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Breakfast is probably the most dismissed meal of the day, so when there is time for a proper breakfast it feels like such a luxury. Sitting down, enjoying a cup of tea, a place setting actually set, with knife and fork. Perhaps to justify the extravagance of sitting idle the morning news from NPR might be on.  Well, good morning to you. Sunny side up? This morning was sausage made by Leno from King City, and you thought the only thing going on in King City was the speed trap! Leno makes a good cocktail too, if you can find him. Also on the plate: a local araucana egg (the green one), fried with a lightly runny yolk. Tea is somewhere out of shot, but it’s there. I hope you had a good morning, too.
It’s been ages since I’ve been here for a meal. I’ll guess about six years. Back then, people loved the poached eggs and I recall having a suspiciously perfectly shaped poached egg on toast for breakfast with my friend Michael. Times have not changed, the poached eggs here are still a highlight, and they are still prepared in some kind of capsule that makes them perfectly symmetrical eggy objects containing liquid gold. I had work stuff taking place downtown all this week, and on this day there was actually time to get breakfast. After a six year hiatus, here I was. It’s not that I dislike the place. But seating is limited, my time downtown is limited, why play those odds. I ordered the French toast with poached egg. It is a single slice, cut very thick and served with butter and syrup, with the ever-popular poached egg sitting on top. Upon breaking the egg, the yolk oozes forth over the toast, making life wonderful.  French toast with poached egg.  Bam! We have golden oozy yolk. All for the low low cost of $10. Views of the post-yogied, dog-walking elite, and work-from-homers free of charge! D’Angelos Bakery Eating in with one of my favorite foods, eggs.
Poached egg and asparagus. Peacock farm eggs. Asparagus from that stall that always has asparagus and artichokes. Tamworth bacon from C’est Cheese. Heaven. Even when eaten over the sink.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! We had an all-day brunch to get to, but we weren’t sure what the food situation would be, so I made an executive decision to get food at a restaurant first. Oh yeah, Hungry Cat, baby. I’ve said this oodles of times, but I can’t help it, it’s so relevant: a friend once said to me, “What’s the difference between an ordinary breakfast and an extraordinary one?” I gave up. “About five dollars.” She’s right. My friend wasn’t nitpicking over the warmth of the bread, the kind of coffee, or whether it has shelf-stable creamer packets on the table. It just comes down to whether you’re willing to pay a little more to receive a greater payback. By that I mean quality, rather than quantity. The folks at the Hungry Cat source locally, including our farmers markets, local breweries and local wineries. Their fresh fruit cocktails are amazing, and a great deal if you hit up their happy hours. But my treat at the Hungry Cat is brunch.  Oyster crackers on the table for nibbling. I think their brunch is under appreciated. Or maybe under advertised? While people are queued up out the door at other breakfast spots, I’ve always found peace and quiet at the HC’s weekend brunch. The cooks are not under pressure; so sitting at the bar can be fun with banter, or asking questions about what they’re cooking, since the kitchen is right there practically in open space.
Doug got the “market frittata” with breakfast potatoes and toasted ciabatta. It’s not what I’ve learned is a frittata, seemed more like a scramble to me, but I’ve seen this done at other restaurants and called frittata so okay, fine. This cost $12.
Ted normally gets the classic bacon, eggs and potatoes, but this combination was not offered on the menu today. But they could be done as a la carte items from the sides menu. Two eggs for $4, breakfast potatoes for $4 and their delicious house cured bacon for $6 (I’ve seen it for sale in the past at C’est Cheese). $14 for all.
And I had the Hungry Cat Cobb Salad. It was even better than the last time I ordered it! Coming in at $16, it’s a gorgeous combination of fresh crab, shrimp, chicken, bacon, avocado, citrus, hard cooked egg and long slices of pecorino over lettuce. It is also my favorite Cobb Salad in town. The citrus is orange and grapefruit, each peeled completely of its segment skins. The bacon comes thickly diced. And the dressing on it all is light and faintly spiced with curry, giving it a subtle exotic creamy flavor rather than the strongly salty tangy flavor of a more traditional Cobb Salad that uses blue cheese. Final fact: it was a miracle we were moderately alert on this new year’s morning. The waiter accidentally spilled a glass of water while clearing the table and it went straight for Ted’s lap, yet he scooted right away, with nary of drop of icy cold water into his lap. That’s survival instincts for you. Past words: Hungry Cat I still feel that wrapping up a good evening on First Thursday is complete only by going to Square One. T had to go off for cocktails at another bar, so it was just me. Supposedly like the good old days, but this time I had some of the staff actively keeping me company. As it turns out, tonight was their five year anniversary. We all chatted at the bar while I worked on my dinner. First was a spinach salad with poached egg. I loved this spinach – it was flavorful and robust, which I don’t often see these days thanks to the mass produced baby spinach seen in common salad bags or bulk warehouse shopping. And the egg was perfect, oozing over the spinach to make a thick dressing.
