No actual Nederlandse kindjes were harmed during the writing of this 'blog-thing.
https://www.lalesf.com/ Place: LaLe Location: 731 Irving Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues) Hours: "Brunch" is served at 9:00am during the week and at 8:00am on Saturday and Sunday Meal: Dutch Baby Pancake ~ w/ caramelized apples & housemade (restaurant-made, whatever) whipped cream; a side order of homefries; and a cuppa (and one refilla; I drank a whole cuppa while waiting the 15-20 minutes for the pancake to be baked; they warn you ahead of time that it can take a while to prepare this dish) SightglassCoffee (I forgot to ask which roast/blend they serve, though) https://sightglasscoffee.com/
(There were not meant to be any EweToobular juxtaselections with the above two songs/videos. These two songs were played [back-to-back] on the house [restaurant, whatever] stereo while I was eating my meal. However, I bet that Sir George Ivan and those the Four Tops fellows would all enjoy a good Dutch Baby Pancake. I mean, who wouldn't?) As I have been double-heading all of my Breakfastary Starting Rotation for visits this month, it was back to LaLe (see last 'blog-entry from Saturday, October 26th, 2019... so, basically, yesterday) once again this morning. Even before I had left my apartment this morning, I had already known exactly what I was going to order for breakfast ("Brunch", whatever). However, I really do need to try their new(-ish?) frittatas that are now offered. I think earlier this year was when I first saw the new items on their printed menu (their web-site does not even show these yet). There are three different frittatas (served with salad and fruit; where I would probably request a substitution of their very good homefries), thusly: Paris ~ leeks, bacon (sorry, Glen, but you would have to be nixed), peas, goat cheese; Seattle ~ asparagus, peppers, chicken-apple sausage (which would have to go the way of poor Glen above), Cheddar (this would most likely be my first choice of frittata); and Milan (v) ~ spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, Cheddar.
See? No tulips in the vase on my table again this morning. Just some (if not a bit on the wilting side) roses and such. There were various colours of roses on all of the other tables, too.
This was so good! This dish is probably my second favourite breakfast ("Brunch", whatever) meal that they offer. Dutch Baby Pancakes are only offered during weekend "Brunch", though. It can also be ordered with bacon or strawberries; I just prefer the caramelized apples version. I am not sure exactly what kind of flower petals (they were quite possibly tulip petals, but never having eaten a tulip before, I could not tell you for certain) were used as a garnish on top of the whipped cream. I hope they were edible... 'cause I done edibled them both. I bet these pancakes would be extremely good with fresh rosemary sprigs on top of the whipped cream, too. For condimentary supplementation, LaLe had... same as yesterday. I used some of my own H*ll's Kitchen®Chipotle Chocolate Hot Sauce (Thanks, Mom!) all over the side order of potatoes... and even a skosh on a small part of the pancake. ("No, you did 'nt, Brian!" Do not judge my culinary quirks!) I also used some grinds of The Spice & Tea Exchange®Pirate's Bite Spice Blend (Thanks, Cindy!) on the homefries. (Relax. I did not sprinkle any on top of the pancake, because that would just be silly.) Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Dutch Baby Pancake ~ 7.5; SightglassCoffee ~ 7.2
(*stockphoto*stockphoto*stockphoto* Someone forgot to remind Sean to tell Kerry to mention to me to remember to bring my camera with me that morning. This is just the photo from last year's visit. *stockphoto*stockphoto*stockphoto*) https://persysplace.com/ Place: Persy's Place Location: 3198 Cranberry Highway, East Wareham, MA Hours: open at 7:00am every day of the week Meal: (me) Banana Split Pancakes; a side of hashbrowns with pepper Jack cheese and jalapeños; and, to drink, a cuppa (and one-and-a-half refillas) maple-flavoured Coffee (perhaps, New England Coffee? I have never bothered to ask) (Truthfully, there were just too many of us at the table for me to remember what everyone else had ordered that morning; besides, they are all free to write their own silly li'l 'blog-things for what they had for breakfast.)
