A Delicious Detour into New York City

It's quite possible that Los Angeles is the ultimate brunch destination, with tourists crowding hotspots like République for weekday brunch and lining up at The Grove for Cronuts and coffee. But if any city gives our devoted brunch culture a run for its money, it's the Big Apple - so it should be no surprise that I jumped at the chance to start my holiday vacation a little early and take a quick trip to New York City. While we were only there a few nights, we managed to sneak in plenty of delicious meals - getting lost in the city's massive museums and basking in the glow of all the glittering holiday decorations requires fuel, after all.

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Jack's Wife Freda

New York's frigid winter air was hardly a deterrent for the crowds of well-dressed millenials lined up outside Jack's Wife Freda; some parka-clad brunchers even dared to accept a table on the chilly sidewalk - that's true brunch dedication if I've ever seen it. As popular as the cozy, minimal café seems to be (even on a weekday morning), service is swift and friendly, and you'll be hard-pressed to reach the bottom of your coffee cup before it's refilled. It's the bits of Middle Eastern flair set this menu apart: a crisp and fluffy waffle is infused with fragrant rosewater and comes topped with creamy labneh and honey syrup, while perfectly poached eggs are served atop tangy slices of griddled halloumi and tomatoes. 

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Russ & Daughters 

A trip to New York City is incomplete without a bagel and lox for breakfast, and if you're going to go for smoked fish, you may as well do it right and head over to Russ & Daughters. These days, you can partake of this New York institution's incredible smoked fish at either the shop (owned and operated by the Russ family since 1914), or at the café a few blocks down, where you can linger over an egg cream at the old-school soda fountain bar or cozy up in a booth with a mug of joe. We kept it simple and ordered The Classic Board: tender sliced Gaspe Nova Salmon, a mound of fluffy cream cheese, crisp sliced tomato, onion, and capers, and of course, a toasted everything bagel. The smoked salmon was delicate and buttery, and was easily some of the best we've had. 

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Caracas Arepa Bar

When traveling with a partner (romantic or not), it's a good practice to allow each party to choose at least one non-negotiable destination per trip, so neither party feels cheated by the (let's face it, brunch-centric) itinerary. My husband's non-negotiable stop this time just happened to be the star of the entire trip: Caracas Arepa Bar, a tiny Venezuelan restaurant in the Lower East Side with milk crates for chairs that could almost be called a hole in the wall. We've both had our fair share of arepas in our days (my husband's family is partially Venezuelan), but these were special: the fillings were bold and flavorful, stuffed generously inside sliced arepas that were crisp on the outside and pillowy on the inside. All at once sweet, soft, salty, and oh-so-satisfying, this is the kind of food that warms both your belly and your heart. Around Christmas, Caracas also serves hallacas, a Venezuelan version of a tamale wrapped in a banana leaf and filled with mixed meats and vegetables. These are a rare and delicious treat, and are not to be missed if you happen in around the holidays. 

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Cookshop

If you've made it this far, you'll be happy to know that I've saved the best for last: Cookshop. This bright and airy spot is conveniently just steps away from The High Line (making it a perfect spot to pop in for breakfast before a day of exploring Chelsea), though it deserves to be a destination all its own. Don't expect over-the-top, gimmicky Instagram bait here - what makes Cookshop special is its ability to elevate simple, humble food into something truly special. Take my husband's meal, The Breakfast Board: two soft boiled eggs, housemade almond butter, jam, whole grain toast, and market lettuce salad. Simple components that you've certainly tasted before, but that somehow, when sourced from the best possible purveyors and when prepared with care, become something exceptional. But the best thing we tasted here (which was also the best thing I ate on the trip) was without contest was the Poached Eggs Cilbir. At the base is a layer of creamy fresh pressed yogurt, which is then smeared with a boldly flavored spiced sweet potato hummus. On top, two beautifully poached eggs and a generous drizzle of smoked chili oil. Crisp sourdough is served alongside to sop up this flavorful concoction, though you'll still wrestle with the temptation to lick the bottom of the bowl once you're done. 

