Brunch - The Hungry Nomad

Brunch at Wedge and Fig in Old City (Philadelphia, USA)

June 21, 2013 No Comments

Tucked away on North 3rd street in Old City lies one of the quaintest cheese shops in Philadelphia called Wedge and Fig. Besides selling a wide range of domestic and foreign cheese W+F is also a restaurant serving simple yet delicious sandwiches and salads. Brunch here is a must.

We visited on a sunny spring day and walked in to a full restaurant. We were led out of the restaurant, through a long entry way next door to a small quaint garden located in the back of the restaurant.

From the brunch menu, I had the Eggs NOLA- a combination poached eggs, Cajun-spiced Tasso ham and creamy hollandaise served on top of house-made cornbread. Served with lemon Parmesan potatoes and dressed greens. I was not personally a big fan of the cornbread substitute but then again I never liked cornbread but had to order because of the tribute to New Orleans. The Count ordered Shackamaxon – creamy brie, house-roasted turkey breast, walnut mustard aioli, mango + arugula on challah. The gourmet sandwich was delicious as was the eggs Nola. Wedge and Fig is definitely a great place to go for brunch in Philadelphia, or if you want to order a cheese plate and sip on some BYO wine in the cozy secret garden.

New Jersey, USA

Brunch at the Mad Batter (Cape May, USA)

May 22, 2013 No Comments

On the latest trip to Cape May (see Foodie’s Guide to Cape May) we had lunch at the recommended Mad Batter. The restaurant is located in one of the charming, quaint and cozy victorian houses on Jackson street which is also home to the Carroll Villa Hotel. We went after the brunch rush with the restaurant half empty. Yet our server seemed rushed and rude. Her attitude however, did not ruin our meal which started off with the one of the tastiest bloody marys I’ve had to date, it was followed by several rounds of lime margaritas. Our meal consisted of the lobster egg benedict, hamburger served with a slice of camembert cheese and fries, blackened fish sandwich, and crab meat omelet. The lobster benedict was really delicious with generous pieces of fresh lobster topped with hollandaise sauce on two pieces of english muffin. The only complaint at the table was the blackened fish which was too dry and flavorless. Ending the meal with bellies full, we all left feeling quite satisfied. Overall, a great brunch spot if you can get past the service.

Breakfast, Brunch, Gourmand, New Orleans

Brunch at Surrey’s Uptown (New Orleans, USA)

January 2, 2012 No Comments

Happy 2012 to all my readers. I have been away for the past week down in New Orleans eating some good food, drinking mint julips and sazerac and listening to some amazing brass bands. The next few posts will therefore be dedicated to the New Orleans dining scene I discovered on my most recent trip.

First stop, Surrey’s Uptown! On a lovely spring-like day in December the Count and I decided to walk along Magazine street to discover the long stretch of shops, restaurants and art galleries. Along the way we discovered Surrey’s Uptown. Not having heard about it before we were curious to try it for ourselves since the line up seemed long and everyone seemed eager to eat.

The next day along with our friends we visited Surrey’s Uptown for breakfast and I was not only impressed but wanted to go back every day for the rest of the trip (sadly my request was denied by the Count).

They make their own fresh juices which you can blend to make your own creation. I had the carrot, orange and apple juice which was lovely. We all ordered different dishes and tried a bit of each. Mine was the Miga- scrambled eggs mixed in with all sorts of delicious goodies including crispy tortilla chips. The Count had the huevos rancheros deluxe which included smoked salmon. He absolutely loved it! I on the other hand didn’t like the mixture of the black beans and the smoked salmon. Smoked salmon to me is best served with cream cheese, capers and onions. However, to each their own I guess. The best part of the meal had to be the stuffed banana french toast which was truly like to no other I’ve ever tasted. The mixture of flavors and the rich sauce was to die for.

They have a really large selection and I definitely will have to go back to try out the rest. If you ever happen to be in New Orleans definitely check this place out for breakfast/brunch- if one is busy (which I guarantee you it will be) there are always two locations: one Uptown and the other in the Garden District.