Brunch Archives - Page 2 of 3

Brunch at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern

November 26, 2016 By AJ Leave a Comment

Even a mall chain restaurant can turn out to be a brunch gem.

Brunch at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern was a total win. From the Diet Pepsi with a side of more Diet Pepsi, all the way to the incredible “Totchos.” It’s not really fancy or in a trendy part of town; set in Woodland Hills on the first floor of the newish outdoor Westfield Village Mall. It’s not intimate — it’s basically a nicer, oversized sports bar — but it’s comfortable. And you’re not going to find kale, quinoa or cold pressed juices here, but that’s fine with me. (They do find ways to be healthy, though. Read on.)

You’re seeing the traditional “Totchos” here. You can also opt for the white truffle and parmesan tots. For my meal, I went with a breakfast flatbread that was unbelievable with applewood smoked bacon, sausage, eggs, Fontina cheese, potatoes and chives.

Jimmy’s flavors are at maximum, putting their own spin on American classics — an ‘Artisanal’ point of view with everything prepared by hand in small batches with high-quality, fresh ingredients. The result is elevated pub food that will have you – like it had me – passing your fork around the table for a bite of everything. There are also more subtle touches I didn’t identify right away — like their use of sustainable non-food products, like recycled paper, energy efficient appliances, and their composting practices.

One fork pass to the right got me a nibble of “The ‘Bubba,” a biscuit filled with fried chicken, cheddar, bacon, sausage gravy and an egg.

I noticed what was on the menu above this by the way: Buttermilk fried chicken and malted ale waffles with thyme gravy, applewood smoked bacon and maple syrup. You’ll certainly find more traditional choices like a Denver Omelette or Benedict. They are even inclusive of lunch options with salads, burgers and the like making appearances. I suspect this is the kind of place where anything you order will just taste amazing. Scope out the entire Brunch menu here.

Oh yes, they do Bottomless Mimosas for $15. But my money’s on their Bloody Mary choices. The “Famous Mary” with Absolut Peppar, Blue Cheese Olive, Pepperoni, Jack Cheese, Pepperoncini and a Ballast Point Longfin Lager Chaser or the “Meal Mary” with Absolut Peppar, Bacon, Blue Cheese Olive, Chilled Shrimp, Pepperoni, Jack Cheese, Pepperoncini & a Jalapeño Bedeviled Egg. They are $12 and $15 respectively and that’s when you should be especially thankful to be in Woodland Hills; in Beverly Hills, those drinks would be $25.

I’m so happy we walked into Jimmy’s and took a chance. Again, I declare Brunch at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern a total win. I can’t wait to go back for more!

Brunch at Hyperion Public in Studio City

October 7, 2016 By AJ 1 Comment

Brunch at Hyperion Public in Studio City is a welcome addition to the Eastside of the San Fernando Valley!

The building at 12969 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City has seen a few “rebirths” over the last few years. When I worked down the street from it, many years ago, it was kind of the place you went for business lunches with passable eats. Later, it was a pub with passable pub fare and loudness.

I am glad that something classy has finally turned the space around and I hope Hyperion Public stays in the hood for a long time! The brunch I had was wonderful.

Brunch at Hyperion Public in Studio City

Photo co. of Acuna-Hansen

We happened to be there for “Pancake Mayhem” which was both good and bad. Good because, well, DELICIOUS. Bad because, well, DECISIONS.

But you’d better believe that “Camp Counselor” made it’s way to our table. And even though I had to skip the nutella (allergies, y’all), it really ranked right up there as some of the best pancakes I’ve ever had. No joke. The pancakes themselves were soft and delicious but a little crispy around the edges, which was a nice touch that added texture. And while the toppings were obviously decadent, they weren’t piled on the dish in massive heaps so I never felt like I was heading to sugar coma-land, and that was much appreciated because I had more food to try!

Not too much chocolate, not too much anything — everything as it should be and perfect.

My friend and I shared the pancakes but we also wanted to sample some egg dishes. So we had the savory Chilaquiles — over easy eggs, black bean puree, pickled vegetables, queso fresco, sour cream and, of course, fresh corn tortilla chips. And also the rich Croque Madame — grilled rustic bread with dijon aioli, swiss cheese, black forest ham, thyme-pecorino mornay and two sunny-side up eggs.

