Bobo

It seems inevitable that whenever I am in New York for the weekend, I just have to hit up a dining establishment for brunch. I fancy myself Carrie from SATC, weekend brunching with her ladies, all in fabulous outfits.

But reality is I'm not Carrie. NYC or not, I most likely do not have a fancy outfit on (it was freezing in New York this particular trip and the LA/Singapore girl in me chose warmth over fashion. Although I will say I did love my over the knee boots I had on) and I definitely am not having any of that Sex In The City. But fancy outfits and sex aside, I was having brunch! Brunch with my friends Shu and Keith, brunch at bobo restaurant and brunch in the City.

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Located in a beautiful old brownstone in Greenwich Village, we discovered bobo through some "interwebs" researching and made reservations to brunch there Saturday morning.

Upon entering the restaurant via the conspicuously unmarked basement entrance (Faux Speakeasy anyone,) we walked right into bobo's subterranean bar area. The brunch vibe there was cool and young, very New York.

As I glanced around the room checking out the scene, I found myself feeling pretty pleased to be "weekend brunching" with the cool kids. However, instead of seating us with the young-uns, our hostess lead us right up a flight of rickety stairs to the main dining room, where we were surrounded by two groups of older patrons. WHAT?? Did we just get seated in the "adults" only boring room? Did we not make the cut? Could they tell I was not a New Yorker??

So there we were, with the oldies in the upstairs intimate (and intimate it was, as I found myself sitting way too close to the next table) dining room, surrounded by tastefully rummaged knickknacks (glass-bead chandeliers, old black and white "family" photos and a pastiche of mismatched “antiques.”) and a large scale hexagonal bookshelf stocked with random volumes and hardcovers.

Despite the chic décor that is meant to evoke a bourgeois bohemian’s dinner party, I didn't care too much for the dark antiquated effect the room had. It made me feel like I was eating in a rundown dirty house. I guess I just don't get the boho bourgeois look and feel.   

That, or I am still sore that we didn't get seated downstairs with all the popular kids. 

Food wise, bobo is a self-proclaimed farm-to-table eatery, which I am always for. After glancing through the brunch menu, I ordered the soft scrambled eggs with tomatoes, potatoes and spicy pepita toasts.

The eggs were cooked to American perfection, and by that I mean that they were nice and dried out, the way Americans expect their scrambled eggs to be. I, on the other hand, have a more European take on scrambled eggs and like mine a little wetter.

That being said, I did appreciate the sweet and tangy tomatoes that were so juicy that it almost made no sense for it not to be summer outside. Additionally, the potatoes had such a lovely crisp and seasoning to them I couldn't help but chow down greedily.

However, my favorite thing from my plate were the pepita toasts. Served atop freshly baked bread from Balthazar (we asked), the pepita spread had a mouth-watering sweet/spicy combo that was refined yet hearty. The masterful combination of the nutty pepita spread and crusty yet chewy bread was relentlessly addictive.

I also have to give a small shout out to the side order of bacon that we ordered (because fat kids are harder to kidnap.) Thick cut, smokey and laden with bacon-tastiness, the bacon was cooked exactly the way I like it- crispy but not burned and most importantly not dripping with oil.

Details:
bobo
181 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10014
212- 488-2626

Clinton St. Baking Company & Restaurant

I love breakfast. Well no, I love brunch, because brunch combines two of my great loves: breakfast and sleeping in without missing breakfast. 

Waaa-it... didn't I already mention this? Right... deja vu huh? 

But worry not, I got that negative "press" thing out of my system on Monday. Instead, since I'm in New York this week for a work/play combo weekend, I thought I would talk about this lovely brunch place that I dined at the last time I was in New York- Clinton St. Baking Company & Restaurant.

The one thing about brunch that really gets to me, is that everyone else seems to love it too! Therefore, there is, inevitably, always a wait for a table at any brunch spot (least it be McDonalds. Which, btw, I had for breakfast in Singapore on Xmas eve- don't judge!). 

This was exactly the case when I dined at Clinton St Baking Co & Restaurant. My friend and I braved the hour long wait because I just had to have their pancakes. What a foodie brat I've become ;)

But let me tell you, these wild Maine blueberry pancakes that we had was truly worth the long wait. Served with warm maple butter, these pancakes were not too thick and not too thin. They would have surely satisfied Goldilocks herself!  

The pancakes had just the right amount of crisp to dough ratio and were delectable with the warm blueberry compote and sinful with the maple butter. I really can't explain why the pancakes were so good, but if you trust my taste buds, you too would wait for over an hour for them. 

The second dish we shared was poached eggs in heirloom tomato and summer squash stew topped with grated Parmesan cheese and served with sour dough toast. The combination of the warm poached eggs, stewed squash and tomatoes made for a very homey and comforting dish. The tomatoes were so vibrant and sweet, while the eggs were beyond fresh. I love it when simple ingredients come together like this to make a tasty and stellar dish.

Speaking of simple ingredients and simple life, I kept picturing myself on a quaint little farm, eating this dish with farm fresh eggs from the coup, and freshly grown tomatoes and squash from the garden patch out back. Apparently I watch too many farm movies because if you really lived on a farm, you would be too pooped from farm chores to fix yourself such a breakfast. At least I would.

