BRUNCH

Happy New Year! 

I wish everyone a great 2009 filled with new culinary adventures as well as discoveries of old classics. 

I was thinking back to times when I was most happiest with my friends. I recall Brunch moments. i have three memories that I'm going to share with you all. 

1. classic cafe Laurent. as in previous blogs, this is one of my favorite places to eat. regardless of what others think, this is one of my favorite places to eat brunch alone. on Sundays they have a live jazz band or musician playing very cute music to eat along with. my favorite thing to get at cafe Laurent (any time that I'm not there for lunch) is definitely the eggs Benedict. there is something about good hollandaise on perfect poached eggs that make me smile. and its served with scalloped potatoes. and of course you have to get the outside seating. going to brunch after a night out with your friends is so nice to treat a hang over.. then a nice walk on the beach is the perfect Sunday. 

2. this is for those who love to keep drinking.. in calabasas, ca. there is a Mexican brunch place called la paz. they include margaritas or mimosas with your brunch and its buffet style. outside seating of course, but the topper is the Mariachi band. there is a wide wide selection of food for you. i went with a group of my friends about 15 of us, everyone drinking eating and laughing. we had a blast seeing who could drink the most and eat the most, lots of gluttony *no judging. we all moved the party back to my friend's house for a poolside BBQ party, keep Sunday a  day of relaxation and good times with friends. 

3. my friend segal loves to cook, we often make lots of great BBQ meals together for all our friends and his business associates. one year we did brunch to help him get rid of the Dom p and the Cristal bottles of champagne he had laying around. so we had a massive brunch for 15 people, pretty much impromptu *like most great parties are. we made some pork chop steaks, waffles, omelets, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, mimosas, coffee and i think there might have been some fruit smoothies.. there was a lot of food and of course everyone came hungry and we put away all that food. it was a great time. 

i was inspired by a show "how i met your mother" when they talked about brunch. i love brunch just like the characters in the show. and i decided to think about all the great brunches i've had. of course there are many places out there that serve amazing brunch, but the point of the meal is that it makes people happy. either helping out the previous' night consumption of alcohol or starting a nice lazy Sunday afternoon, the brunch meal is always a good time for all who participate. so i hope this year everyone goes out with their friends and family for some good brunch.