In The Daily Beast’s “the decade in viral videos,” I couldn’t help but share this breakfast-themed one.  (Thanks to my sister for passing it along!)

On a recent busy Saturday afternoon, I received a text from a friend who was at 18th Amendment for their bottomless mimosas and a basketball game.  I was going to be passing by there on my errands so I decided to stop in to say hi and enjoy a brunch beverage.  I got there a bit on the late side, not really thinking about food (I blame the terrible cold I was fighting off for my strange behavior), until I went to the bathroom and saw a sign on the stall door saying that they serve breakfast until close.  My stomach immediately forgot about said cold and kicked into craving-breakfast-mode.

Their signage was really quite brilliant.  I don’t go to 18th Amendment often, but if I did I can guarantee that seeing that sign at 1 am after a few beers would result in me putting in a big order of breakfast food before heading home for the night.

Everyone else had eaten before I arrived so I was only able to try one thing.  The breakfast pizza – sausage gravy, fried eggs, bacon and a blend of cheeses – peaked my interest.  I have seen this on menus before but was always too wary to order it.  Since I was with a large group of boys who were sure to help me clean the plate if it was too much, I decided to give it a try.  Two things about this pizza:  First, it’s definitely more food than one person can or should eat, so only order it if there are people around to share it with;  Second, it’s mostly sausage.  If you don’t like sausage, it’s not for you.  If you like sausage, you may really love this.

I took a look at the rest of the brunch menu and felt like it fell in line with the rest of the menu – bar food with an attempt at an upscale twist.  They try to jazz things up a bit and serve everything on modern-style dishes, but at the end of the day, it’s all still bar food.  Although there is really nothing wrong with bar food and the pizza I have had at dinner there is pretty darn good, and I am eager to try the stromboli rolls.

As for the brunch menu, it consisted of several egg dishes and french toast.  The one thing I think it’s missing, mostly because it’s what I would most likely order late night, is pancakes.  Why are there no pancakes??  The one thing that this brunch has that does get them extra points is bottomless mimosas (Saturday and Sunday from 11 am – 3 pm).  Not enough places serve bottomless mimosas any more and I think it is one of the biggest brunch travesties that has come out of this recession. (In case you haven’t noticed, I have started a list of places that DO serve bottomless drinks at brunch, since they deserve extra attention just for that).  I’m pretty sure the mimosas at 18th Amendment are pre-made and seem to contain much more champagne than orange juice; while this generally goes against the rules of how to make a good mimosa, it kind of hit the spot on that hectic Saturday morning.

I think this may earn a high rank high on my list of neighborhood brunch spots to spend a day watching sports…

Photo by Ben McLeod on Flickr

Growing up, my mom had a fairly strict rule against sugary cereals in the house.  Every once in a while we could get something with fun-shaped marshmallows and colorful bits as a special treat, but she always classified them as a dessert, rather than a breakfast.  I hated the rule when I was a kid but now look back and realize that she was probably right to make us eat healthier breakfasts.  When I went to college I discovered the never-ending cereal selection in the cafeteria, and decided  I was in heaven.  For four years I had my fill and I now avoid keeping the sugary cereals in my house because I’ll go through a box in a matter of days, which can’t be so good for me.  But that doesn’t mean I don’t want a bowl of colored sugary goodness every now and then as a treat!

We now have an option in town to fulfill those cravings for our favorite childhood cereals.  The Washington Business Journal reported that The Cereal Bowl will soon be opening in Cleveland Park.

Along with season options, the menu includes:
Cold Cereals:

• The Sweetest Thing – Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Vanilla Wafers, and Rainbow Sprinkles
• Morning Glory – Frosted Shredded Mini Wheat’s, Strawberries, Almonds, and Walnuts
• The Dirt Bowl – Cookie Crisp, Oreo Cookies, Chocolate Syrup, and Gummy Worms
• Let It Fly – Life, Wheaties, Dried Mixed Berries, and Granola
• Give me S’more – Golden Grahams, Cocoa Puffs, Marshmallow, Graham Bites, Chocolate Chips
• 3 on 3 – Fruit Loops [sic], Fruity Pebbles, Apple Jacks, Strawberries, Banana, and Blueberries
• Ruby Nuts About You – Honey Nut Cheerios, Grape Nuts, Almonds, Pecans, and Cinnamon

and Hot Cereals:

• Dad Knows Best – Oatmeal, Strawberries, Banana, and Blueberries
• Mom Knows More – Oatmeal, Apple Pie Filling, Caramel, and Graham Bites
• Bounce Banana Bounce – Oatmeal, Banana, Brown Sugar, Graham Bites, and Banana Syrup
• Haul’n Oats – Oatmeal, Maple Syrup, Raisins, Crasins, Coconut, and Walnuts
• Red, White and Blueberry – Oatmeal, Yogurt, Raspberry Syrup, and Blueberries

After reading the menu I was a bit curious about the calorie content of some of these bowls (a number sound like a diabetic attack waiting to happen), but sadly their nutrition page sounds something more like a spin campaign by the cereal manufactures to make sugar-filled cereal sound like part of a healthy diet. So order with caution and follow my mom’s rule that the colored sugary cereals are treats, and not part of a healthy daily diet.

