Hellooooo, Monday... I am so glad to see you! I know, I know. It's the exact opposite of how I usually feel about Mondays, but this Monday is special. This Monday officially signals the start of SPRING BREAK! Woo-hoo! For those of you who don't work in academia, let me assure you that professors get just as excited about spring break as the students do (except rather than sunning ourselves on some sparkly beach, we usually end up using the week to catch up on mounds of grading). Along with tackling my imposing grading pile, I'm also spending a few days with some awesome students who decided to participate in our school's alternative spring break trip, meeting up with a few friends for some much needed girl time, and catching up on a few of my recent foodie adventures (finally!).
As has been well-documented on this blog, I am slightly obsessed with brunch. Okay, really, I'm more than slightly obsessed... I live for a good weekend brunch! Not only is it the perfect weekend indulgence (and a nice break from my normal on the go protein shake breakfast), but also I love the laid back pace of the meal. Plus, there's the day drinking - really, who *doesn't* love a meal in which day drinking is not only acceptable but also highly encouraged?!
Public House invited a group of Chicago Food Bloggers to stop by and check out their recently revamped sweet & savory brunch menu. Of course, as a bona fide bunch fiend, I jumped at the opportunity to sample some of their goods. To be quite honest, Public House was not previously on my brunch radar - I had been to the popular gastropub before for burgers, beer and cheese curds, but somehow didn't realize that they also serve my favorite meal of the day. I can officially say that I am now a believer. Public House has everything every brunch lover would want - a relaxed atmosphere, a variety of both traditional and creative dishes, and of course, plenty of liquor. ;-)
Breakfast Sandwich: toasted sourdough boule with scrambled eggs, pork sausage, American cheese, arugula, tomato, and shaved red onion. This was some of the best sausage I've had in a long time (fresh, flavorful & the perfect amount of heat); I was also impressed to learn that all of their meats are made in-house.
Crab Cake Benedict: jumbo lump crab cakes, garlic spinach, poached eggs, and hollandaise. This was definitely a standout dish for me - the crab cakes were crispy on the outside/buttery smooth on the inside and had a wonderful bite (again, the ideal amount of heat and spices). Plus, they served them in the most adorable personal cast iron skillets (and as we all know, miniaturized versions = extra cuteness).
Chicken and Waffles: southern fried chicken, caramelized waffles, hot sauce, and maple syrup. As I've mentioned before, I don't get chicken and waffles concept. I like chicken and I like waffles, but there's something about the combination that just doesn't make sense to me. Despite my confusion/anti-c&w stance, even I can admit that this was a delicious dish, thanks to the crispy & juicy chicken, sweet waffles, and robust hot sauce.
Doughnut Fried French Toast with a cream cheese glaze, seasonal market jam, and fresh fruit. Is there really anything more that needs to be said about this? ;-)
Sticky Cinnamon Bun with toasted pecans and vanilla butter cream. This was the second standout dish for me - it was equal parts gooey, crunchy, sweet, and melt in your mouth delicious! While I wouldn't order this as my main entrée, it is the perfect center of the table/share with a friend indulgence.
Sticky Cinnamon Bun, Doughnut Fried French Toast & Maple Bacon: the trifecta of brunch awesomeness!
Parfait Pint: granola (made in-house), vanilla Greek yogurt, and fresh berries. As someone who's usually not a huge fan of Greek yogurt (it's a bit too tart for me), I was surprised by how much I loved this parfait. The granola was satisfyingly crunchy, the yogurt was smooth & not overly tart, and the berries added a nice touch of sweetness.
That cinnamon bun looks delicious!! I need to come to Chicago!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to have missed this-- crab cakes are my fave!
ReplyDeleteStarr, I love your foodie blog and your candid clever writing.
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