Ah, summer is finally here and it's time for some al fresco dining. On a sunny Sunday, we woke up early and decided to head to Seasons in the Park for brunch. Once seated, we were served warm bread with a very generous slab of butter. Yum! I washed it down with a light cocktail, their Aperol Spritz. It's my favourite accompaniment to brunch, since it's just prosecco, aperol topped with soda. Okay, this was a bit decadent and not at all representative of my normal breakfast (which is just a tea). Smoked Salmon Benedict with red onions, arugula, and fried capers with some creme fraiche layered inside. All this sits on top of a fried potato cake and then drenched in hollandaise sauce. I loved the greens and the bit of fruit as well. And this Italian Sausage & Eggs is exactly as advertised. A slightly spicy sauce with some scrambled eggs. There is a rustic charred pepper puree, slightly tangy and perfect for the corn bread. When mornings start like this, the day can only get better!
Last week, I was invited by Rick to be his guest for a Brunch Tasting at Homer Street Cafe. Located at Homer and Smithe, this corner cafe has only been open for lunch and dinner for a few months now. And yes, they are launching their brunch menu on Sundays. We started with some cocktails, on the left is the House Caesar and on the right is the Port of Mumbai. The caesar is with clamato, chicken infused alcohol and gravy with a slice of crispy chicken skin as a garnish. This was tasty, and although I couldn't really taste the chicken, the addition of the gravy made the drink very savory. The other drink is an IPA based cocktail with gin, aperol, citrus and honey, with a big wedge of grapefruit on the rim. Traditionalists will appreciate the Mimosas. This is the Rotisol Rotisserie Grill that is truly hypnotic. You watch the meats go in, all pasty and white, and by the time you're done your meal, they all have a nice golden tan. It's mesmerizing, but it's not just for looks! The juices from the meats season the vegetables and potatoes on the base of the grill. Chicken is the main feature here (and yes, they do brine their birds) but you'll also find pork, beef and lamb on offer as well. My selection was the Steelhead Trout, with Beef Brisket, Egg and Potatoes. I liked all those things, but I don't think I've ever seen them on one plate. Each element was good, the trout was nice and flakey, the egg yolk was the perfect sauce for this dish. The potatoes had a crispy skin from the drippings, and paired well with the beef brisket. The brisket was fork tender and shredded up easily. Marbled throughout was just a bit of fat for juiciness. Totally delicious and despite appearances, it was a lot of food and I was pretty full afterwards. Kevin decided on the Rotisserie Pork Sausage, served with two eggs, and potatoes, as well as a side of sour dough bread. The sausage was tasty, a touch salty and on the dry side. It wasn't tough, but it just wasn't as fatty as I anticipated. Someone next to us got the Pork Belly and it looked pretty good too! Rick got their Eggs Benedict, with bacon, roasted tomatoes with some hollandaise. The presentation was interesting, since the bacon usually is tucked underneath the eggs, but that makes for soggy bacon. This way, the bacon could stay crispy for just a touch longer. For dessert, we decided on the Nutella & Banana Monte Cristo. I've never understood the nutella & banana pairing (most commonly in crepes) but now I get it. This really works! Deep-frying the whole thing gives you crunchy exterior to balance out the warm, creamy banana and nutella mixture inside.
Take Note:
Brunch only available on Sundays
Sit at the counter to watch the chefs and the rotisserie
One weekend morning, we decided to forego the usual brunch buffet options (Black and Blue, Flying Pig and James St Cafe) and headed to Fraser Street to check out Heidi's Cafe. Honestly, it's not much from the outside, and not that much more on the inside. It's reminiscent of a cafeteria, where you order your food and pay, and they bring it to you when ready. Reminds me of Pho at Joyeaux Cafe. I don't like this sort of setup because I prefer someone coming to my table to take the order. But let's give this place a chance, shall we, after all, if I pay you before the food comes (a la McDonalds), I shouldn't have to tip, right, or do I? They are social media aware, which really surprised me!
They have a huge selection of loose leaf teas at the counter, and each tea is prepared to order. You still have to go and do your sugar and milk (not brought to the table), so it felt like a weird mix of restaurant and Starbucks. So their Full Breakfast is pretty comprehensive. You get your choice of Two Eggs,Bacon and Sausages, as well as Two Slices of Toast and some Home Fries. If you have a small appetite, this is enough for two people. The eggs aren't extra large eggs and the sausages are a bit fatty, but the bacon is solid. Without even asking it to be extra crispy (unlike the turkey bacon from Denny's ), it comes the way you expect. Nothing is overly greasy and it's a solid meal. On weekends, they also offer Eggs Benedict. They actually offer two, one is the Classic with Ham, but for a healthier option, they also have the Florentine and Spinach version. As you can see, I'm a traditionalist. I asked for the Hollandaise on the side, so my eggs are a little naked looking. The eggs were soft poached to perfection and the yolk oozes out quickly, easily soaking the ham and English muffin, you barely need the extra sauce. The hash browns were nice and crispy on the outside, give them a douse of HP sauce and ketchup and you're off to the races.
Take Note:
Order at the counter and grab a seat.
Give their loose leaf teas a try, lots of variety.
Once seated, we were served warm bread with a very generous slab of butter. Yum! I washed it down with a light cocktail, their Aperol Spritz. It's my favourite accompaniment to brunch, since it's just prosecco, aperol topped with soda.
Okay, this was a bit decadent and not at all representative of my normal breakfast (which is just a tea). Smoked Salmon Benedict with red onions, arugula, and fried capers with some creme fraiche layered inside. All this sits on top of a fried potato cake and then drenched in hollandaise sauce. I loved the greens and the bit of fruit as well. 
And this Italian Sausage & Eggs is exactly as advertised. A slightly spicy sauce with some scrambled eggs. There is a rustic charred pepper puree, slightly tangy and perfect for the corn bread. 