If those photos make you wanna lick the screen, I wouldn’t blame you. I took them with my friend’s new iPhone 7. That camera is a food blogger’s best friend, I tell you. Of course, it helps that the food actually was that good.

Hot tip: Hyperion Public’s special sauce is worth the ask, daytime or nighttime. Get the “OMG Sauce.” Try subbing out your breakfast potatoes for fries and dip ’em. I’m also a big, big fan of their pretzel and dip appetizer. They make a GOOD pretzel, y’all.

The valley definitely has some good Brunch spots within it’s boundaries but the east end has been lacking in superstars lately. Hyperion Public is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and i look forward to returning many more times. Perhaps the next trip will be with a group as they have a great setup for that (something else also hard to find)!

Photo co. of Acuna-Hansen

Oh hey, did I mention a GREAT Bloody Mary and BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS?

So? Who’s coming with me?

Disclosure: This meal was hosted. The opinions are hosted in my own noggin’, though. You’re welcome.

To Au Fudge or Not to Au Fudge?

September 6, 2016 By AJ Leave a Comment

To Au Fudge or Not to Au Fudge? That is the question.

In the far and distant fairy tale land of West Hollywood lies a charming haven where the chic and hip can go for cocktails and childcare.

Au Fudge, founded by actress Jessica Biel, is a restaurant that presumably caters to children as well as adults. You enter through a rustic, country gift shop that also sells baked goods. To your left you’ll find a sunny patio with striped umbrellas and plaid throw pillows. Beyond, a delightful cafe setting adorned with pastels and rustic, art deco-inspired decor as well as tchotchkes to remind you that you are in a kid-friendly place. The hub of the restaurant is a pretty large “daycare.” They actually call it the “creative space.” It is enclosed, filled with craft tables, toys, and staffed. It is available for parents to drop their kids into at a pretty affordable rate ($15 for two hours) so they can dine…. in peace?

The thing is, plenty of people still bring their children into the Au Fudge restaurant as well, and that’s fine. Nothing about this place says “no” in any way, shape or form. In fact, Au Fudge basically screams out “AS YOU WISH” at every turn. Everyone is smiling and extremely accommodating. They have anticipated every parent need. There are crayons on the table, more things to play with, and even the cocktails look like they’re kid-friendly in this space. And there is certainly a kids menu although I think I paid like $14 for the grilled cheese sticks that were good. But only good.

For brunch I had a French Omelette that was truly delicious. It was light and fluffy and decadent.

The service was good; I’ll give them that. And it’s not a bad place by any means. So, to Au Fudge or not to Au Fudge? I don’t know. Maybe. If I was meeting up with friends with kids and was in an especially patient mood. Or if I was itching to have brunch outside and I was in that area. But then again, there are plenty of other appealing Brunch options in that area like Taste On Melrose that I’d sooner visit. I don’t mind sharing my table with babies and kids, but I think in the end, I see no shame in admitting that I do mind sharing space with dozens of them.

Critical pro-tip: This place gets CROWDED and on the narrow part of Melrose where it sits, that is bad news. The valet is over-burdened and often backed up. Not to mention a bit pricey. Have patience, have cash, or park somewhere else and walk over!

Don’t forget! If you love brunch as much as I do — or hell, even half as much as I do, you’ll want to put your email address into the newsletter subscription box in the top right corner! A new blast is coming soon!

What’s In My Pocket Friday

August 12, 2016 By AJ Leave a Comment

Best of the web

Greetings, everybody! I went to two conventions and on one vacation in just the last week so I am a tired, tired lady, but I am also really excited about my next trip — this coming Wednesday! August is insane. Work is insane. I AM INSANE. 😉 But anyway, I had a moment of clarity and suddenly felt twitchy to get a blog post up. And here is the “Best of the Web” I’ve saved in my “pocket” throughout the madness:

OH MY WORD THE OLYMPICS. Why am I crying so much this year?
- Every time there’s an Olympics, I put together a moving photo tribute. Check it out.
- Just going on record to say that even though I love the games, NBC’s coverage just blows. Get yer shit together, NBC.
- Gold Medal gymnast Simone Biles has a life-sized Zac Efron cut-out. I am jealous.
- This new Under Armour commercial with Michael Phelps gives me ALL THE FEELS! (For added fun, check out the video of his and his fiancee’s reaction to seeing it for the first time.)

