
Tomato, Goat Cheese and Basil Pesto Puff Pastry Tart
I had roasted some beets earlier in the week and thought they might be nice and refreshing amongst the other heavier items. They would have been a little lonely without some goat cheese and vinegar, so I threw this and a couple other things together for a Roasted Beet Salad.
The roasting of the beets is pretty simple: just wash well, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, wrap the beets in foil and then roast until you can pierce them with a fork maybe 50-75 minutes. After the beets are roasted you let them rest for at least 15-20 minutes in the foil then can easily peel them by just rubbing off the skins. I sliced them up and put them in tupperware until I want to use them.
This morning I took out the slices and layered them with nice slices or goat cheese. I dressed them with a little good Balsamic Vinegar on the plate, but also made a quick dressing on the side. This dressing had about a tablespoon of grainy mustard, a half tablespoon of maple syrup, a tablespoon of white wine vinegar, a half tablespoon of olive oil and a bit more Balsamic to round it out. A little orange zest and/or juice would also be good, but it was a nice dressing all the same. Finally the pretty looking lettuces that take up half the plate are just a simple 50/50 Spring mix from the grocery. All in all a dish that fit its role.
Roasted Beet Salad
Monkey Bread was one dish requested by our friends that is a general crowd pleaser, so I dug up a basic Pioneer Woman recipe on Pinterest that I could alter a little for my preferences. The last time we had everyone over I went a little crazy with the butter which made for a particularly messy (though tasty) version. This time I tried to follow the proportions more closely, but took the biscuits down to two containers and the butter down to a half cup. I added about a half cup of combined chopped pecans and walnuts to the bottom of the bundt and sprinkled throughout the layers of cinnamon sugar coated biscuit segments. I also had a jar of honey layered with nuts, so I layered in a few tablespoons of that to add even more goodness.
Monkey Bread with Chopped Nuts
All in all i was pretty pleased with the outcome as the cinnamon aroma permeated our home. I forgot to take a picture before everyone dug in, but it was pretty and wonderfully sweet and decadent. As you can see from the photo below some of our guests also greatly enjoyed the yummy Monkey Bread.
One thing I really wanted to try was a little Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole I thought would be a great hearty and savory dish for the morning. I went ahead and cooked the hash browns before tossing them with the other ingredients to add a little texture contrast. It was an ooey gooey casserole with well-balanced flavor I couldn’t help but keep going back for.
Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole
Our guests also pitched in a couple nice additions to the brunch. One brought amazing fixings for Mimosas; we are fans of the apricot juice versions and also added some raspberry-peach Grand Marnier. Our French friend brought a lovely Ham and Cheese Quiche which she is magnificent at preparing (she has brought one on multiple occasions). I don’t know what is in it, but she makes the crust herself and it is always a great treat to enjoy.
Albane’s delicious Ham and Cheese Quiche
My final menu item was a simple Triple Berry Salad that comes together with some sliced up strawberries tossed with some other berries after a quick washing. To complement this I prepared some freshly Whipped Cream, easily assembled with some heavy whipping cream a little powdered sugar, vanilla and Cointreau. Nothing fancy, but berries always seem a good addition to brunch.
After our feast of a brunch we spent the afternoon enjoying some board games and each others’ company. Its nice to be able to take our time and not rush out of a busy restaurant sometimes.
Thanks for taking the time to read this little brunch post. Until next time keep eating and drinking well in good company.
Today’s featured brunch recipes and alterations:
Tomato, Goat Cheese, and Basil Pesto Puff Pastry Tart:
I substituted Country Sage for Italian mild sausage, and used half and half instead of milk as it was what I had. I also cooked the hash browns first for a little more texture contrast.
On this gray rainy day we decide to check out the newly reopened Speed Art Museum before brunch. The 30 hour marathon opening event was a super fun introduction to the collection with everything from mandala making monks to folk music performances to printmaking for the public. We were only there for two hours after the event had been going almost 24 hours, but it was cool to see so many people enjoying the space and artwork.
It was fun to tell hubby the background of certain Dutch subjects or explain the work of contemporary artists. We also debated how an IKEA-like table hubby had whose design must have been a copy of one of the midcentury furniture pieces in one gallery, was not art just because the design mimicked an artist’s design.