(I bet you were not aware that both Paul Wilchinskyand Charles Dawson Butler were originally from Cape Cod.) If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Persy's Place For reference to the above sub-titular remark, it looks like I also had eaten at Persy's Place (see last 'blog-entry from Wednesday, July 25th, 2018) on a Tuesday during my previous two visits to Wareham. I probably would have gone later in the week, anyway, but my cousins Cindy (née Sammarco) and Carmie (still Sammarco) and his wife Helen (now Sammarco; don't know her née-name) and my Aunt Jean (mother to the two aforementioned Sammarcos, but now last-named Abruzzese) were in town and suggested this place for breakfast that morning. Additionally, two of my brothers, Kerry and Sean, joined us all for the meal. You can forget about me listing any other good ideas for breakfast at this place. They probably have the largest breakfast menu in all of New England. It is almost impossible to make a decision for what to eat. You are best to just close your eyes and point to something on the d*rn menu... and, even then, you will still have to choose two sides (which they call "Druthers") from a list of twelve! Trust me, just get their very good cornbread (which is a large enough portion to feed two people, anyway) and totally wag-it on the second side choice. I do like that they offer breakfast potatoes two ways: as homefries or hashbrowns.
(This photo is courtesy of my brother Kerry who took it with some kinda newfangled mobular-device-contraption. He then forwarded a copy of it to my electronic mailbox. Amazing! I have no idea how all this technology-stuff works.) Because I did not even want to attempt trying to make a futile decision on what to get for breakfast, I ordered this meal off their weekly/monthly specials menu. It was the most disgusting-sounding dish on the menu; so I knew I would love it. I can not believe that someone at the table dared to offer me some maple syrup to pour over the pile! I think Sean and/or Kerry mentioned that the mess on my plate should have had both whipped cream and a maraschino cherry on top of it to make it an official Banana Split. I told them not to be ridiculous, even I would never put whipped cream on my hashbrowns (of course, I have no problems with maraschino cherries on my potatoes... oooh!... and maybe some crushed peanuts or walnuts, too, Snorky). I do not remember what they actually called their amped-up hashbrowns, but this was a very smart way to go. While the jalapeños were not of the fresh-sliced variety, they were not overly vinegary either (I imagine even the persnickety son of NASA Astrophysicist Dr. John C. Brandt might not have minded these). Plus, after the over-the-top sweetness of the pancakes (this main dish should come with a side of hypodermic needle full of Insulin), the spicy, savouriness was a more than welcomed option. Initially I was going to order my potato side with homefries; however, when we were first seated our waitress told us that they were working on making more homefries for the morning and they would not be ready for about ten minutes or more. By the time our entire table (finally) ordered, the waitress said the homefries were now available. No matter, I still wanted to check out the hashbrowns all (pepper) jacked-up. Not that I really needed any extra condimentary supplements, but I think from past visits that Persy's Place has at least Tabasaco®Brand Pepper Sauce (Original Red Sauce), Frank's®RedHot®Original, and Huy Fong Foods, Inc.Sriracha HOT Chili Sauce. Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Banana Split Pancakes ~ 6.7; amped-up hashbrowns ~ 6.7; maple-flavoured Coffee ~ 6.8
(No official-type Web-Site.) Place: the Purple Rooster café Location: 105 South Street, Plainville, MA; phonicular contact: 508-316-1550 Hours: open 9:00am Wednesday to Friday and 8:00am Saturday and Sunday; CLOSED Monday and Tuesday Meals: (me) Butternut Squash-Potato Pancakes with pepper jelly, two eggs over-medium, and English muffins; (Cam and Kerry) Blueberry Banana Bread French Toast; (Sean) Beet & Onion Hash w/ Turkey & Bacon on Grilled Cheese; and to drink (me) orange juice (I did not notate what everyone else had to drink, there may have been some glasses of milk and Coffees)