 

Finally, we also ordered a side of their fried green tomatoes. These were truly a perfect combination of fried sinful crunch, with salty and sweet goodness. Furthermore, the fried green tomatoes were not the least bit too greasy and were so amazingly good that I've been craving a good fried green tomato since then.

Anyway, that was what I was up to the last time I was in New York. Stayed tuned to find out what other shinnanigans I get myself into on this trip. Happy February and almost Chinese New Year! 

Details:

Clinton St. Baking Company & Restaurant

4 Clinton Street

New York, NY 10002

646-602-6263

The White Rabbit

I love breakfast. Well no, I love brunch, because brunch combines two of my great loves: breakfast and sleeping in without missing breakfast.

Combine my favorite meal with my favorite holiday and you have boxing day brunch at The White Rabbit in Singapore.

Now I know most, if not all, of my "reviews" on restaurants have been in a very favorable light. But its high time I come clean with you and admit that I don't always enjoy every restaurant I dine out at, I just usually don't blog about such restaurants. No negative "press" is my general rule.

But when I come across a fancy restaurant that does not deliver food wise, it irks me to no end and I feel strongly compelled to break this rule of mine. Case in point, my boxing day brunch at The White Rabbit.

Photo Credit: Blargh from Hungry Go Where. 

 

To understand why The White Rabbit falls under "fancy" in my books, let me first tell you about the space in which The White Rabbit is housed in. Set in a beautifully-restored old chapel off Dempsey Road, The White Rabbit has a grand almost awe-inspiring feel to it. With high ceilings and beautiful hard wood floors, the interior of the restaurant is sparse yet cozy. Large arched shaped windows allow natural sunlight (if you go in the day) to filter in creating a relaxing and warm atmosphere. All very fancy.

Next I must tell you about the wonderful job the design team did in branding this restaurant. Themed loosely after the ever popular 1865 Lewis Carroll novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the restaurant presents itself as a classic European restaurant that is cleverly presented in a current and kitschy way. Classic modern cool, if you know what I mean.

If you need examples of what I am talking about, just browse their website.

But all in all, I think we can agree that The White Rabbit thinks itself fancy. Therefore, I think it reasonable to expect a certain amount of fancy to translate over to their food. 

Wrong! I ordered the Croque Madam with grilled pama ham, Emmental cheese and topped with a sunny side up egg. First of all, my egg was sorely over-cooked and the yolk did not ooze with delight. Next, the English Muffin that my sandwich came atop of was cold! Cold! Can you believe that? They didn't even bother to toast the bugger up before serving it.

Then there was that parma ham. Cold and stiff, it did nothing but pull the dish lower and lower into the pits of yuck. And I won't even go there with the limp "salad" that sat depressingly along the edge of my plate.

Needless to say, brunch at The White Rabbit is the epitome of what not to do! Do not house yourself in a gorgeous building and brand yourself smartly, only to let your diners down. Had the bar not been set so high by the location et al., maybe your fall from grace would not have been so drastic. So, my dear The White Rabbit, how about focusing a little more effort into actually making your food edible?

Thank you.

Details:
The White Rabbit 
39 C Harding Road
Singapore 24951
+65 6473 9965

Huckleberry Cafe & Bakery

I love when my friends come to visit. Only problem is, I end up eating out a lot more than usual. This not only screws with my monthly budget, but my diet too--I tend to overeat when I eat out. The clean plate clubber (or chubber ;D) in me cannot see anything go to waste!

Anyway, with friends in town last week, the fat kid in me was definitely overindulged. Oh well... It was worth it.

One of the places I took my friends to was Huckleberry Cafe & Bakery. Headed by Chef Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb, the same husband and wife team behind Rustic Canyon and the newly opened Sweet Rose Creamery, Huckleberry features handcrafted breads and pastries, along with locally sourced farm-driven breakfast and lunch items.

Located in an airy, glass fronted space, Huckleberry's interior comes complete with red chairs, chalkboard menus and wooden tables. In my opinion, the menu and decor of Huckleberry aptly embodies the yoga-loving, upper middle class clientele that is Santa Monica.

Since this is one of my favorite brunch places in West LA, I've tried a lot of their breakfast menu. My favorite dish by far is their Quinoa with spinach and sprouting broccoli topped with two fried eggs. Dee-lightful. What can I say, this dish is simple and healthy, but does not lack in the taste department. The gooey runny egg yolks are the perfect compliment to the grainy texture of the quinoa, while the veggies just make you feel good about yourself. The term "simply scrumptious" does little justice to the dish.

Details:
Huckleberry Cafe & Bakery
1014 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-451-2311

Whist

As I gaze Whist-fully at the pictures from my brunch at Whist, I cannot help but salivate (just a little) over what is now my favorite beet salad ever! But I'm getting ahead of myself here...

