All posts tagged with: Brunch

Absinthe, also known as The Green Fairy, is made from botanicals, including the distinctive green anise, sweet fennel, and the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium. Traditionally Absinthe is green in colour from the anise, but it’s not unusual to come across colourless varieties of the spirit, depending on the producer.

“My favourite new cocktail is made with champagne and absinthe,” says gay porn star, Dominic Pacificio.

“[Absinthe] is now legal in the United States,” Dominic explained. The United States, along with many parts of Europe banned the spirit, making it illegal to produce or distribute. By the 1990’s, the high alcohol by volume (ABV), spirit, started to see a return to the market as laws were updated and bans were lifted. Today, over 200 brands product Absinthe around the world.

Death in the Afternoon (also known as Hemingway Champagne), has become one of Dominic’s favourite new cocktails.

“It’s a great new beverage to experience,” Dominic said. “It’s not just about the alcohol; it’s about the effervescence. It’s about the kind of hypnosis it puts you under, if you will. It’s definitely an exotic drink and it’s an acquired taste, and it’s really good.”

Whethre you’re relaxing by the pool in the afternoon, or hanging out with friends at brunch, this cocktail makes a great alternative to the traditional mimosa.

“It’s a really cool drink to have on it’s own, or after dinner,” Dominic added.

• 1 oz Absinthe
• Champagne

Place a sugar cube in the bottom of a champagne flute, and add a few dashes of bitters. Add absinthe and then top with a quality ice-chilled champagne.

Have you tried eggs benny served on cornmeal bread instead of an English muffin? How about fried chicken and waffles with butterscotch syrup? At Sugarbowl in Edmonton, Alberta, they do the traditional, but with their own, unique flare.

Sugarbowl is one of the most highly sought after brunch locations in the city. The four-page brunch menu is ¾ of a page of meal choices, followed by three full pages of beer and wine selections. The limited menu means that the kitchen turn-around times are quick and the food is always fresh.

The best well-known for their large cinnamon buns, but be warned, they are served with butter, not with cream cheese icing. They have all the traditional brunch favourites like eggs benny (mentioned above), waffles, and omelets, along with other less traditional, but still mouth-watering items including bison bratwurst and fried chicken and waffles (mentioned above). Each menu item is served with it’s own twist, so don’t go expecting what you’d get at just any old brunch-serving eatery. It’s fun!

Located just a few minutes drive from downtown Edmonton, near the University of Alberta, Having been around since the 1940’s, it was reopened as a coffee shop and turned into a hopping modern comfort restaurant.

Open daily from 8am until at least midnight, it is well-worth stopping by. They are located at 10922 88 Avenue in Edmonton, Alberta.

Food Quality: ★★★★

Originality: ★★★★★

Customer Service: ★★★

Atmosphere: ★★★

Beverage Selection: ★★★★

Price / Value: ★★★★

Overall: ★★★★

One of the most popular locations for bunch in Dallas, Texas is Lucky’s Cafe. The retro diner is well-known for serving up fresh, homemade fare, friendly service and all at a great price.

Located at 3531 Oak Lawn, the quaint diner offers all the traditional American fare options, from eggs benny’s with hashbrowns, to hamburgers, onion rings and milkshakes. It’s all made to order.

One of their most popular brunch options, and local favourites, is the fried chicken and waffles. It’s served with white peppery gravy for chicken dipping and maple syrup to pour on over the hot waffles.

The iconic location was even labeled as a “must-see” by the popular Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue, noting their perfect pancakes and awesome omelets.

Supporting the local LGBT community is important to the staff and owners of Lucky’s Cafe. For a donation of $30 or more, guests can leave a personalized message on the diner wall. Many of the messages are in memory of friends or family who have passed away from HIV/AIDS. Proceeds go to support rights equality and programs for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Just steps from Yaletown’s boutique shopping and Granville Street’s entertainment zone is Subeez Cafe Restaurant Bar. It’s a favourite meeting spot for lunch and a great environment for dinner with a group of friends.

Each evening candles are lit in the ornate candelabra’s. The wax drips to the floor creating beautiful natural sculptures. Over time the wax has been collected and has been repurposed into other wax creations by local sculptures.

