What to order for brunch in New York

Monday, October 26, 2015

I know, it's just Monday. But what better way to get over a case of the Mondays than to plan a great brunch for the weekend to come? To help tide you over til Friyay, here are 8 delicious things you can plan to have for brunch next weekend in New York.

1. The Classic at Russ & Daughters Cafe
No breakfast screams New York like the bagel and lox — and there's no better place to get it than New York institution Russ & Daughters, which has been serving up the city's best salmon, herring and sturgeon since 1914. For those looking for the most classic of New York breakfast staples, make a beeline for Russ and Daughters Cafe's Classic platter of smoky and buttery Gaspe Nova smoked salmon to be enjoyed with an everything bagel generously schmeared with cream cheese and topped with a heap of sliced tomatoes, onions and capers.

Russ & Daughters Cafe's Classic board
Russ & Daughters Cafe is located at 127 Orchard Street, New York, NY and is open from 10am on weekdays and from 8am on weekends.

2. Steamed scrambled eggs with prosciutto at Buvette
It's stunning, really, how something so simple can be so incredibly delicious. Buvette's scrambled eggs are the stuff of New York legend, brought its soft and sumptuous consistency using the steam wand that normally whips up the foam for your capuccino. When we came to this cozy little West Village spot for brunch, we sidled up in a corner with decadent nutella crepes and toast heaped with these legendary scrambled eggs, slices of unctuous prosciutto and a generous pile of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Our eyes widened as a took bite after bite of these understated but absolutely delicious bites. Come to Buvette with someone you are looking to romance the morning after a brilliant evening out on the town.

Buvette's steam-scrambled eggs with prosciutto
Buvette is located at 42 Grove St, New York, NY and is open from 8am on weekdays and from 9am on weekends.

3. Fried Chicken and Waffles at Brooklyn Star
Foodies lost their minds over Brooklyn Star last year when they started serving up the chicken and waffle cone at various pop-ups. While that wonder hybrid isn't available at their brick and mortar shop in Williamsburg, I think you'll find their version of fried chicken and waffles to be a more-than-worthy substitute. The fried chicken is crisp but also juicy, the waffle is plump and tasty, the candied grapefruit provides lovely respites of freshness, and it comes with a little tub of apple butter to slather over errthang! While Amy Ruth's is renowned as the institute for this fine specimen of Southern cooking, I personally prefer Brooklyn Star's version (not in the least because its comparatively closer proximity to my bed is key to enjoying this decadent meal).

Fried Chicken and Waffles at Brooklyn Star in Williamsburg
Brooklyn Star is located at 593 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY and is open for brunch from 12pm on weekends.

4. Crèpe au Foie Gras at Le Philosophe
One of the most decadent brunch meals I've had in the city was at Le Philosophe, where one can order roasted foie gras enveloped by airy crepes and drizzled with cherry puree and dark chocolate. Le Philosophe serves this dreamy dish as an appetizer during brunch so you can have one to share for the table or order it as your main dish, supplemented with some gougères. 

Crèpe au Foie Gras at Le Philosophe
Le Philosophe is located at 55 Bond St, New York, NY and is open for brunch from 11am on the weekends.

5. The monkey bread at Colonie
Monkey bread, that delectably sweet and gooey slice of Americana popularized by Nancy Reagan in the 80s, is one heck of a breakfast treat. It's quite unclear how this delectable bread got its name (the recipe does not, in fact, include monkeys), but this much is for sure: when these fluffy clumps of baked dough are laid out in front of you, you won't be able to resist digging in and pulling a gooey, caramel-covered piece. My favorite monkey bread is served at my go-to Brooklyn Heights brunch spot, Colonie. Go with a group of friends so you can share the monkey bread AND a basket of doughnuts, too.

Monkey bread at Colonie in Brooklyn
Colonie is located at 27 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY and is open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am.

6. The pork belly at Juventino
Sometimes you want your brunch to be more like breakfast; other times you want brunch to be like lunch. When it's the latter yearning that strikes, Juventino has the perfect hearty dish: pork belly with scalloped sweet potatoes, quinoa, truffle cream and yuzu marmalade. The pork belly's rich and fatty goodness pairs nicely with the subtle creamy taste of the sweet potatoes.

Pork belly at Juventino in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Juventino is located at 370 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY and is open from 10am all week.

7. Bulalo hash at Jeepney
As a Filipino who comes from a family of folks who take pleasure in tempting cardiac arrest with every meal, it is my duty to let you know that this heartstopping brunch fare is available at Jeepney. Jeepney has elevated the beloved Filipino "silog" breakfast formula, wherein "si" stands for sinangag or garlic fried rice, "log" is short for itlog, and the appearance of "silog" on a breakfast menu indicates that your chosen protein will include a serving of both. A great many things can come with "silog": tapa (marinated beef), longganiza (Filipino sausage), bangus (smoked milkfish), danggit (the stinkiest dried fish that I hold dearest to my heart), and even Spam. Jeepney kicks the "silog" up a notch by fusing it with the Filipino bulalo: a hearty soup made with beef shanks and bone marrow. Jeepney turns the beef shanks into a hash to go with a pile of garlic rice and eggs over easy. The whole shebang also comes with a cup of bulalo broth and a big hunk of bone marrow to be slathered on with the quintessential Filipino bread, pandesal

Bulalo hash at Jeepney in the East Village, New York
Jeepney is located at 201 1st Avenue, New York, NY and is open from 11am everyday.

8. As much dimsum as you can hustle away from old Chinese ladies at Ping's
One of the weekend's greatest pleasures in any city with a substantial Cantonese influence is the dimsum brunch. While dimsum is linked to the yum cha (tea tasting) tradition dating back to the Silk Road, these days it has come to be a breakfast or lunch meal shared among big groups. Part of the fun is cornering the little ladies pushing dimsum carts laden with steaming baskets of succulent dumplings in order to get your favorites. It takes chutzpah to battle other dragon ladies for those prized baskets of har gow but it's absolutely worth it. For the more adventurous, steamed chicken feet are also on the menu.

Dimsum at Ping's in Chinatown, New York
Ping's is located at 22 Mott Street, New York, NY and is open from 10:30am on weekdays and from 9am on weekends.

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4 comments

  1. All of this food looks so good! I can't wait for the day I get to visit New York!

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    1. Thanks Zoe! Having Saturday brunch should definitely be on your New York to-do list!

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  2. Wow, all of this Food Looks just amazing! I would really like to take a bite of all of it right now ;)

    Regards, Sina
    http://www.sinaunknown.blogspot.ch/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sina, that's exactly how I feel right now, too!

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