Recently, an old friend and I caught up with one another at Viceroy Santa Monica's Whist. Like Tavern, Whist's interior demands that I give it a little shout out. Designed by Kelly Wearstler, the restaurant reads like a dramatic and modern version of a proper English parlor. My favorite thing in the restaurant is the green-mirrored wall devoted entirely to a display of black and white fine English china, which provides for a stunning and elegant focal point. The patio space of the restaurant is equally whimsical. With private dining cabanas (perfect for a intimate celebrations), plush leather seats and black and white accents sprinkled through out the patio, the outdoor option echos the chic and retro-glam feel of the interior space.

To start our feast, my friend and I split the roasted beet salad with baby lettuce, candied hazelnuts and truffle pecorino panna cotta. I love this salad for so many reasons that I almost don't know where to start (deep breath)! First off, the beets were served two ways- thin slices of pickled red beets, as well as the roasted halves of red and yellow beets. The pickled slices stood up perfectly to its roasted counterparts and added a nice crunchiness to the salad. Meanwhile, the tartness of the creamy (and insanely sublime, might I add) panna cotta cut the sweetness of the beets perfectly. While there was a lot happening on the plate (beets done two ways, bitter salad leaves, candied nuts, cheesy panna cotta) and there was a lot of playfulness with textures, I appreciated that the flavors of this beet salad were focused and succinct. I covet this beet salad so much so that I told my boss, who was interviewing chef Tony DiSalvo later that week, to tell chef DiSalvo that I heart his sophisticated riff on the beet salad and will be back for more! :)

For our main course, we shared two dishes, the first was an order of the eggs benedict- poached eggs, rosemary ham and hollandaise served with tuscan potatoes (I told you I love love love EB). The star of this dish was definitely the creamy hollandaise sauce. I'm not typically a huge fan of creamy sauces (I don't like whipped cream or anything doused with too much butter- yes I know there is a general intake of breath here) but this hollandaise sauce managed to be rich yet light at the same time. The roasted tuscan potatoes were sprinkled liberally with fresh rosemary and chili peppers which tied in nicely with the rosemary ham.

The second dish we shared was the strawberry french toast with fresh strawberries and strawberry jam. I'm usually a pancake girl (left over influences from an ex-boyfriend) so I have not had french toast in a long time but for some reason, this french toast sounded good to both of us. The strawberries smelled divine and were nice and juicy; and the strawberry jam was lovely too, not too sweet or too lumpy. French toast wise however, I was not too impressed with the sogginess of the bread and was once again reminded why I usually pick pancakes over french toast.

For dessert, we had the spiced pumpkin bread with spiced quince, candied pecans and brown sugar ice cream. Presented in a gorgeous copper dish, the pumpkin bread was beautifully spiced and perfectly moist. My first bite immediately conjured images of fall in my head. The fragrant quinces were the perfect compliment to the autumn flavors going on in this dish and added an interesting bite. Unfortunately, the brown sugar ice cream lacked the molasses punch that I was expecting.

Details:

Whist Restaurant

1819 Ocean Avenue

Santa Monica CA, 90401

310 260 7511

Brunch At Tavern

I've been dying to dine at Caroline Styne and Suzanne Goin's Tavern since it first opened its doors to the public last May. Last weekend, I finally managed to make my way down there for a brunch date with a friend.

The interior of Tavern, designed by Jeffery Allan Marks, conjures a sophisticated and sleek updated English watering hole. I could not decide which I loved more, the subdued sage green walls of the elegant foyer, papered in patterns of birds and branches, or the exposed brick in the glass-roofed main dining area (complete with olive trees and leather chesterfield sofas). Definitely a photo-op waiting to happen.

To begin our meal, my friend and I split the Cornmeal Berry Shortcake which was light, tender and perfectly tart. My favorite part of the shortcake was the cornmeal, which provided just the right amount of crunch.

For our main course, my dining companion and I both got the Tavern "Benedict" with Prosciutto and lemon (I know, I know, we should have ordered something different so we'd get to taste more but neither one of us would waver on our choices!). The meaty prosciutto mixed with hot shots of perfectly poached eggs topped with a sprinkling of paprika was heaven in a bite. The addition of the meyer lemon was a delightful twist on this dish and the frizze lettuce provided a nice texture in contast to the runny eggs.

For dessert, we ordered the Asian Pear Coupe pomegranate sherbet and ginger verjus granita. In theory this dessert would have been the perfect ending to my meal because it promised to be light and refreshing. Presented in a glass, the sherbet was already melting to the point of watery and the ginger granita lacked that oomph that I've come to expect from anything made from ginger. The addition of fresh pomegranate seeds and asian pear was a nice thought but did not add much to the dessert.

Before leaving Tavern, I had to check out the Larder, the more casual deli style portion of Tavern. Too stuffed to get anything substantial, I settled on a Chocolate Salted Caramel Macaron. The last macaron I had was from Bouchon Bakery in Napa Valley and I foolishly expected Tavern's macaron to hold a flame to it. Alas! I was severely let down. The cookie shell of the macaron was soft and lacked the crispy bite I was expecting. Moreover, the inside was more runny that chewy. Needless to say, I won't be going to Tavern for my macaron fix any time soon.

Details:

Tavern

11648 San Vicente Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90049

310 806 6464