It is rare that there is not a time that there is a live DJ spinning or a band performing. It’s what makes for a fun and lively environment.

They have a great brunch menu – bacon and eggs, eggs benedict, fresh fruit, granola and yogurt, and French toast. If you need a good kick of caffeine, they serve traditional Italian espresso coffee too!

What a great way to start off the Sunday of Vancouver Pride… with a Pride Brunch cocktail! It’s the orange juice for adults.

• 1.5 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Grand Marnier
• 2 0z Orange Juice
• 2 0z Cranberry Juice

Pour all ingredients into a highball glass filled with ice. Stir.

Every Sunday, as if by clockwork, Vancouverites head to their favourite brunch spots with their group of friends to catch up on the weeks events and the tales from Saturday nights adventures out on the town. This Sunday, April 29, mix it up a bit. Executive Chef Brad Hendrickson at Ensemble Tap Restaurant will host a brunch party fundraiser to support Vancouver’s queer community resource centre, Qmunity.

Chef Hendrickson’s brunch menu includes a choice of three signature brunch entrees, fresh-squeezed Momosa, and coffee. Entertainment will include the Burlesque Beauties Drag Queens.

Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online.  There are only 130 tickets available. 25% of event proceeds plus $1 per drink special sold tickets will go to Qmunity.

It’s spring. Time to enjoy a relaxing brunch with friends on the patio overlooking False Creek. Delicious fare, inviting atmosphere and friendly staff await at Provence Marinaside in downtown Vancouver.

Authentic French cuisine is on the menu – from a basket of fresh baked goods, fruit crepes and French toast, to baked eggs Florentine and baguette Panini’s  – there are lots of fresh options. And what would brunch be without a mimosa and fresh coffee.

Provence is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea service is also available with 24 hours notice. For a romantic evening, picnic baskets can be arranged.

Provence Marinaside is located at the foot of Davie at 1177 Marinaside Crescent. Reservations can be made by calling 604.681.4144.

Add a little excitement to your New Year! A great way to start off brunch this New Year’s Day.

• 1 oz tangerine juice
• 1 oz triple sec
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• Champagne

The best creole fine dining awaits at Arnauds Restaurant in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Guests will be delighted with the fresh shrimp, crab cakes, turtle soup and praline crepes served up in authentic Louisiana style.

Founded in 1918 by French wine salesman, Arnaud Cazenave, the restaurant prides itself on delivering high quality dining with outstanding customer service.

The restaurant has a main dining area, private dining rooms, French bar and is also home to the Mardi Gras Museum.

Every Sunday there is a four-course “prix fixe” brunch with authentic live Dixieland jazz music.

Arnauds is located at 813 Rue Bienville (Bienville Street), just off the historic Bourbon Street.

Overall Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)

From November 14-20, 2011, Vancouver’s beer and scotch community will come alive for the 15^th annual Hopscotch Festival. The focal event is the Grand Tasting Hall sold out within the first 90 minutes of tickets going on sale, however, there are still tickets available for many of the other 27 events throughout the week including whisky pairing dinners, master classes and the much anticipated Sunday Morning Brunch.

The Junior Culinary Team of Canada will prepare the two-hour long Sunday Brunch feast. The team has won first place for the Americas over the past two years and will go on to compete in Torino, Italy on December 4, 2011, for the world competition title. Proceeds from the Sunday Brunch will go towards sending the Canadian team to Italy for the competition. There will be eight action stations sampling their culinary creations.

Attendees for this event are in for a special treat. The whiskies to be sampled at the Sunday Brunch event are all from a private cask, some of which are from a production of only 700 bottles. The six single malts include Craigellachie 8 year old sherry cask, Bunnahabhain 9 year old sherry cask, Clynelish 12 year old, Glendullan 12 year old port finish and Tombermory 16 year old.

The Sunday Brunch is hosted by Master Chef and Scotch expert, Marcus VanAlbrecht.

The Hopscotch Festival is Canada’s biggest combined whiskey and premium beer festival attracting over 5,000 attendees each year. The festival also includes premium tequila, vodka, rum, gin and other spirits. Tickets are available from The Hopscotch Festival website.