(Only 'cause fat Lowell and the boyos do not offer a Y*nkee Rooster song. Besides, I have it on good authority that both Emmylou and Bonnie are big fans of Butternut Squash-Potato Pancakes with pepper jelly. I am pretty sure ol' fat Lowell woulda eaten anything put in front of him, too.)[2] Well, colour me Purple and call me "Harpo", Miss Celie! I would not ever have thought that one could find a Breakfastary Starting Rotation-worthy restaurant in the thriving ultra-megalopolis of Plain-ol'-ville, Massiechoosetts. (To paraphrase Hobson from the 1981 movie "Arthur": "Thank you for a memorable morning, usually one must go to a bowling alley to eat a breakfast of your stature.") But I was proved completely wrong on my very first day of vacation Back East last week. Wow, what a great little find in the Purple Rooster café! (Thanks for the suggestion, Sha!) Both the menu fare (with many st*pid vegetarian and Vegan options) and the atmosphere (laid-back, comfortable, and eclectic) coulda been something you might easily expect to find in the Haight-upon-Ashbury. Our entire group had ordered off their weekend specials menu, but there were still many other great options off their (pretty extensive) standard printed menu: several Pancakes selections ~ especially their Signature Flavors: Bacon & Apple(not for the Vegan at heart, though); Almond Joy (they do not list the ingredients, but I am assuming these would probably include almonds, coconut, and Chocolate); and Banana Walnut; several French Toast selections ~ also under their Signature Flavors (however, this was not underlined on the menu for some reason): Cinnamon Apple; Nutty Monkey (probably another banana-walnut selection?); S'mores; and Banana Crème Stuffed; The Matty ~ 2 fried eggs, fried bologna with cheese on a toasted Portuguese sweet roll with warm apples or homefries (not st*pid vegetarian- nor Vegan-friendly); It's Not The Matty, It's The GG ~ 2 scrambled eggs with spinach on a sweet roll with warm apples or homefries (now this one is st*pid vegetarian-friendly, but not for our Veganite friends); The Hawaiian ~ 2 eggs, grilled pineapple and honey ham on a cinnamon toast with warm apples or homefries; The Neil ~ 2 scrambled eggs with spinach and onion with sliced tomato and avocado on toast with warm apples or homefries; several versions of The Breakfast Bake - Comes with Toast~ homefries topped with scrambled eggs and your choice of style below: The Mexican (black beansalsa and cheese); Steak Bomb (steak, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cheese); or Veggie Lovers (spinach, br*ccoli [which would have to be excised for me, Newman!], tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheese); and they even have a separate section under Potato Pancakes to include: The Ally (2 scrambled eggs with Feta, olives and tomatoes, 2 Southwest Potato Pancakes with toast); Original Potato Pancake (offered as 1, 2, or 3 pancakes); and Southwest Potato Pancakes (also offered as 1, 2, or 3 pancakes; they do not specify what makes these southwesterly, though). And that is only about half of their menu!
(Ha! I just love how my eggs were juxtapositioned right on top of the Rooster on the plate and you can only see his little feats sticking out.) My breakfast was rather simple, but it was also rather simply very good. I am always a big fan of any good Kartoffelpuffer type dish. I enjoyed these even more so with the interesting added ingredient of butternut squash in the mix. The only two minor quibbles that I might have were that the English muffins were just the pedestrian fare like that Mr. Thomas guy makes and the orange juice was served straight outta a 10-ouncer plastic bottle. That was all okay with me, anyway; I used some of the good hot pepper jelly on top of the faux crumpets and that helped a lot, too.
Now, I did not really poll the rest of the table on their intake (Who cares if they liked what they ate or not? I paid for the entire d*mn meal, anyway!), but from the looks of all the licked-clean empty plates, I assume they enjoyed their meals as much as I did. I know that I would have liked both of those other weekend specials myself, too. I think that both Cam and Kerry commented that the French toast would have been even a bit more better with some sliced bananas on top to go along with the blueberry compote on the side. I did not ask for nor see any condimentary supplementation that they might have had to offer. None was really needed for my meal this morning, anyway. glen Bacon Scale rating: Butternut Squash-Potato Pancakes with pepper jelly ~ 7.0 ___________________ 1. https://www.plainville.ma.us/
