Image from http://coutureetcuisine.com
Sometimes things don't always go according to plan. Who am I kidding? Experience has shown me that anytime I make a plan, it falls apart, and this weekend as no exception. My husband and I love going out to dinner, although it's more like I read about a place and announce that we'll be eating there on Friday, Saturday or some other night and he just comes along for the ride.
In the couple of years that we've been living in New York we've never really gone out for brunch, which I hear is the thing to do on Sundays. I had read about a restaurant, Peels, that wasn't too far from us and that served a good brunch. I read their menu online and their Build-A-Biscuit caught my eye. I could load up a buttermilk biscuit with eggs, sausage, cheese and avocado. I was sold.
Image from http://www.flickr.com
It had been pretty cold all weekend (-13 C which may not be cold for Montreal, but very unusual here). When I woke up Sunday morning, I didn't feel like going anywhere. I looked out the window, opened it a little and felt the chill fill the room. I felt like staying home on the couch all day. But I had a couple of errands to run, so I figured since I had to leave the house anyways, might as well do something fun like stuff my face.
We made it down to Peels. It seemed like everyone else in the city had also 'cause the placed was packed. That's what I hate about the city. The minute a new place opens up, it's sooo full that it becomes an altogether unpleasant dining experience. The reservationist told us it would be a 45-minute wait. A 45-minute wait for eggs? Not happening. We left Peels and walked up the street. Luckily there was another great brunch spot next door. Gemma is a cozy, rustic Italian restaurant located in the Bowery Hotel. My husband and I had eaten there before and the food was good. Plus, there was no wait to be seated. Score!
Image from http://nymag.com, we sat in the far right booth
We got a great corner booth and immediately ordered coffee and juice. It was 11:30 and I was starving. Everything looked good on the menu. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go the egg route or the sweet pancake-French toast way. The blueberry pancakes with vanilla butter sounded delicious, but so did the polenta and eggs. In the end I ordered the brioche French toast with berries and mascarpone cheese, my husband, the lox platter, and we ordered a pizza topped with egg, Fontina cheese, mushroom and truffle oil to share, my idea, of course. Did I mention I was starving?
The food was delicious and the atmosphere was a little calmer than the craziness of Peels. So glad we didn't end up there.
Happy dining!
P.S. Thank you to all of you who came by the constant hunger after reading my guest post on More Than A Mount Full.
this place seems so cool... nice post..
Posted by: yesim | 01/25/2011 at 04:50 AM
I got here via Dennis's blog and look forward to visiting. I live outside a little town in East Tennessee and the inability to get into a new restaurant for a few months is the same here.
Posted by: larry | 01/25/2011 at 07:36 AM
Hi Alina
it looks like you had a wonderful time at Brunch, it certainly is a beautiful restaurant!
Thanks again for all your hard work on your guest post!
Cheers
Dennis
Posted by: Chef Dennis | 01/27/2011 at 05:59 AM
I love going out for brunch, we just don't do it as often as I would like. That place looks like a really good spot for a nice Sunday brunch.
Posted by: Kate @ Diethood.com | 01/27/2011 at 06:50 AM