The wicked geniuses at Cards Against Humanity are selling special expansion packs. One for Hillary, one for Donald. All proceeds go to Clinton’s campaign so I do not care which one you buy.
LAist published a list of the best brunch patios in Los Angeles and it’s a FANTASTIC list. It includes my most favorite brunch spot (Cliff’s Edge) and the one I am currently the most eager to try (Terrine).

I saw “Suicide Squad” and it’s legitimately one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. There is about an hour of exposition, we get backstory on some characters and not others, the plot is terribly constructed, the climax is not even that climactic, some of the acting is terrible, and so on from there. The Hollywood Picture News touched on it.
Social Media Club’s August event is going to be a lot of fun! We’re having a debate between in-house, freelance and agency positions. Whose team will you side with? Register here.

Earlier This Week….

I wrote a post about some new brunches I love.
I recapped BlogHer 2016, which both sucked and didn’t suck.
My family lived in a “Manor” and it was awesome. And now I need a vacation to recover from my vacation.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amanda J Feuerman (@ajfeuerman)

Southern Brunch at Barrel and Ashes Studio City

May 16, 2016 By AJ 1 Comment

I named Barrel and Ashes, Studio City, one of my favorite brunch spots after my first visit to the BBQ joint. The BBQ there is good, mind you, but not the best I’ve ever had and it’s really their brunch I prefer. And why not? Tim Hollingsworth, the chef there, brings the cred, having previously spent a dozen years working for Thomas Keller at the French Laundry and among many other credits, also has three Michelin stars to his name.

The space used to be a somewhat fancy restaurant (which I liked very much, for the record) with dim lighting and white linen tablecloths but now has been stripped down and redesigned to radiate Southern charm.

You can order their BBQ at brunch and there are a bevvy of hand crafted cocktails — they make a decent Bloody Mary — and you’ll even find traditional sweet tea there. But it’s really all about the unique food menu items.

Today someone said to me “Whatever, I can make Frito Pie at home.” And I replied “But you don’t and I certainly can’t.” It is delicious trailer-trash cuisine. Chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream, onions, peppers served in the finest of vessels….

There is also a list of biscuit sandwiches on the menu. The simplest with just jam or the more decadent with sausage and gravy. There is also a pork biscuit but my money’s on the fried chicken and honey butter.

I’m also a humongous fan of their pork benedict and smoked salmon benedict (IT’S SO GOOD). Their Huevos Rancheors ranks up there because I love anything with Cotija cheese on it.

I’ve saved the best for last, though. There are four kinds of HOE CAKES on their brunch menu. One with bananas and chocolate and caramel that is either meant for dessert or the indulgent (no judgement from me) and two that are breakfasty with eggs, bacon and the like involved. All good choices, I say, but you’ll be just fine with the basis hoe cake. Of course, there’s nothing basic about it and I recommend ordering one to share with the whole table. One would satisfy three to four people and you can always order another.

What is hoe cake? Imagine a cornbread patty in sizzling butter, topped with green onions, served bubbling in a hot, hot skillet. They’re not proprietary about it — the LA Times even has the recipe — but I don’t think anyone can touch it.

Aside from the setting and food, two more key elements about B&A I must mention. They are open for brunch at 9:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. This is smart in a town that loves brunch but where most places don’t open til 11:00. And they also take reservations. Which is great because I’m a snob and I hate going to restaurants that don’t take reservations. Yup, I said that out loud.

P.S. (Sit in Clay’s section!)

Take Me To Church – A Holy Brunch Experience

April 29, 2016 By AJ 2 Comments

And so it was written (like, actually written on their website): “Every moment at The Church Key is an interactive experience. From our inventive menu with dim-sum style service, to canned and frozen cocktails, flaming desserts and even the server attire, we strive to constantly push the restaurant envelope. Chic enough for a celebratory evening yet approachable enough to be your neighborhood go-to, overall, we just want you to have fun and eat well.”