2. Hmmm?! I wonder if they serve mutton chops and fried chicken for breakfast at the Commodore Hotel.
http://www.sweetmaplesf.com/ Place: Sweet Maple Location: 2101 Sutter Street (on the corner of Steiner Street) Hours: open for breakfast Monday through Sunday at 8:00am Meal: Sweet Potato Pancake ~ cinnamony healthy goodness, served with pure Vermont maple syrup (Hidden SpringsMaple Syrup ~ a family-owned and operated maple syrup farm in Southern Vermont) and butter (they do not specify from which creamery they source their butter, though) and a side of Herb Roasted Potato Medley ~ consists of seasonal & regional varieties such as Chilean Purple, Yukon Gold, Gemstone Red, Russet, Sweet Yam https://www.hiddenspringsmaple.com/
(My initial thought was to use one of Shana Morrison's[1] cover-versions of this Sir George Ivan song, but I came upon this one in the same EweToob search and really liked it.) Because last week I ate at Taylor Street Coffee Shop again, I figured it was fitting that I should probably go through the litany of other restaurants in this local family-owned mini-chain of restaurants. Hence, next up was Sweet Maple(see last 'blog-entry from Sunday, October 15th, 2017). I think this was the second restaurant that they opened (possibly third), but it has been ensconced in the Lower Pacific Heights/ Japantown/Fillmore District triangle-area since 2010. Many of the restaurants in their mini-chain have the same or very similar dishes (just with different name-variations) and I have tried several of them already. There are still yet another few (specific to the Sweet Maplemenu, at least) other ideas that seem breakfastary worthy for me: Southern Benedict ~ chorizo (which woulda gone chorizo-no with me), cherry pepper, tomato, chipotle Hollandaise, served w/ potato medley (I have had their chipotle Hollandaise before and know that it is really good); Snowed Spinach Scramble~ baby spinach, Vermont Cheddar, Parmesan, served w/ potato medley and ciabatta au levain toast; or if I am the mood once again for something Sweet... Marnier ~ French toast: creamy Grand Marnier® (citrus) batter.
There is not really much to report about this dish. It was sweet potato pancakes in all its sweet potato-goodness and cinnamocity (yeah, it's not a real word, but neither is "cinnamony"). They have this listed on the menu as "Pancake" in the singularity, but it actually came as three (possibly four?) rather large (but, thankfully, sorta thin) pancakes; otherwise, with the side of potatoes, it woulda been wayyyy too much for me to finish. Not listed on the menu was that it also comes served with two types of berries (that would be blueberries and oranges to you botanical minded-types) and one not-a-berry (that would be strawberries to you in the botanical laity) on top. (However, I am not quite sure where in the fruit-world that sprig of fresh parsley may lay. In time, I am sure that Rosemary will sagely tell me... ) I saw on their menu that you could upgrade to something called "JD syrup". This intrigued me enough to ask what exactly that meant. Sadly, it was not a syrup tapped from juvenile delinquent maple trees in Vermont. However, I was ecstatic to learn that the "JD" actually stood for "Jack Daniels" and just had to try out that junk! Unfortunately, when they brought it out in a small syrup-pourer/carafe-thing, it was chock-full-o' crispy dead, decaying porcine-butt bits. The waiter/server-person guy forgot to mention to me that it included this item, and I had to end up going back to the "plain ol' 100% Vermont maple syrup" instead... As far as condimentary supplementation goes, Sweet Maple offers Tabasco®Brand Pepper Sauce (both Original Red Sauce and Green Jalapeño Sauce), Tapatío®Salsa PicanteHot Sauce, and Traina®Hot Sriracha Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup. I ended up using a goodly portion of the Sriracha Ketchup on the potatoes (and don't think the thought did not cross my mind to try some on the pancakes, too, Mr. Moses Harry Horwitz!). (yet still another not necessarily such a) Strange Coffee Interlude Sure, I coulda ordered a cuppa Coffee at the restaurant to complement my breakfast ("My, Miss Pancakes, you do look lovely this morning!"), but earlier in the morning I made sure to whip-me-up (well, technically, drip-me-down) an extra-fine cuppa Koa CoffeePlantation®100% Kona Coffee Grande Domaine Single Estate Medium Dark Roast!!! (Thanks, Greg & Cindy!)