Brunch with Friends

Sunday we met up with Eric & Pierre for a quick brunch. I've discovered this is the best time of day for me to try to see my friends as I've only got about a 7 hour window of time each day where I'm not lounging on the couch or passed out.

We were supposed to go to Jay's, my favorite neighborhood restaurant, but the place was packed. My not so well kept secret spot was outted somewhere.

While trying to wedge myself in the door to see if there were any spots to be had I was rudely pushed back out the door by some wealthy looking man and his wife in this wispy fox fur adorned coat as they attempted to get in front of me. My jaw dropped and I hitched up my leggings. Did that dude just push me? Oh, it's ON! When did it become okay to man handle the preggies? So, when she muttered, "Excuse us," I thrust out my belly and said something rude that hopefully induced so much guilt their whole breakfast was tainted by the rotten bile I spewed. That'll teach them. My pre-breakfast manners were lifted from the Minnesota Roller Girls.

Matt was begging me with his puppy dog eyes to let it go, so with one more shot of the stink eye in their direction, we relented and went elsewhere. I called Eric and asked that they come over to Muffaletta instead. It was nearby and when called, I was assured that they had plenty of seating available.

They arrived with Eric looking sheepish and Pierre laughing. Apparently, they'd parked behind a car that looks identical to mine. Eric attempted to open the door for the driver he thought was me. When he and the driver discovered each other, both were pretty freaked out. Eric ran inside and hid behind his menu, until I made them pose for this picture.

Aren't they handsome? I have such good looking friends. Hopefully that poor woman figured that a guy this put together probably wasn't trying to steal her Ford. (Then again, he does look kind of menacing.) Vengeful Eric took a picture of us.

Awww... Matt's not excited about this baby at all. Not one bit. (WTF is going on with my face? It's not enough that I've got this second chin coming in, but do I have to look weird on top of that? I'm sure no one noticed but me...)

So, anyway, starving we each ordered our own entree in addition to one for the whole table to share. Thanks to Eric's mysterious desert compartment and my new found ability to eat everyone under the table we untied and we got the caramelized banana French Toast.

It was okay. The bananas were coated with a burnt sugar glaze on one side that was entirely too sickly sweet. Also, the whipped cream was over whipped. I'm sure I never would have noticed had I not been watching an episode of Top Chef last week that totally called out one of the contestants - I'm sorry - CHEFtestants on this very thing.

Matt & Pierre each got the eggs Benedict. They were wonderful. The hollendaise was the perfect consistency and the eggs were beautifully poached. The yolks melted over the brioche slices, but the whites were still creamily set. Divine.

Eric had a rather rude little fried risotto cake.

I get the feeling he's mocking me.

My berry, berry pancakes weren't actually as berry filled as I thought they'd be. They were just dried out pancakes with a dollop of berry sauce on top with some kind of sad strawberries.

Overall, I can't rave about the food at Muffaletta, especially given the prices. It seems odd that a place that touts the local ingredients charges an extra $2 for a teeny pitcher of actual maple syrup. That they'd even put any Ant Jemima on the table seems insulting.

Still, it was great to see our friends for the last time for a while. Eric travels a ton for work. He's in Seattle, then I think San Fran, then the two are off for an extended cruise around South America. They've been promised gorgeous scenery that involves a shitload of penguins. I can't wait to see the pictures!