There you have it. A perfect summation. I absolutely love The Church Key. I’ve enjoyed a couple of fancy Hollywood events there and recently had the pleasure of trying their brunch. It was actually the first time I’d seen the place in daylight and it’s just so damned fabulous, I was glad to get in before it got crowded for quality Instagram opportunities. Because priorities.

As if it didn’t look so chic in wide view, there are also lots of unique, vintage touches that I absolutely love, too, when you start to really look. Be sure to walk around!

How badly do you want one of those airline drink carts for your home right now?

Probably almost as badly as you want something off this menu….

Their brunch menu offers more than just breakfast-like fare. You could have a burger or salad as easily as an egg dish, which is great. I know not everyone likes breakfast food. (But for reals, who are you and what’s your deal?) They also have bottomless mimosas — practically a brunch menu requirement here in Los Angeles, even though I don’t personally need it; I prefer a good Bloody Mary or even just tea. But if you want it, it’s there to give you life at $15. They also have a St. Germaine and champagne carafe for four for $25 that is probably pretty damned tasty.

We were a group of eight so we were able to try a lot of menu! Nothing really disappointed but I would say the “Gratin” fries were a little misleading. We ordered them to share and instead of “fries” we got this VERY fried few chunks of potato. It was a good bite but so buttery, I couldn’t imagine eating much more of it.

Can you see how it’s like thin, thin layers of potato refried together? Very unique but I’m pretty easy to please when it comes to potatoes. I also thought “gratin” meant creamy or cheesy.

But the main courses were all decadent, delicious works of art. In particular, to my left, some French Toast that was very nearly stolen. By me.

Those are dollops of sweetened whipped cream. In the cup? Strawberry syrup. DIVINE. It was DENSE toast and impossible to finish.

I ordered “Toad in the Hole” and basically had no idea what to expect. And then this:

I mean, COME ON. That’s just a big chunk of bread hollowed out and filled with gruyere, eggs and smoked bacon.

I regret nothing.

To conclude I would offer these tips:

Take an Uber. Not just so you can drink but because their valet seemed rather untrustworthy to me. What can I say? I function strongly off “vibes.” Also, valet parking in WeHo is never cheap.
It’s great for big groups. They have a lot of space. On a beautiful day, they open up the front and it’s l ike eating on a lovely patio.
Go for dinner, too. It’s equally as decadent and delicious. Also, the popcorn, believe it or not, is to die for. You’re just going to have to trust me on this and know I don’t even like popcorn that much.
Also, Monday nights they offer a fried chicken special.
Oh! And —- well, just go there. Okay? Just go.

For all the details, here’s their website.

Don’t forget! If you love brunch as much as I do — or hell, even half as much as I do, you’ll want to put your email address into the newsletter subscription box in the top right corner!

Very Exciting (BRUNCH) News!

March 3, 2016 By AJ 1 Comment

AJ’s Hollywood Brunch Comes to Town

As many of you know (and if not, it’s in the website’s tagline up yonder), I am a fanatical lover of the brunch. My reputation for this has grown and now, truly, not a week goes by that someone doesn’t ask me for a brunch recommendation.

So while I don’t have time (yet!) to dedicate an entire website to the brunch life, I decided a monthly newsletter with an occasional ad-hoc edition would suffice for now. And thus, “AJ’s Hollywood Brunch,” my new e-newsletter is born.

Once a month, expect me to update you on my new brunch-related adventures, new openings, events, places I’ve loved in the past and would recommend, as well as links to other foodies on the web! I will be sure to include content exclusive to the newsletter every now and then so that you’ll find a benefit to your subscription; I promise, and it will be a living, breathing project, ever evolving – I am so excited!

It will definitely be Los Angeles-centric but I’ve certainly had brunch in other towns and hope to add some of those experiences in as well.

Help me spread the word! Please tell a friend. You will always be able to subscribe on this site in my sidebar, or if you’d like to subscribe right away, you can do so here:

Brunch at Market Provisions

March 2, 2016 By AJ 2 Comments

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.

Sangers And Joe in Pasadena

February 9, 2016 By AJ Leave a Comment

So what’s a “Sanger?” Well in Australia, it appears to be slang for sandwich, so I’m going with that.

