When a friend asked me if I was interested in joining her monthly brunch club I thought about it for a millisecond before shouting YES and doing a little jig.
On Sunday, a small group of us met up a Market Provisions, which just opened in December. Formerly Cooks County, the ownership is the same and the ambience is more casual. There’s a surprising amount of outdoor seating for being a sidewalk cafe, and it’s not bad for people watching on Beverly Blvd. But I’m a vampire and was relieved they sat our group indoors. It’s open, earthy and airy inside, accessorized on shelves with vintage kitchen trinkets like hand mixers, corkscrews and some kind of axe-looking thing we decided must have been a meat smasher thing in the sixties — because when you get a bunch of non-cooks together, that’s what you name things.
Presentation is everything and I loved my little red teapot.
Their menu makes it very hard to choose. I love that they have appetizers — their “small plates.” You could start off with a cup of greek yogurt or a croissant and some jam. It seemed rather delightful except I knew what I wanted for the main course — a rather rich dish. I skipped the small plates.
The “MP Benny” is prosciutto, burrata, two poached eggs and a spicy hollandaise sauce over a piece of thick, rustic sourdough bread.
A couple things: YES, it is every bit as delicious as it sounds. NO, it is not really spicy. I don’t even know why they say that it is. I am the biggest wimp around but let myself believe the waitress who assured me I could take it. Thank goodness she was right.
It was hard not to eyeball some of the other plates on the table.
The Market Scramble with mustard greens, roasted broccoli and truffled cheddar. AKA “I’ll try anything with the word TRUFFLE” in it:
This is called “Eggs in Purgatory” but nothing about this implies suffering to me. Creamy polenta, spicy tomato-roasted pepper sauce, poached eggs and parmesan cheese:
Another fantastic brunch find. Kudos to the Brunch Club.
P.S. Oh yeah — $5, all-you-can drink Mimosas. Get it.
Y.U.M. you had me with the burrata and prosciutto. I mean holy smokes I want all those dishes in my belly like STAT! Adding this to my brunch spots with the girls. Thanks!
You’re quite welcome!