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Honorable Mentions 

Of course, not every meal eaten can be brunch, and there were plenty of indulgences that were enjoyed in the dark of night, or when we didn't have the camera handy. Roberta's was a favorite stop for thin-crust, ooey-gooey pizza and a formidable wine list - and of course, a peek at Heritage Radio Network's studio, where one of our favorite podcasts, Radio Cherry Bombe, is recorded. For something both bitter and sweet, we'll never forget the delicious halva and freshly milled tahini from Seed + Mill - I've already mail-ordered plenty of this delicious stuff, and am admittedly addicted. If street food is your jam, a huge gyro or falafel platter drizzled in hot sauce and yogurt from The Halal Guys can't be beat, especially on a chilly evening. Finally, our hotel's restaurant, The Vine, surprised us with both its delicious, healthy food and its gorgeous, comfortable design. The vegetable-centered, perfectly-seasoned bowls were just what we needed after a long flight, and the Avocado & Green Pea Toast with sprouts, lemon zest, and poached eggs gave L.A. a run for its money.

Did we miss your favorite spot in NYC? Let us know in the comments, so we can make sure to check it out next time we're in town!

The Lazy Girl's Brunch

It's true: we love throwing beautiful, over-the-top brunches for our friends. All those hours spent flipping through the glossy pages of Martha Stewart Living are probably to blame; we are forever enchanted by idyllic soirées in which everything - from the napkin rings to the croquembouche - is handmade. But as wonderful as a picturesque Martha-worthy brunch can be, sometimes, you need to keep it simple and hang out on the couch in your yoga pants. And so, The Lazy Girl's Brunch was born. 

There is only one rule for throwing a Lazy Girl's Brunch: keep the effort to a minimum, for all parties involved. Invitations must be web-based (don't you dare use a stamp); a text message chain is even better. Friends should roll out of bed and wander over to the party makeup-free and with hungry tummies, ready for some late-morning relaxation. The host shouldn't do much more than a quick vacuum or tidy, and can acceptably use (compostable) paper plates and utensils to avoid doing extra dishes. As for the food, the less cooking, the better - and bonus points for ordering online and having groceries delivered to your doorstep.

For our brunch groceries, we turned to Milk & Eggs, a local service that delivers all of our favorite products (including the natural and organic stuff that we usually have to go to specialty stores to find). The website is packed with goodies both from local farms and suppliers and from big-name health food brands - it feels kind of like what would happen if you married a farmers market with a natural grocery store. Truthfully, the process could not have been smoother - we placed our order online, chose a delivery date, and woke up that morning with the carefully packaged order waiting at our front door. 

To keep with our lazy theme, we chose brunch items that would require very little preparation: plenty of seasonal fresh fruit, cups of yogurt with granola, a bagel bar with all the fixings, and a loaf of banana bread for a little something sweet. For drinks, we chose Califia Farms' orange juice and Black & White Cold Brew (not only the easiest way to serve cold brew, but also the most delicious - I'm hooked for life). 

Friends could choose to dress up their bagels as either sweet or savory (or, in most cases, one of each). Some went for the classic cream cheese, smoked salmon, pickled onions, and capers combination, while others turned their bagels into circular avocado toast topped with egg and tomato. An adventurous friend layered her bagel first with cream cheese, then with Justin's peanut butter, banana slices, and honey - a combination so surprisingly delicious that we wouldn't be mad if it became the new toast trend. 

Using organic Greek yogurt and Kesson's Kitchen's delicious, grain-free granola, some guests made pretty parfaits topped with sliced fresh fruit. Or, for something a bit sweeter, we sliced into Bread Lounge's banana bread with chocolate chips and pecans - smeared with yogurt and a little honey, this was a filling and scrumptious treat.

With all the impending holiday hubbub, we can't think of a better way to kick back and relax than with a Lazy Girl's Brunch - it's the perfect marriage of all the best parts of brunch: leisurely time spent with friends over coffee and delicious food, without ever having to change out of your comfy clothes.

This post was created in collaboration with Milk & Eggs, who graciously provided the groceries for our brunch. All opinions are our own. 

20th Century Café | San Francisco, CA

I've always been charmed by the idea that a person can be born into the wrong era. It's a romantic concept, really, that a certain personality and a specific time period might be tied together cosmically, like soulmates. Some souls do seem a bit displaced, forever longing for a time when life was much simpler; when clothing was made lovingly by hand rather than in mass quantities at a factory, and folks spent time talking face-to-face instead of typing on a screen. Michelle Polzine, a pastry goddess and vintage aficionado, appears to be one such displaced soul. Stepping into her restaurant, 20th Century Café, is like following her back in time - if you can ignore the iPad at the ordering station, of course.  