I imagine a place like this would do well downtown, so maybe they’ll expand in the DC area if this location does well.

One area of the DC metropolitian area I simply do not visit enough is Old Town.  The only thing that really hold me back is accessibility – parking is tough and it’s a pain to get to by public transportation.  But once I am there I don’t want to leave.  It’s charming, full of great stores, and it offers a great selection of restaurants.

This past weekend a friend suggested Overwood for brunch.  I had never heard of it but was promised a great meal.  They definitely did not disappoint.  Their brunch menu offers a selection of classic brunch dishes, a few with a twist, as well as several lunch and salad options for those brunch guests who aren’t in the mood for breakfast food.

While I usually go for egg dishes, the chocolate Belgium waffle with Grand Marnier whipped cream on the specials list was screaming my name.  The waffle was sweet with just a hint of chocolate, so it was not overpowering.  It should have been a bit crispier, but the flavor was good enough to make up for that.  And the whipped cream was amazing – I have to try that at home.

The rest of the brunch menu offered enough enticing options that I would gladly return.  They offer everything from classic egg dishes – with grits, bacon, and/or potatoes – to blueberry pancakes with fresh blueberries, biscuits and gravy, or steak and eggs, as well as a specials list that includes items like southern-style eggs Benedict with friend green tomatoes.  No one at my table tried the bloody marys but the mimosas were perfectly mixed.

And the best part about Overwood?  You can walk off the calories from that huge meal by walking around beautiful Old Town!

There is a crazy phenomenon that seems to happen every Thanksgiving.  I go to bed so full, I cannot imagine eating again for another week, and I cannot conceive how there could possibly be any leftovers after the way we all stuffed ourselves throughout the day.  But when I come down to the kitchen the next morning, the fridge is still overflowing with food.  I don’t understand what it is about Thanksgiving side dishes, but they are like Marry Poppins’ purse – there is always something else when you look into the bottom.

So what do you do with all of those leftovers?  Washingtonian contacted some of DC’s food bloggers (including yours truly) and compiled a  great selection of recipes to help you figure out what to do with the remains of the countless dishes from your Thanksgiving feast.  The Lone Eagle Sandwich, which I sent in, is one of my family’s long-time favorites.  This afternoon, I had this with a side of my sister’s cornbread dressing, which I would share the recipe for but she keeps forgetting to write it down, forcing her to make it up every year.  I just know that it has apples and bacon and is so good it can just be eaten with a spoon as its own dish.  See the full list of recipes here.

Lone Eagle Sandwich

“My mom is from New Orleans, so our Thanksgiving spread was very Southern-influenced, as were our leftover dishes. Along with turkey gumbo, we always made Lone Eagle sandwiches. The sandwich, which was created in honor of Charles Lindbergh and his visit to New Orleans in 1936, was served at the Ye Olde College Inn until the restaurant was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. It’s made with bacon, turkey, cheese, and traditionally—although we were too lazy to do this in my house—served in the shape of a bird.”

Spread two slices of bread with mayonnaise. Lay sliced turkey on one slice of bread and cover with a few strips of bacon. Lay the second slice of bread on top, mayonnaise side down. Cut off the crusts. Place cheddar or American cheese on top and place in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Place the sandwich on a serving plate with one corner down. It will be in a diamond shape. Cut off the right and left corners to form two triangles which will be the wings. The center section is the body. Set the triangles at an angle so they look like wings, and used slices of black olives for eyes.

There is a big difference between baking and cooking.  Baking generally requires much more attention to detail, exact measurements and timing, an oven that heats evenly (my old oven definitely does not), and a lot of patience.  I’ve managed to make some decent baked goods in the past — like that amazing pumpkin pie last Thanksgiving — but  because I have had so many misses (I had to make said pumpkin pie twice on Thanksgiving day after burning the first one and forgetting an ingredient), I like to have a back up dessert ready…just in case.

So if you do not want to take on the task of baking dessert for your Thanksgiving dinner this year, or if you want to have an extra pie on hand just in case, I have a great solution for you.  Slice of Life is partnering with Food and Friends to let you buy a pie while also helping out those in need, which is perfectly in line with the spirit of the holiday.

Here’s how it works: Place your order by November 19 from the team Dining in DC Unites Food Bloggers for a Cause (created by Dining in DC).  Then on Tuesday, November 24th, you can pick up your pie from the location of your choosing.

SLICE OF LIFE is the only DC area pie sale allowing you to purchase your Thanksgiving pies while making an impact in the lives of thousands in need in your community.  All proceeds from sales go to Food & Friends.

Food & Friends’ mission is to prepare and deliver specialized meals and groceries in conjunction with nutrition counseling to DC Area residents living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. In 2008, over 913,036 meals were served.

This large-scale bake sale is in its third year and not only allows you to purchase pies for you and your family, but also to complement the full Thanksgiving meals our clients will receive by purchasing a pie, or two, to be delivered with their holiday meal.