[2] This was actually from a Christmas gift, which I am finally getting around to using some of it up. Man, I wish I had known how d*rn good it was, because, trust me, it would not have made it past February! Besides, no matter how good the Coffee at Sweet Maplemight have been, I knew that (even with the way that I crummily make Coffee) this superior bean/roast could not be topped. In the past I had always had a lighter (as in "way too light") roast of Kona Coffee and was never very impressed with its flavour. However, I really like this Coffee so much so that I am claiming it as "My Favourite New Coffee of 2019" (and I truly believe that you will be hard pressed [or hard-percolated] to change my mind on this before year's end, anyway). To make this early morning cuppa even more early morning special, I drank it outta my "Breakfast of Champions"[3] mug (Thanks, Sean!), too. https://www.koacoffee.com/p/pure-kona-coffee/grande-domaine-vienna-roast-whole-bean-kona Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Sweet Potato Pancake(s) ~ 6.5; Koa CoffeePlantation®100% Kona Coffee Grande Domaine Single Estate Medium Dark Roast!!! ~ 7.7-7.8; "Breakfast of Champions" ~ 6.9 (the book; actually, I would have to rate the mug at 7.9) ___________________
1. http://www.shanamorrison.com/ Trust me, Shana is a way lot cuter'n that guy from Indiana performing the Sir George Ivan song above, but I had never heard this Hoosier-guy's cover-version before and felt like going with it up top. Just to be fair, here is Shana performing another cover-version of one of her daddy's songs:
(The fat guy in the pork-pie straw hat and glasses singing duet with her really oughtta keep his day job, though... ) 2. This gift was given in the "whole bean" version and not the pre-grinded-up grounds style. (Just what kinda cheap-o b*stages give a person a gift of a bagga whole bean Coffee and then expect that person to have to do all the work of a'grindin'-up the beans hisd*mnself?! Pfffft! Some people!) 3. While this novel might not be my favourite book from Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (that, of course, would be "Cat's Cradle" ~ GBS Rating: 8.0, followed closely by "Sirens of Titan" ~ GBS Rating: 7.8), it was the very first one of his books that I ever did read. (Thanks, Philboyd Studge, for introducing me to the Weird and Wonderful Vonnegutian World way back in the Summer of '77!) Plus, it is one of my favourite current mugs out of which to enjoy a piping-hot Coffee beverage (and maybe even a tea or two sometimes).
https://www.homeplatesf.net/ Place: Home Plate Location: 2150 Lombard Street (between Fillmore and Steiner Streets) Hours: open at 7:00am every d*mn day of the week Meal: Dulce de Leche Pancakes ~ banana, caramel, sliced almond and whipped cream; a side-starter of Brussel[ sic ][1]Sprouts ~ fried Brussel[ sic ] sprouts, orange, grapefruit, honey citrus vinaigrette; as always, the meal starts out with a complimentary mini-scone (usually of the raisined variety) and some of their Home(Plate)-made jam (today's edition was strawberry); and, to drink, a large glassa fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
(Yeah, I really have no idea what they are saying in this song. I am pretty sure that it has something to do with either Brussel[ sic ] sprouts or bananas.) I generally like to start out any new ⒷⓐⓢⓔⓑⓐⓛⓛSeason (Go RED SOX!!!) with a return visit to Home Plate (see last 'blog-entry from Sunday, May 6th, 2018). I have been going to this great little (well, it has expanded in size by at least twofold from their former location just a few blocks down along Lombard Street) family-owned restaurant for over twenty years now. The food is always interesting and very tasty. If it were not located "all the way over" in the Marina, it would easily be in my Breakfastary Starting Rotation and I would go there more than just once or twice a year. Plus, I like a place that opens up much earlier than anything else in the neighborhood. Because of this, they get a lot of the early tourista crowds from the surrounding motels along Lombard Street. I arrived there a little before 8:00am and they were already about three-quarters full (I do not know what a pessimist would say about that). The couple at the next table told me they were from Atlanta and staying at a motel across the street. ("But, Brian, why are you bothering complete strangers when they are just trying to enjoy their breakfastary repast?!" Well, first off, they started a conversation with me when they saw me taking a photo of my pancakes. The wife thought it looked good enough to share, too, and took a photo of my Plate[Oh, wow! I just got that whole "Home Plate" thing now... it is a reference to both Ⓑⓐⓢⓔⓑⓐⓛⓛ and where "Plate" could double as a meaning for a food serving dish. That is clever.] to show her daughter back home. Secondly, why would I start a conversation with any incomplete strangers?) Even after many trips there over the years, there are still a few (new?) menu items that I would like to try: Eggs Florentine ~ two