Second was one of their last servings of the foie gras torchon, with crisps and quince jam. As always, rich and delicious. I wish they went back to serving soft baguette, though. There isn’t enough in the thin crisps for me.
Square One Ever since I was a kid, I kind of preferred breakfast food, like bacon, pancakes, eggs, even cereal for dinner, rather than breakfast. I know I’m not the only one. In a recent campaign to cull down the contents of my freezer, I pulled out a packet of Fresh and Easy’s pork and apple sausages (I hear this item has been discontinued?? BOOOO), and defrosted them. T shows up during a break between classes and film editing, and is hungry. What is easier to whip up than a simple all day breakfast.
Pork and apples sausages, proper British imported Heintz baked beans (they taste different than American ones), and fried eggs. Oof. This little shop has managed to retain its Brittany identity amongst the downtown gentrification (i.e. corporate mall America) and is a great hidden gem. The breakfast crowd on the weekend tends to be overwhelming, but weekdays and evenings are still a quiet time, and perfect for me. We needed breakfast, and were starting to get hangry. While the prices here are in the mid-range, the food is worth it. Lacy, crisp buckwheat crepes aren’t easy to come by, and I believe this is the only place in town that makes crepes Brittany style. It is well-advised to know a few words on French. If the owners are tending to your table, you’ll be hard pressed to get any English out of them. That’s fine. I can struggle and point, and they can nod and say “oui.” It’s all good.
We started with coffee and water. I believe it is this restaurant that got me to keep a bottle of chilled water in my fridge at all times. It’s aesthetically pleasing, and I do like a good glass of cool water handy.
Oh yum, above is the Farmer’s Delight savory breakfast crepe, with eggs, bacon, ham, blue cheese and leeks. And below is a close-up of one delicious bite of this crepe. Mmm, bacon.
These are robust, hearty crepes, and very filling. Funny enough, this morning I was thinking I wanted to eat a breakfast burrito. In the end, I kind of got one, except it was a crepe rather than a tortilla. Past words: Pacific Crepes You know you want it. A big greasy, meaty fry-up on a Sunday morning.
Fried eggs, British bacon rashers, homemade sausages, British baked beans, and grilled tomatoes. And crisp buttery toast. Aw yeah.
Somewhere in my lifetime, Culver City went from wonderbread central to awesome art house mecca. We spent the morning and most of the area in the area, visiting museums. First, breakfast and a wander of the gallery at Royal/T, home of a maid cafe that’s unique in this area but rather popular in Japan and cosplay. We had our fun in the porta party, and looked at the art and shops of “kawaiiii” anime gear, then settled in for breakfast. We had the Royal/T milk tea, a blend of black tea with rose petals, fruit and vanilla. It is steeped in soy milk and served in a pretty teapot. Also on order was a macchiato, also served up nicely in a cup and saucer with a small nibble of chocolate.
We shared the breakfast of baked eggs, with shiitake mushrooms and bacon. I love baked eggs and this dish did not disappoint. The eggs were perfectly cooked, with just a little bit of jiggle to the yolk, and the portions of mushroom and bacon were enough to serve two a small breakfast. They topped up our baguette when it wasn’t enough for dipping our eggs. For $8.50 it is as well-portioned a meal as any, plus a wonderful atmosphere amongst the art and people.
There was also a lunch and tea option, with sandwiches and cakes all piled onto a layered platter, and several people were eating this with nervous delight. But we were very happy with our breakfast. Royal/T Breakfast at Renaud’s is always excellent. The friends who’ve been here are won over and become regular customers. The other friends, who’ve not yet been, I look forward to indoctrinating. This was one such morning, and not only was I pleased with breakfast, but I loved the photo I got of an honest plate of bacon, eggs, potatoes and toast.
Oooh dear, so simple and so good. It cost about $9, a small price to pay for a plate of breakfast heaven.
And here are three of my other favorites. A plain croissant, a chocolate macaroon, and an almond croissant. If these were all that Renaud’s served, I’d still be happy. Past entries: Renaud’s |
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