I’ve Moved!

I’ve dropped the wordpress.com in the URL and you can now find me at brunchandthecity.com!  Please update your RSS feeds or email subscriptions, as this site will no longer be updated.

So yeah, I’ve been slacking on the reviews here lately due to some busy projects at work and at TheHillisHome.com.  But in my spare time I have been working on some new header banners, and building out new brunch guide lists (by neighborhood, Saturday vs Sunday, etc), so I think it’s all worth it.  They aren’t ready to be published quite yet but they are coming!  Take a look — I hope you like it!

Tune in on Monday: WETA Special on Breakfast in Washington

WETA, our local public television station, put together a documentary on breakfasts in the Washington area featuring “power breakfasts” for everyone from policy makers to the rest of us.  The special, which will air this Monday at 9pm, includes a number of great brunch spots, as well as numerous places that serve weekday breakfast — because this is the kind of city where people like to have meetings over an order of eggs and bacon.

I immediately recognized most of the places featured, but there were a few restaurant I have never heard of, such as MGM Roast Beef on Brentwood Road, which has been around for 20 years.  I’ve driven past this place more times than I can count but never thought to stop; had I known about their breakfast, I would come in have long ago.

brunch at The Source

image uploaded by andrew.deci on Flickr

I was recently invited to The Source to try out their new-ish Saturday brunch; this had been on my list since they announced the new offering this summer, but travels and busy weekend schedules had prevented me from getting there until now.  So I was obviously very excited to get the invitation on a weekend I was in town and without brunch plans.  To ensure that we got a bit of everything they have to offer, the chef sent a sampling of several items before our entrees came, so I left very full but excited for a return trip.  I will do my best to summarize everything, but keep in mind that the menu is regularly changed to highlight seasonal foods and new items that the chef is experimenting with.

brunch at Farmers & Fishers

Sometimes brunch is more about the company and atmosphere than it is about the food and restaurant.  I have had plenty of brunches that, if only judged on food, would not be much to write about.  But some places, even when the food isn’t the most amazing, are worth recommending.

I met a friend for brunch last weekend and wanted to pick a place with a nice patio that was half way between our houses.  Georgetown seemed perfect, and the waterfront even better on such a gorgeous morning.  So we decided to give Farmers and Fishers a try, even though it has a buffet, which I am generally very wary of.  But on the Georgetown waterfront, it’s your best best.  The tables line the large center fountain just off of the boardwalk, and on a sunny Sunday morning, it’s the perfect place to start your day.

brunch at the Biergarten Haus

When we made plans to go to the Biergarten Haus for brunch, I couldn’t help but wonder what I was in for.  German food is not a cuisine I crave very often — I don’t like cabbage and always choose bacon over sausage.  While I still don’t like cabbage and schnitzle all that much, the Biergarten Haus has some good things going for it.

First off, if you have not yet been to the Biergarten Haus and sat at one of the many outdoor tables, you’re missing out.  They have a large tent set up, as well as large umbrellas over another section of tables, so the outside can be comfortably used rain or shine.  And as for the beer — yes, it’s a bit on the pricey side but that’s because you’re getting a great selection of German beers offered in many sizes, including the large liter stein.  And for an added bonus, there are large screens set up outside playing the big games, which will make the Biergarten a great choice during football season. 

WTOP: Where is the DC Region’s Best Brunch

image uploaded by iandavid on Flickr

This is the toughest question I get, as well as the one I am most frequently asked.  There are a lot of great brunches in this town that all offer different things in terms of atmosphere, bottomless brunch specials, creativity on the menu and just good old reliability.  So what can make a place “the best?” While I try to figure out how I would answer that — because I am really torn — go over to WTOP and nominate your favorite.  They will then let visitors vote on a list of the top nominees.  (So far, I am thoroughly unimpressed with the suggestions in the comments so I’d love to see my readers add to the list!)

100 Ways to Use a Strip of Bacon (via Endless Simmer)

The rain seems to have sucked motivation to write out of me — I currently want nothing more than to spend the day eating pancakes and watching movies — so while I try to snap myself out of the funk with some hot cocoa, I bring you BACON.  Which is really not a bad alternative.

From my favorite bookmarks: 100 Ways to Use a Strip of Bacon, from Endless Simmer.