poached eggs, spinach, broccolini; served on English muffin, Hollandaise sauce, with salad and potato medley or potato latkes (spinach and broccolini?! this will probably have to be my order the next time that I go there); Special Crispy French Toast (where they even have the "Special" in red lettering to distinguish it as such) ~ fresh mixed berries, nuts with Mascarpone mousse (this one also sounds intriguing for the next time that I want a sweet dish); or maybe even Huevos Ranchero[ sic (I really do not know what they have against all these missing "s"s) ] ~ two eggs over easy, black beans, avocado, tomatillo sauce, salsa, Jack cheese on a handmade corn tortilla. This is not to mention Greek Frittata ~ spinach, tomatoes, Calamata[ sic (however, because they do use authentic Kalamata olives in this one, I will let that mispelink slide) ] olives, Feta cheese; which I have had on several previous visits and really liked and would never be averse to reordering. Fear not, those of you that do partake of the dead, decaying aquatic insects, they also offer a few dishes with shrimps[ sic ] in them (Hmmm?! Now I think that I know where all the mising "s"s from Brussel[ sic ] sprouts and Huevos Ranchero[ sic ] went.): Special Bangkok Frittata ~ shrimps[ sic], tomato, mushrooms, scallion, herbs; three-egg pancake-style omelettes served with potato medley or potato latkes, sourdough toast; or the more intriguing-sounding Angry Benedict ~ shrimps[ sic ], spinach, jalapeño, Cajun Hollandaise sauce (I even ordered this dish sansany shrimps[ sic ] two visits previous to check out this version of Hollandaise sauce). Sadly, they no longer offer the Marco Polo Benedict ~ two poached eggs, turkey, tomatoes, avocado, served on English muffin, Hollandaise sauce with salad and potato medley or potato latkes. I was thinking of getting that one this morning if it were still available. Maybe too many people (wiseacre-types for sure) commented on it being neither Italiano- or Asian-related (see, turkey, tomatoes, and avocados are all New World items and would not have been available anywhere in either Europe or Asia in the 13th Century).
These might not prove to be the Best Pancakes that I might have in 2019, but they were definitely the Best Pancakes that I have had thus far in 2019! (insert drooling-emoji here) I suppose this dish could also easily have been called "Bananas Foster Pancakes" (Sorry, Gretchen! [For some reason, I think she really hates caramel.]). There was at least one whole banana sliced and fanned out on top of the pancakes. While the banana itself was not actually flambéd or brûléed, it is the idea that counts, Chef Blangé. (Maybe I shoulda asked for a shot of Rum on the side.) This came as two medium-sized pancakes, but do not let that wording fool you; these were extra thick and fluffy and two were about my limit this morning, anyway. I would normally get a potato-based side dish (they offer hashbrowns, homefries, and sweet potato tots), but I saw the fried Brussel[ sic ] sprouts dish on the breakfast menu and had to get it. "But, Brian... Brussel[ sic ] sprouts for breakfast?!" Jazeker! Zur Hölle, ja! Enfer, ouais! (Take your pick from any of the languages that they may speak in the town of Brussel [ sic ], Belgiums.) Besides, there were sections of orange and grapefruit throughout, and that spells "breakfat" (with or without any d*rn "s") to me. As it turned out, the Brussel[ sic ] sprouts starter was the perfect way to go; this made the meal savoury-sweet in its entirety. The Brussel[ sic ] sprouts were excellent and extra crispy (read: burnt just how I likes 'em). Home Plate offered both Tabasco®Brand Pepper Sauce (Original Red Sauce) and Cholula®Hot Sauce (Original) for use as condimentary supplements. I had come prepared with a few of my own hot sauces, too, but due to the meal ordered this morning, none were needed or used, anyway. Now if they had only drizzled some of that caramel sauce on top of my Brussel[ sic ] sprouts, I bet that would have made them even more awesome. Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Dulce de Leche Pancakes ~ 7.0; Brussel[sic ] Sprouts ~ 7.3 ___________________
1. "Hey, Brian, why do you always feel the Grammar Nazi need to point out when a restaurant mispels 'Brussels sprouts'?" First off, I prefer the more PC-term: "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei Grammatician". Secondly, I am sure that their computers also have a "spell-checkering" function-thing that would inform them of any missing "s"s before they print their menus. Thirdly, you must be one of them d*mn linguistic prescription-hating Jews! (Actually, I am getting pretty [ sic ] and tired of all these places manglising owr hilee vonted 'merican langwidge!)