One of my favorite parts was a collage art activity called “Not-So-Square Quilt Blocks” that had already filled up most of one wall when we arrived. I saw adults and families working together or on their own to create little works of art and add it to a greater collaborative piece.
I never saw the museum before it was renovated, but I can definitely see a thoughtfully and creatively curated collection. I heard the director of the Speed on local public radio station talking about opening up the spaces and creating interesting sightlines. This intention comes through as you move from gallery to gallery and stand in a variety of spots that allow you to see how art history affects current practice and the experience of the art in one place feel whole.
After indulging my wandering for a few hours we were both hungry enough to leave. However, I can’t wait to come back another day and revisit so many great works, so if you’re in the Louisville area go check it out.
After all this walking and art viewing we traipsed over to the other side of Louisville to try a Sunday Brunch Buffet at Goose Creek Diner, recommended by one of hubby’s co-workers. It is certainly not a fancy place, sort of on the small side with an interior that feels like maybe it was once a fast food restaurant. The diner was fairly busy when we arrived and the host who took us to our seats seemed to be struggling through one of his first days on the job. Once we were seated our waitress was pretty friendly and attentive, even reading me my horoscope as she cleaned the table next to ours.
After ordering our drinks we got up to visit the brunch setup. For my first round I just went down the line and selected a little bit of everything breakfast-y, plus some Ribs and Fried Chicken.
My first round brunch plate and yummy coffee
My coffee was piping hot and waiting for me when I returned. It was a solid cup of smooth caffeine goodness that warmed me nicely. I was even able to take it sans sugar or cream, which I take as a great indicator of a good cup o’ joe.
One of the first things I tried was what I believe was a Hot Brown Casserole, which was a rather enjoyable dish. This is actually my first encounter with the Hot Brown Sandwich flavors popular in Louisville. This casserole was creamy and tasty with nice chunks of turkey, crispy bits of bacon and a delicious mornay sauce. The little bit of tomato in the dish helped to balance out what could be a touch heavy otherwise.
Although the potatoes were not anything particularly crazy they were nicely crisp and the perfect vehicle for the leftover mornay sauce on my plate. I recommend you skip the eggs as the texture was a sad cross between hard-boiled chunks and rubbery bites totally lacking in decent flavor. The ham was also pretty disappointing, but it is truly difficult to mess up bacon which was good and greasy.
Both hubby and I found the Fried Chicken a bit disappointing, mostly since it was lacking a good crunch. I also could have done with a little more pronounced spices and flavor. By comparison the Ribs had a good flavor that had been prepared well enough to fall apart. The problem with most of these dishes was probably that they had just been sitting in chafing dishes a bit too long, which negatively impacted the texture or ability to enjoy some of these dishes.
The highlight of the buffet was easily the made-to-order fare, prepared by a calm and perpetually busy chef who served up custom orders with a warm smile. There was French Toast, Crepes, Eggs Benedict, Waffles and Omelets to order or dress how you would like. These items were some of the best of the whole buffet by far.
Hubby’s Omelet
The first thing hubby got was an Omelet packed with a generous amount ham, mushroom and all the cheeses. He got there at the right moment where he could get his omelet prepared super quick and back to the table nice and hot. I enjoyed my bite, though these aren’t perse the flavors I would choose, and hubby seemed totally happy with it.
Eggs Benedict and Sweets
After going up to get something for myself I saw a few custom Benedict orders served up and decided that is what I would like to enjoy. I ordered a regular Eggs Benedict and it was easily the best thing I had here. The English muffin was freshly fried up in butter, I watched as the sweet chef tossed two thick slices of ham into another skillet and crack two eggs into boiling water. As each part finished he assembled the yummy stack and I got it back to my table to savor. Each bite had a great array of textures and flavors: soft oozy eggs, luscious Hollandaise, crisp and buttery English Muffin, and ham to round out the equation.
Since it was a little crazy when I went up to order I also grabbed a few things from the sweet pastry pile and dessert section. What I assumed was a mini banana cream pie turned out to be a Key Lime Pie instead. I liked this fine, but it didn’t wow me enough to finish it. The sweet Cinnamon Pastry was totally lackluster and I only really took a bite before putting the sad, dry bun down for good.