You have the choice of five delicious flavors:

• Picture Perfect Pumpkin Pie  $25 – Thanksgiving would not be complete without this traditional favorite. The creamy pumpkin filling, in a delectable crust, has the perfect mix of spices and great pumpkin flavor. You’ll certainly want to more than one for your family and friends.

• Harvest Apple Crumb Pie  $25 – Perfectly flaky with just the right amount of sweetness, you’ll enjoy this classic pie filled with a bushel of apples, spices and topped with sweet crumbles. Whether you serve your pie alone or a la mode, it’s a must have.

• Oh So Sweet Potato Pie  $25 – For many, Thanksgiving means Sweet Potato Pie. This southern specialty, filled with creamy bright orange sweet potatoes, cinnamon and nutmeg is sure to warm the hearts of your holiday guests.

• Southern Pecan Pie  $35 – Embrace true hospitality by sharing this Southern treat with your holiday guests. Ya’ll will love this delicious buttery crust, loads of pecans and sweet gooey filling.

• Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake  $35 – A chocolate lover’s delight! Your guests will go crazy over this rich, creamy cheesecake topped with a decadent dark chocolate ganache.

All pies are 10″ rounds and shrink-wrapped to ensure that you receive the freshest, most delicious product possible. Each pie is placed in a sturdy, gift-quality box, making it a perfect hostess gift or token of appreciation. Upon receipt, you will want to immediately refrigerate your pies.

Picking Up Your Pie: Upon purchasing your pie, you will be asked to select a Pie Pick-Up Location.  Pies are available to be picked-up on Tuesday, November 24th from 10am to 8pm. Thanks to the generosity of  CVS Caremark, there are 15 convenient distribution sites throughout the metropolitan area.  Food & Friends volunteers will be stationed at each site to help make sure your pick-up is as quick and easy as possible. Please note: Your pies are ONLY available for pick-up at the location you select when you place your order.

** Since Food & Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, contributions are considered tax-deductible. The fair market value for the purchase of a pie is $7.00. The remainder of your purchase, and the purchase of any pies for clients is fully tax-deductible. All contributors to Slice of Life will receive tax documentation from Food & Friends after the conclusion of this event. Thank you!

For the entire month of November, Belga Cafe will be serving its delicious brunch every day of the week.  It’s not every day that you can get good Belgian waffles and crepes in the middle of the week, so I had to share.  You can view the full brunch menu at BelgaCafe.com.

Photo by TangoPango on Flickr

I always love the creativity that people show with dishes for Halloween festivities.  Endless Simmer found 10 that are sure to creep out your friends as they reach for the hors d’oeuvres at your Halloween party.

Sadly, the eyeball drink above is not included, but I’m not sure anyone would drink it anyway…

As we feasted on the results of our Brunch for the Lazy class at Hill’s Kitchen, a number of people commented that there was little “laziness” involved in any of the recipes we had just learned.  I had to agree as I thought back to the many steps involved in each recipe, and actually started to worry about about what the next class, Brunch for the Ambitious, was going to entail.

But after looking back at the recipes a few days later, there was a perfect “laziness” involved in each recipe – it was that all could be prepared in advance, so you could technically sleep in a bit and then enjoy mimosas and bloody marys with your friends instead of slaving away in the kitchen in the morning of your party.  As I learned from a brunch party I threw last winter, the more you can do in advance, the better.  And if you can master a few recipes that will impress guests a day after they have been cooked, you will have a great thing going.

Click through* for the full recipe to try them for yourself:

• Spinach and Potato Frittata
• Ricotta Pancakes
• Blueberry Compote
• Fall Fruit Salad
• Bacon Hash Browns (this is the one item that is best to make on the day of, to ensure the perfect crispiness)

And a note about the drinks from Brock:

• Good quality orange juice is key to a good mimosa – possibly more so than the champagne.  You do not need to spend a lot on the bubbly but do want to get something dry, rather than sweet.  And avoid “blanc de noir” varieties made with Pinot grapes – they do not mix well with champagne.  Trader Joe’s sells an excellent prosecco for $4.99 that does the job very well without braking the bank.  And the best ratio is 1 part OJ to 2 parts champagne.  Serve right away and enjoy!
• Bloody Marys don’t require expensive liquor either, and you will find the best success by using good quality tomato juice and spices that suit your tastes.   It’s also very easy to make a large batch in advance, and let people add extra spices as they would like, so this is perfect for parties.

* All of my recipes are now loaded into Kitchen Moki, a site that a friend of mine helped build and launch.  I decided that listing out recipes in here were a pain, and using that site will allow you to print out or email any recipe you would like to try.  If Kitchen Monki looks like something you would enjoy using, sign up and send them any feedback or suggestions – they are still developing the site and adding in new features every day.

Young & Hungry has an update on Capital City Diner, a place I have anxiously been waiting to try.  They’ve run into a series of delays (from issues with utility companies, to parking tickets on the old-style diner while it sat on the street awaiting foundation approval from the city) but it now looks like may finally be opening next month.  And yes, they will serve breakfast all day long.  Now that’s a place worth waiting for!