For the past few years now I have gone with a more adverbial appellation of "My Favourites... " instead of the ubiquitous "Best of... " (which you see everyone using everywhere these days). After all, what is "Best" to me may not truly be "Best" to Randolph Peter and the rest of those fab Liverpudlian lads. Once again, I am keeping with the "Top Ten" format-idea, and the easiest way to rank these was just to go back through all my 'blog-entries from 2018 and see which ones had the highest Glen Bacon Scale Rating (and in the case of any identical GBS ratings, I am simply listing them chronologistically).
(Here's to innocence and now. Cheers!) 1) Surprise, surprise, surprise... not! Le Pain Perdu at Baker Street Bistro (see 'blog-entries from Samedi 6 janvieret aussiDimanche 2 septembre) tops the list yet once again this year. It is not a coincidence that I usually make this meal one of my first breakfasts of the year. 2) Well, well, well... it seems as though we have a brand new usurper at the "Number 2" spot this year (just edging out the previous, long-running "No. 2" from our long-running friends at Dottie's True blue café) with Savory Reggiano at GriddleGriddle FreshFresh (see 'blog'blog-entryentry from SaturdaySaturday, JuneJune 9th9th). This was such a tasty, great surprise that I am also claiming it as "My Favourite" (New) French Toast Dish Not Named Pain Perdu at Baker Street Bistro! 3) Even though it has been bumped down a peg, Al, it is still one of "My Favourite" breakfasts in the entire city: Zucchini Cakes at Dottie's True blue café (see 'blog-entry from Saturday, January 13th). 4) Puka French Toast at grindz (see 'blog-entry from Poaono, Feberuari 17). Sadly, I only "discovered" this dish late in the life of this restaurant and this was only my second time ever to order it. Ah, well, maybe I need to make a little road-trip over to Mokupuni Nui to try it again. 5) Dutch Baby Pancake at LaLe (see 'blog-entry from Zondag 22 april). Even though this was only a singular "pancake", it more than deserves this placement due to its wh*pping size and flavour. 6) It really should not be fair for one local restaurant to have two of "My Favourites" in the "Top Ten", but les Œufs Baker Street Bistro at Baker Street Bistro (see 'blog-entry from Samedi 14 avril) rightly deserves this honour every year. Is it their fault that their Pain Perdu est tout simplement extraordinaire aussi? 7) Challah French Toast at the Manor (see 'blog-entry from Saturday, March 31st [which à propos-priately happened to be the first day of Passover]). ("What?! Another d*mn French toast dish on this list, Brian? Maybe you should just call it 'My Favourite' French Toasts of 2018 already." Hmmm?! Ya know, that might not be such a bad idea. Perhaps next year I might just make two separate lists: one for French toast [possibly including pancakes, too] dishes and one for all other dishes.) 8) A great out-of-State (outta-my-mind?) discovery: Green Goddess Frittata at gather (see 'blog-entry from Friday, July 27th). Not only was my main meal extremely tasty (asparagus and Feta in the same dish? You had me at asparagus... ), but they had their own special homemade (well, gather-made) condimentary supplementation: vanilla-butter ~ which was mighty awesome all on its ownsome (well, spread on toast and such). Because of both of these, I am also honorificing (not a real word, but maybe it should be) this restaurant as "My Favourite" Out-of-Towner Breakfast. 9) (yet still another French toast entry) Orange Bread French Toast at Jo Ann's Cafe & Pantry (see 'blog-entry from Wednesday, August 15th). Now, if they had some of gather's vanilla-butter to use on it, this dish might have ended up a few numbers higher still. 10) (and not such a bad way of finishing out the list, an olde stalworth "Favourite") Chilaquiles at Chava's Mexican Restaurant (see 'blog-entry from Sábado 13 de octubre).