I don’t frequent Pasadena enough, which is a shame because it’s not a bad drive from my home and it’s a rather charming city that hosts a wide array of restaurants. I am particularly fond of Old Town Pasadena, and not just because my favorite frozen yogurt shop is there.

At the end of last year, I discovered a lovely cafe in Old Town called Sangers & Joe. They opened their doors in October, serving up coffee, tea, pastries and delectable breakfast and lunch plates from award-winning Chef Claudio Dell’Anno. In November they added a weekend brunch menu from Chef Rouha Sadighi (The Rooster Breakfast Food Truck, Cutthroat Kitchen winner) with tasty scrambles, benedicts and crepes alongside some of Chef Sadighi’s signature specialties.

Rounding out this new menu are five classic brunch dishes, including a classic eggs benedict and, keeping the “sandwich” in Sanger, the “Breakfast Sanger” — an open-faced ciabatta bread delight topped with scrambled eggs, gouda and bacon. You cannot go wrong with the eggs benedict. I loved that the ham was sliced thin and it made the dish easier to cut into. Their hollandaise sauce is perfection. I enjoyed the Breakfast Sanger but I did feel like the bread could have been heavier — it was a little too flaky for my liking.

But surprisingly, my favorite thing we shared was the avocado toast. Made quite simply with a squeeze of lime over it, it was unbelievably good. You can add a poached egg to it if you like to make it more breakfasty, but it was really delicious as is and when I go back, that’s what I’m having.

And I’ll probably have it with a Chai Tea Latte because it was equally good. They have a massive coffee and tea selection but this is always my go-to to test the “waters.” It was lovely.

The place is really lovely, adjoined to a terrific, independent shop filled with unique vintage furniture items and home trinkets, perfectly positioned for you to take a stroll after you’ve eaten, with convenient street and public parking all around.

A fun touch? A community library! I was tempted to borrow something but I’ve got a stack of books to read already…. I will definitely bring some to donate next time I go, though.

For more information, including the entire, wonderful menu, visit their website.

Bella Julia Cooks With Love

December 23, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

If you’re any kind of foodie, you’ve probably heard how food cooked with love tastes better – yes? Well on a side-street in Hollywood, Chef Chaza Smith is cooking up a STORM of love at Bella Julia and it radiates out of the food as much as it does out of her very being when she greets you or tells you a little about herself. She is positively charming and has a joyous spirit — I was (obviously) really taken with her. In her kitchen she combines Italian and French influences to conjure up delicious, fresh and unique plates with seasonal ingredients that are sustainably grown and non-GMO.

But enough about my new girl-crush. I guess I ought to tell you about the food, yes?

My friend and I shared two dishes. My favorite was the Biscuit du Jour – a flakey biscuit, fried egg, cheddar, crispy bacon, arugula and roasted onion aioli. I only ordered it because the waiter said it was “wonderful savory heaven on a plate” and it turns out the man speaks the truth. It was so, so good – I immediately announced to no one in particular that I could eat it for every meal.

My other favorite (see what I did there?) was the Lemon Basil Pancake. We chose that because it just sounded so unusual! Served with scrambled eggs, Roma tomatoes, creamy rosemary butter and a perfect syrup (sweet, but not too sweet), it was definitely unusual but also shockingly good. While I may live with the regret of not trying the Brioche French Toast, I’m quite happy I took a chance on this menu item.

We also had a side of bacon. Because no brunch is complete without it. Rest assured it did not disappoint either.

While brunch is always my favorite meal, I do feel a little remorse because I so very much wanted to try more items off of Bella Julia’s menu. But oh well! I guess I’ll have to return soon! Luckily, Chef Chaza found a sweet way to treat me — when she saw me eyeing a neighboring table’s order of chicken wings, she brought us a sample! Not your typical wings, by the way — I don’t know how she fries them but OMG. And crusted with parmesan, I tell you. DELICIOUS. Not your typical dessert but it was a perfect ending to the meal.

As I began this post gushing with love for the Chef, let me just close by showing you this. The tattoo on her arm of a lemon, because it’s symbol to her of freshness and flavor and, in essence, life. She smiled as she told me about it. And so I left the restaurant full… and smiling as well.

Bella Julia is located at 6363 Yucca St. in Hollywood and not to worry, there is a ton of street parking available in the area.