Waffle with Chocolate Chips and Strawberries
As I was working on my Benedict hubby went up to grab us a Waffle. The one lonely one left up in a warming tray while I was waiting for my Benedict didn’t look all that appealing. His however was nice and fresh, if a bit underdone. Though I like my waffles a little more crisp, the softness of this was was adequate and worked well with the rest of this waffle’s fluffy subtle sweetness. Hubby’s toppings were fine, but lacking in the whipped cream department.
Chocolate Cheesecake
Although hubby wasn’t a huge fan of this chocolate cheesecake, saying it was too cheesecake-y for him, I liked it. It was dense and chocolatey without being too sweet and I enjoyed the nice cheesecake-y tang to it’s flavor.
At the end of our meal I was past stuffed and feeling quite sleepy. I fell into a solid food coma nap for two hours when we returned home, thus cementing a lazy day. I can see that Goose Creek Diner would be an attractive place to find a hearty satisfying brunch at a decent price. It is heavy on the hearty offerings of the Midwest and Southern cuisines that are generally adequate. It could probably use some fresher or more appealing dishes, but seems to be doing fine with offerings. The made-to-order station is definitely the best part. The chef we had was skilled and wonderfully obliging making our experience rather satisfactory.
Hubby and I both agreed that it wasn’t our favorite place and you might find some better and more exciting fare at The Red Yeti or Ramsi’s. I wouldn’t say this was an outright bad experience, but I think we will continue our explorations of brunch in the area without missing coming here again anytime soon.
Hope you enjoyed this little post with a side of art. Until next time keep eating and drinking well with those you love.
Today’s featured brunch: Goose Creek Diner, 2923 Goose Creek Rd., Louisville, KY 40241
You can (and should) also check out the newly renovated Speed Art Museum at 2035 S 3rd St, Louisville, KY 40208.
So originally this brunch was supposed to just center around the Special Brunch at New Day Craft, but I was enjoying the day with a friend from high school who hasn’t gotten to check out Indianapolis much. This may have led to us brunching a little harder than initially intended. That being said, I do now have a bit more brunch to write about for you all. This may be a little long, but bear with me because it was a great day and I hope you all enjoy this post.
A few weeks back a friend posted about a brunch opportunity at New Day Craft, which I have been wanting to try since I heard rumblings that New Day would be offering a Sunday brunch once a month featuring local chefs. I messaged her, we bought the tickets and made the plans to come up. I don’t know that I would have picked an all vegan brunch on my own, but I enjoy the creativity that goes into making these options as tasty as they are guilt-free. We regularly do Meatless Monday in our household, but I lack the willpower and conviction to really give being a full-time vegetarian a go. I do feel better kharmically when I can eat in a more ethical way though.
So I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed Sunday ready for a nice drive listening to podcasts, picking up my friend and then brunching to our hearts content with some yummy mead, cider and/or cocktails. I made good time on my trek to get my buddy and even after the rest of our jaunt up to Indy we were still a bit early so I floated the idea of stopping into Milktooth for a little coffee and pastry to tide us over. As it was on her list of places to try we went for it.
Mmm pastries (I don’t know why I can’t take a non-blurry picture of this pastry counter… )
The weather of late has been typical of the midwest: aggravatingly capricious. Sunday however was much milder than earlier in the week (probably due to the sun) and there were a decent amount of people calmly waiting outside of Milktooth when we arrived. The wait at the counter was much shorter this time compared to my visit at the end of the summer. Though I was a touch disappointed there was no wonderful Hummingbird Cake which I had enjoyed before, there were a bunch of other delectable pastries we were able to deliberate on before finally making a decision.
Duck Sausage and Grits Danish
After seeing the three people in front of us also order them, we settled on the scrumptious Duck Sausage and Grit Danishes which we couldn’t help but tuck into as we waited for our beverages. I’m sure these danishes were incredible warm, but they still held up after they had cooled. The croissant pastry that forms the base of the danish is amazingly flaky and buttery. Then the interior of creamy, well-seasoned grits had some beautifully flavored and wonderfully fatty duck sausage nestled atop it. We were both truly sad about the last bite we had left of each danish when the time came to finish them.