2018 Specific Categories (& Honourable Mentions kinda stuff) "My Favourite" Swiss Rösti outside of Yorkshire (possibly one person that reads this silly li'l 'blog-thing regularly will get that reference) ~ pomelo (see 'blog-entry from Sunday, November 25th). GBS Rating: 7.2 "My Favourite" Huevos Rancheros Dish ~ Buck's of Woodside (see 'blog-entry from Sunday, February 25th). (Well, seeing as I probably only had Huevos Rancheros a few times in 2018, this might not seem like such high praise, but their version ranks up there with any dishes you can find in the Mission.) GBS Rating: 7.2 "My Favourite" "Brunch" with Beer ~ Beach Chalet (see 'blog-entry from Sunday, September 30th). GBS Rating: Roasted Vegetable Frittata ~ 7.1; Sea Serpent Foggy I.P.A. ~ 7.2 "My Favourite" New Find ~ Wooden Spoon (see 'blog-entry from Saturday, November 10th). GBS Rating: Morning Bowl ~ 7.1 "My Favourite" Use of (and correctly spelled) Brussels Sprouts~ Roasted Brussels Sprouts Hash at Town's Endrestaurant & bakery (see 'blog-entry from Sunday, December 9th). GBS Rating: 7.1 "My Favourite" Thai Family Restaurant Back-up Plan (twice) ~ Lapisara Eatery (see 'blog-entries from Saturday, March 24th and Saturday, November 17th). GBS Rating: "Veggie" (uggh!) Omelet ~ 7.0; Savory "Veggie" (uggh!) Frittata~ 6.8 "My Favourite" Scandinavian/Danish Breakfast ("Brunch", whatever)/Bakery kinda-joint ~ Kantine (see 'blog-entry from Saturday, November 24th). GBS Rating: Savory Porridge ~ 7.0 "My Favourite" Ridiculously Disgusting New (for me, at least) Coffeehouse~ home (see 'blog-entries from Saturday, February 3rd and Sunday, February 11th [and several other references/visits throughout the year]). GBS Rating: Lavender Latte ~ 7.5; Rose Latte ~ 7.3; Cookie Monster (Latte) ~ 7.1; Red VelvetLatte ~ 6.9 "My Favourite" New Local (Neighborhood/within walking-distance) Place ~ lokma (see 'blog-entries from Sunday, June 10th and Sunday, August 19th). GBS Rating: Türlü Omelet ~ 7.0; Menemen ~ 6.7
In Memoriam Interlude (aka "Another One Bites the Dust", though the food always tasted much better than nibbling any fine particles of solid matter, Mr. John Richard Deacon) In 2018, we bade a sad farewell to both grindz and heartbaker. This was doubly-sad as both of these restaurants were located within my neighborhood (if not exactly walking-distance, at least only a short three-to-four stops on the bus). Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Pain Perdu at Baker Street Bistro ~ 8.2 (mais certainement); Savory Reggiano at GriddleGriddle FreshFresh ~ 7.7; Zucchini Cakes at Dottie's True blue café ~ 7.61 (Why the extra 0.01 GBS points there? Just to distinguish it as a little more "Favourite" than the next dish.); Puka French Toast at grindz~ 7.6; Dutch Baby Pancake at LaLe ~ 7.5; Œufs Baker Street Bistro at Baker Street Bistro ~ 7.4; Challah French Toast at the Manor ~ 7.4; Green Goddess Frittataat gather ~ 7.3 (vanilla-butter alone ~ 7.5); Orange Bread French Toast at Jo Ann's Cafe & Pantry ~ 7.3; Chilaquiles at Chava's Mexican Restaurant ~ 7.3
