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December 30, 2016 by: thetraveler

My Favorite Brunch Finds In 2016

I am truly a fan of a great Sunday Brunch.  What’s not to love about a mix of breakfast and lunch – with a cocktail or two thrown in for good measure!  Regardless of where I am in the world, I really go out of my way to find a Sunday Brunch location.  It’s not only about amazing food and cocktails; it’s about the ambience, the brunch culture and time well spent with friends and family.

Sunday Brunch is a tradition that started for me early in life.  When I was growing up, my parents would take me and my siblings to the Palmer House hotel in downtown Chicago for Sunday Brunch.  That’s a pretty fabulous and grand place to take children ranging from six months to 10 years of age. I can still recall the grandness of it all. I am thankful for a family tradition that transcends time, space and oceans and that sometimes requires a passport.

Here are just a few of my favorite brunch delights from 2016…

 Tomato Baked Eggs at The Northman in Chicago, IL

two eggs, tomato, lemon basil, sweet peppers,
grilled zucchini, skillet cornbread

The Northman was truly a great find during my exploration of the Lincoln Square neighborhood, located on Chicago’s Northside.  This is a cider pub with an amazing collection of calvados and ciders from near and far, and it didn’t disappoint.

Andouille Sausage and Grits & the Southern at Blue Door Kitchen and Garden in Chicago, IL

sunny-side egg, cheddar grits, pickled peppers

biscuits, shrimp, andouille hollandaise, stewed vegetables

Can I just say how much I LOVE an Eggs Benedict with a biscuit instead of the traditional English muffin?   Blue Door Kitchen & Garden with it’s ambience and southern flare – is a great place for Sunday Brunch.

Chicken Fried Steak at Stella San Jac in Austin, Texas

country gravy, hash brown waffle, over-easy eggs

Stella San Jac was my introduction to the Austin, Texas food scene and the saying that “everything is bigger in Texas.” You will find that the portions in many Texas restaurants are massive.

Pulled Pork and Herb Pancakes at the Roaring Fork in Austin, Texas

shredded carnita meat, herb & buttermilk pancakes, over-easy egg, maple syrup

I have to say that the folks at Roaring Fork got this right! One of my most memorable dishes all year! A pound of pork and all the crispy skin and bits to go with it!  This dish still excites me.

Fried Chicken Benedict & Toffee Banana Cream Waffle Stack at Nosh and Booze in Chicago, IL

crispy chicken breast, scallion-and-white-cheddar biscuit, 2 poached eggs with habanero ranch sauce, home fries

malted waffle, banana pudding, Nutella, Heath bar, caramel sauce, whipped cream

violet daisy NOLET’S gin, lime, violet, raspberry, blackberry

This one really came about on a whim. I was looking for an early brunch time and Nosh and Booze answered the call.  Here again, a biscuit used in an Eggs Benedict – you can’t go wrong!  If you don’t eat anything else, you must try the scallion-and-white-cheddar biscuit!

Looking forward to many more Sunday brunches, with family and friends, near and far in the new year.

 

Palmer House Hotel (1977)

“People who love to eat are always the best people. – Julia Child”

Cheers,

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Celebrating 40 Ended But Exploring Europe Continued….
Girls On The Run 40th Birthday Spain and Portugal Tour Part 1

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Hello and welcome to The Traveler and The Gastronome! We created this site to share our travel adventures and our love of good food and drink. Thank you for visiting our website and taking part in our explorations.

Here's to you making your own discoveries in the city where you lay your head. Cheers!

Where we're off to next!



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travelerandgastronome

The Traveler and Gastronome
Never too early for a Bubbly Rosé and shopping. # Never too early for a Bubbly Rosé and shopping. #vinesandwines #vineyardsofnc #wnc #moutainvineyards #rosé #ciderwineanddineweekend #blueskies
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With vaccines rolling out, I reckon it's safe to s With vaccines rolling out, I reckon it's safe to start dreaming of international adventures again.  #TBT to Spring 2015 when I ate and drank my way through Spain and Portugal celebrating @divalins 40th birthday.  Our second to last leg in the province of Granada, Spain and my introduction to Andalusia.  Picture taken at the Alhambra with the foothills of the Sierra  Nevada Mountains in the background. #spain #granadaspain #andalusia #sierranevadamnts #internationaltravel #europeantravel
Not going to lie, it was truly the name of the pla Not going to lie, it was truly the name of the place that peaked my interest and made me leave my couch.  Glad I did, it was truly a great find. I recall telling the staff @leos_houseofthirst several times "this place is so stinking cute"! Maybe I could have said something more profound, but I was as  excited as kid in a candy store.

I recalled coming in as a wine snob giving may likes and "I'm not a fan of". The waitress gave me a blind taste based on my likes and my I'm not a fan, boy did she change my opinion on a few things and truly figured out my palate!!! She also introduced to a Txakoli from Artomana, Basque County, Spain (pictured above) after telling her I loved Vinho Verde. Side note: #basquecountry I missed you on my last trip to Spain, never again!

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My St. Patrick's Day started @sweetencreekcoffee My St. Patrick's Day started  @sweetencreekcoffee with a Caffè Americano with Irish Cream foam and a PB&J cookie from @morsel_cookieco . Yes you heard me right, that's  a cookie!  Off course when I saw it in it's pretty packaging and display I thought it was a muffin. Cool, muffin will be a nice addition, will go great with the coffee and gluten-free win win lol.  Really it's approximately 3"x2.5" of yummy goodness.  @morsel_cookieco is known for their stuffed cookies and this baby was bulging with pb&j! 

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I'm so grateful that I did not forgo my annual Feb/March beach vacay this year. Not my typical international beach flow, but my heart and soul is filled with joy. It's that winter mental break that's required for a kid that was born and raised in the midwest also know as the frozen tundra... 

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