Breakfast

Saucy in San Francisco

March 30, 2017 by SacFoodies

By Cheyenne Cameron-Pruitt
It’s the last week of National Sauce Month (*cue sad music*), but as they say, don’t cry because it’s over – smile because it happened! We’ve been getting saucy every single week, and this week is no exception.
We took our adventure on the road this weekend to San Francisco. Nestled in a small space on Polk and Eddy Streets is Brenda’s French Soul Food. If not for the huge crowd gathered outside, it would be pretty easy to miss. Brenda’s boasts a large menu that blends French, Creole and soul food influences into creative takes on everyone’s favorites. You can taste the soul in the food and feel it in the atmosphere, making it well worth the 45 minute wait!

Even though everything looked fantastic, it was really easy to figure out what I wanted. Since it was breakfast time, and I was there for research purposes, I ordered the Eggs Benedict.

Eggs Benedict sounds like a classic breakfast. Poached eggs, English muffins and hollandaise sauce. Pretty straightforward, right? In any other case the Eggs Benedict wouldn’t be all that special, but at Brenda’s, I swear I heard a choir of angels sing when I saw my plate. When I took a bite, somewhere far away a butterfly shed a tear of happiness.
In all seriousness, this was best Eggs Benedict I have ever had. I think this dish represented the French, Creole and soul food influences so perfectly. Instead of the classic English muffin, the base of this dish was a fluffy and huge cream biscuit. Now for the exciting part: Brenda’s offers up the classic ham option, but also offers fried chicken and catfish as toppings. I opted for the fried chicken, but it wasn’t an easy decision.
Let’s talk about the hollandaise sauce – which is what I was really interested in – and how it upped my eggcellent experience by 1,000 percent. The usual slight citrus flavor of the hollandaise was replaced with a kick of Creole spices, but still managed not to overwhelm the flavors of the fried chicken and the biscuit. I have not stopped thinking about that sauce, I’m seriously worried I will never be able to enjoy Eggs Benedict the same way again!

I finished off my meal with an order of beignets. Brenda’s offers the classic flavor with simple powdered sugar, but also changes it up with chocolate filled, granny smith apple filled, and even a savory crawfish option. The crawfish option is filled with a mix of crawfish and cheese and is spiced like the hollandaise sauce. I was able to get a taste of all four options, and they were just as good as they sound, if not better. 10/10 I would them eat again.
Brenda’s is a great little spot for a weekend brunch or anytime. They’re very popular, so be prepared to wait awhile, but I promise it will be worth it!

Hawks Public House

September 1, 2016 by SacFoodies

Hawks Public House, which opened last year, sits on an unassuming corner on Alhambra Blvd. Drive by and you may not even notice it – but if you’re in need of a bite, I’d suggest venturing out of midtown and stopping in. I’ve been in for both dinner and brunch and enjoyed both the casual atmosphere and tasty drinks and eats. (Tip: No wait for a table at brunch and there’s ample parking!)
Here are four reasons to try Hawks Public House:

Spaghetti Carbonara. With an egg on it. For brunch.

You read that right! Dining with girlfriends a few weeks back, we had to try this dish. We left wondering why pasta with eggs and bacon hadn’t made its way to brunch menus sooner.

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Grilled Cheese Benedict at Bacon & Butter

April 18, 2016 by SacFoodies

by Brandon Smith
April is National Grilled Cheese Month and April 16 happens to be National Eggs Benedict Day. And while eggs benedict and grilled cheese don’t sound like two things to be celebrated at one time, the grilled cheese benedict from Bacon & Butter will have you questioning why this combination doesn’t have its own national day.

I’ve been hearing nothing but great things about Bacon & Butter. Friends, coworkers and many an online review have given me no reason to think the food at Bacon & Butter is anything short of incredible. Pair the reviews with rumors of substantial lines forming outside before the doors even open, and you’ve officially peaked my (and my taste buds’) interest.
I crawled out from under my rock and dropped in on National Eggs Benedict Day to get my first taste of Sacramento’s Best Brunch and the infamous grilled cheese benedict. To make a long story short, Executive Chef and owner, Billy Zoellin, and the rest of the Bacon & Butter staff did not disappoint. Two perfectly poached eggs and thick cut bacon rest atop a grilled cheese sandwich comprised of Cheddar, Jack and Mozzarella between two soft slices of Bella Bru Challah bread and a liberal amount of some damn-good hollandaise.

For me, this was a true embodiment of what brunch should be: a meal combing the basic flavors of breakfast and lunch with deliciously prepared ingredients in a unique way. Everything about Bacon & Butter exceeded my expectations from service, to atmosphere and, most notably, the food (especially the freshly made Bacon Pineapple Fritters).The fact they use Farm to Fork ingredients isn’t bad either.

So well done, Bacon & Butter, you’ve successfully found a way to combine two seemingly different classics into a pair that fit together easier than Sunday morning. Check out the rest of the Bacon & Butter’s food, specialty cocktails and fresh baked goods here!
Bacon & Butter
5913 Broadway
Sacramento, CA 95820
http://baconandbuttersac.com/

Get Your Juice On and Be Fabulous this February

February 3, 2016 by SacFoodies

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February has finally arrived! For me it’s doubly fabulous as it marks not only my birthday month, but also the end of dry January (a.k.a. a full month of not consuming any alcohol). With less pressure than a resolution for a full year, it really wasn’t all that bad. That said, rather than meeting for happy hour or going for a weekend beer, it forced me to find a different drink of choice.
Sacramento is blessed with an abundance of delicious fruits and veggies that lend themselves perfectly to cold pressed juice. Luckily, there’s also no shortage of neighborhood juice bars to try out. My two favorites happen to be Liquidology and Sun & Soil. Located in East Sac and Midtown, respectively, both offer tasty combinations that you’re sure to enjoy.

At Liquidology, I recommend the Immune Scout (who couldn’t use an immunity boost this time of year?), which features basil, Meyer lemon, local wildflower honey, maple syrup, camu camu and just a bit of cayenne. Also, give the BB Superhero a try. It’s made up of blackberries, apple and pear.
At Sun and Soil, I stick to the Sweet Green which has apple, spinach, lime, ginger and cucumber. What can I say? I stick to what I like.
Where’s your favorite juice place in Sac?
Liquidology
4601 H St.
Sacramento
916-970-5102
http://liquidologybar.com/
Sun & Soil Juice Company
1912 P St.
Sacramento
916-341-0327
http://sunandsoiljuice.com/

Brunch at the Porch

March 27, 2015 by SacFoodies

The Porch has been my favorite restaurant in Sacramento for the past couple of years, but somehow I had never made it in for brunch. I now know how much I was missing out.
Last weekend some friends and I stopped by for some midmorning munch and drinks at The Porch, and the end result was me taking a big post-brunch nap due to the delicious food-coma that ensued.
The Porch’s classic Southern chicken and waffle plate.
This is probably some of the best Eggs Benedict I have ever eaten with crispy yet fluffy potatoes on the side. Note The Porch’s Snickerdoodle cocktail in the background – it’s as if they took a white Russian, added a cookie and made it somehow lighter and more refreshing.
Our epic spread at the table. And that’s not a mimosa we’re drinking, it’s a Champagne Julep. Made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, simple syrup, mint and champagne, this morning cocktail will make even non-bourbon drinkers ask for seconds. I did.
The Porch Restaurant and Bar
1815 K St.
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 444-2423
www.theporchrestaurantandbar.com