Our beverages were also a lovely start to the day, my Matcha Cappucino was adorable in presentation and beautifully subtle in its creamy, earthy, delicately sweet tones. My friend’s Notorious F.I.G., was a cool espresso treat with a little touch of fruit notes on the end of each sip. It didn’t take us long to finish this little snack before we were headed to the main event down the road.
I’ve been coming to New Day Craft since it was New Day Meadery up in Elwood, IN. I first stumbled across it with some friends on a trip up to enjoy some boating on Lake Wawasee. As we were driving through we couldn’t help stopping and trying their offerings at the time. It was my first encounter with mead and I was hooked. We stocked up a couple bottles for the weekend and future use thinking we wouldn’t be able to enjoy this all the time.
It just so happened I was living in the Fountain Square neighborhood during my last years of college when New Day opened up it’s tasting room right on Prospect. Being just a few blocks from the place I rented, New Day turned into the perfect First Friday spot to grab a glass of tasty mead, then later cider and cocktails, before or after visiting the Murphy building across the street or Harrison Center a little further down the road.
Imperial Breakfast Magpie (sorry it is already sold out for the season)
New Day has always made wonderful and unique beverages like their Imperial Breakfast Magpie. This amazing red raspberry mead brewed with coffee had a day after Thanksgiving release last fall hubby and I couldn’t attend. Luckily a few friends did to pick some up for us. I finally got around to trying some last weekend and was not disappointed. The fruit and coffee notes meld together beautifully. The Imperial Breakfast Magpie is just so smooth and drinkable with a subtle sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm your palette.
So now that I’ve raved about New Day, on to our special brunch by Ian Phillips of Three Carrots. We still arrived a little before they had opened the doors, but since the weather was good I don’t think either of us really minded much. When we were invited in to the counter one of the servers checked our names on the list and another asked us about beverage choices.
I made sure my buddy got some Breakfast Magpie and I debated the cocktails down to the Hot Ginger, which I got at medium heat. Both were super tasty and we were invited to take our seats in the apiary room, which was sporting some new kitchen additions since the last time I had been in. There were two good sized communal tables and we opted to sit towards the end of one. My Hot Ginger cocktail brought a nice bit of warmth to my lips and chest. I loved the brightness and spice of the ginger with a beautifully light sweetness from the Gold Rush. The other diners trickled in with their drinks and chatted quietly as the chef brought us our Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls to start.
This Cinnamon Roll was pretty amazing. I know I’ve said over and over how sweet stuff just doesn’t really turn me on, but I was a bit gleeful with each bite I took. The dough was wonderfully yeasty and the filling had a good amount nuts and plump raisins. I know that raisins are not a particularly beloved addition in most meals, but these were pretty juicy in the cinnamon filling and brought the Cinnamon Rolls to another level for me. All in all a great start.
When we finished our plates were retrieved and replace with the main event composed of four parts: Garlic Herb Seitan Sausage, Polenta, Lemon Braised Kale and an Apple Cider Reduction. This definitely looked as good as I think was possible for all the elements to look and smelled pretty amazing as well. I started with the sausage as I was most intrigued as to what a chef prepared vegan sausage would be like. I have to say the the Seitan Sausage perfectly captured the texture of its carnivorous counterparts, which was satisfying, however it lacked the punch of flavor I believe it needed to really feel vital to the dish. In a surprising turn of events I was most impressed by the Lemon Braised Kale. This Kale was not over done so it retained a its fibrous character, but also a fantastically bright and delicious flavor that made this the star of the dish in my opinion. The Polenta was also creamy and yummy, providing a wonderful binding element to the other parts for of this plate. I would happily eat this again and really wish that I could always have kale prepared this way, it would definitely get me to eat more of it.
As we finished our food and drinks we wandered back out into the tasting room and ordered a second round. As those cocktails were being prepared our bartenders asked us about the brunch and smiled at our enjoyment. My Puppy Love (with the chocolate bitters) was a lovely cherry concoction that was smooth and lovely. My friend got her Mamacita Caliente (medium on the heat scale) which has the most interesting composition of chocolate and ancho chile bitters. We were definitely happy with our choices as we sipped and looked around at the art.
The overall experience at New Day was pretty solid. The drinks were great as always and the food was generally satisfying and the service is always genuinely happy and helpful as well, all of which makes New Day a great place to visit. If you’ve never tried mead, it is the perfect introduction.
Now I know most people would be done after two brunch stops before 1:30 in the afternoon, but those people do not brunch as hard as we brunch. We had talked a good bit about food on our ride up and even at the table in New Day, and one place my friend really sounded excited for was Smoking Goose/Goose the Market. Having nannied a few blocks away from Goose the Market during college I could understand why she would want to go. The amazingly friendly and knowledgeable staff at Goose the Market only help to make your purchases of the beautifully curated offerings of local and high-quality meat, deli, wine, beer and grocery that much easier.
We accidentally went to the Smoking Goose Meat Locker first and struggled to find their hours online before finally making it to the Goose the Market location. After gazing upon the beautiful meat case and produce bins upstairs, we ventured into the cellar below where they had set up a little charcuterie, beer and wine bar amongst shelves of the craft bottles, wine, and fancy jarred or tinned items.
Gazing upon the cheese behind the case we couldn’t pass up a meat and cheeseboard, but struggled to make a beverage choice. We finally ended up with a suggested “shopping brew” called Maibock from Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, which was light and lightly sweet in the malt department.
When our meat and cheese board arrived it was like a lovely intense and exciting little adventure. There were so many wonderful elements and treats that it is hard to know where to start. All were good, but I did not do a great job remembering their names. By description there was a salami, some kind of melt in your mouth prosciutto-like delight and something referred to as “bacon butter,” which was smoky and amazing. I can’t recall the particular name of the dish, but it was something I didn’t know I needed in my life. I do remember our bartender/cheese monger saying that the recipe was invented by Italian lumberjacks to prolong the shelf life of the meat. Good job Italian lumberjacks.
All the cheeses were also incredible. My favorite was probably the Guntersberg Switzerland, a raw cow’s milk cheese with an awesome funk and creaminess. Even the crumbly rind was delicious and I think both of us could have eaten a wheel of this. I also found the Vermillion River Blue Ludwig Farmstead was a great peppery option that wasn’t an overwhelming bleu cheese option. Most peoples favorite is apparently the Pantaleo Italy, a pasteurized goats milk, that I found sharp and a bit citrus-y, but not my favorite of the three. All the other little parts from the whole grain Local Foods Mustard to the Bauguette from Amelia’s in Fountain Square were wonderful supporting parts. The Sweet Spiced Pecans were particularly interesting with their cinnamon and slight curry combo that left a nice warmth on the back of your tongue. I was also totally delighted by the fresh little gerkins. The Maibock turned out to be the perfect choice to wash down all this tasty goodness as well.
Again you might think that all that charcuterie would be plenty (in truth it probably was), but then we saw a little tray of oysters and we had to have them. I loved our front row seat to the shucking and preparation of these oysters. Our bartender was happy to hear that Goose the Market was one of the few places we felt confident in ordering seafood in the Midwest. Our trust was well placed as each oyster was briney and delectable. The yummy vinegar-y mignonette was also a beautiful dressing to the wonderful shellfish. Of course we enjoyed them so much that we had to order a couple more.
We didn’t quite realize how stuffed we were until we stood up and the full food coma hit. It was truly difficult to be able to make our way out to the car and for me to drive the two hours or so back home after our three part brunch. All of it was so good and totally worth it though.
I hope you all enjoyed this once in a blue moon brunch adventure, that happened to be one of the fe that is sans eggs. Until next time keep brunching hard with awesome buddies who can match you drink for drink and plate for plate.
Today’s featured brunch: New Day Craft, 1102 Prospect Street, Indianapolis, IN 46203
In addition Chef Ian Phillips restaurant Three Carrots is located at 222 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Our Bonus brunches are the previously featured Milktooth which you can find at 534 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203 and one of my favorite deli/butcher shop/grocery/all around awesome spots Goose the Market at 2503 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46205.
We Brunch So Hard 