Every tiny detail in the café has been carefully curated in order to create the perfect vintage aesthetic: art deco lamps hang from above, small marble tables are lined up against a velvet banquette, elaborate bronzed tiles cover the front of a long bar, and most of the staff is decked out in 1940's-style vintage dresses and aprons. Inspired by the darling little cafés she experienced in Vienna, Budapest, and Prague, this light-drenched space offers locals a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy an afternoon, with a side of exquisite handmade pastries, of course. 

And about those pastries... Polzine knows her stuff. Armed with years of experience as a pastry chef, Polzine creates sweet and savory delights that are so good, they provide regular homesickness relief for Eastern European expats. The counter is stacked high with knishes, bagels, babkas, and strudels, and each is more beautiful than the next. These baked goods make up the core of the menu at 20th Century Café, which is rounded out by lunch items like soups, sandwiches, and salads.

On our recent weekend trip to San Francisco, our dear friends took us to 20th Century Café for a late brunch. They'd been singing is praises for months - telling tales of the handmade bagels, bright pink borscht, and the unbelievably delicious (and beautiful) Russian Honey Cake. These are the sort of friends who know their food, so when they fall in love with a place, you know you're in for a treat - so our hopes were pretty high for our brunch. And let me tell you, we were not disappointed. Not even a little. 

I couldn't help but choose one of the beautiful nigella seed bagels, served open-faced with smoked salmon, cream cheese, pickled shallots, and dill. The bagel itself was perfection, light and soft inside with a hint of onion flavor and a satisfying crunch from the nigella seeds on the outside. The salmon was smoky and flavorful, and the pickled shallots offered a bit of tanginess. My friend chose the bagel with sliced beets, which essentially swaps out beets for the salmon, and was equally delicious in its own way. She picked the nigella seed bagel, too (since that was the right choice), but if you're not into that sort of thing, there were two other bagel flavors to choose from, as well. 

Also at our table were some more lunch-like dishes: a wild boar sausage dish with sauerkraut, apple butter, roasted fingerling potatoes; a beautiful bowl of vibrant borscht topped with heaps of fresh herbs; and a simple but well-executed salad for some ruffage (I do love my ruffage). Everything was delicious: the sausage was moist and flavorful, and paired perfectly with the bright flavors from the apple butter and sauerkraut, while the borscht was light and fresh-tasting - perfect for a light lunch. 

And then on to the main event: dessert (side note: if you're not having dessert at brunch, you really need to re-think some things). We ordered coffee and dessert separately - be warned that if you order everything all at once, your borscht will come at the same time as your cake, which would really just be distracting, because who wants to eat beets when there's a big slice of cake staring them in the face?

Our cappuccinos were very good, and boasted some seriously lovely latte art, made even more lovely by the vintage china they were served in. Between us, we shared two slices of cake: Dobos Torte and the legendary Russian Honey Cake. The Dobos Torte was very good, with its extremely rich chocolate frosting and a surprisingly salty cookie was placed artfully on top. We all enjoyed it, though it unfortunately suffered from second-fiddle syndrome - because the Russian Honey Cake was, well, exceptional.

Honestly speaking, 20th Century Café's Russian Honey Cake is quite possibly the best cake I've ever tasted (if not, it's a close second). In the weeks that have passed since I ate this cake, it has popped into my mind over and over again - those impossibly thin yet perfectly baked layers of sponge paired with the most luscious honey cream create an almost hypnotizing effect. It is intensely satisfying, and tastes as if smooth butter was whipped up with creamy honey to create an airy, soft cloud of slightly salty, not-too-sweet deliciousness. I will probably never visit San Francisco again without getting a slice of this cake - it's that good. 

If you were for some reason unable to sense the copious amount of love that has been poured into 20th Century Café during your meal (but you will, don't worry), it'll be clear with a quick chat with Michelle on your way out. She and her staff genuinely love this place, and the work that goes into it. They wear beautiful vintage dresses because they want to, not just for show. They painstakingly execute traditional baking methods because they enjoy it, and because it makes the food taste better. Each tiny detail has been carefully considered, and it all adds up to a truly delightful experience. 

20th Century Café
198 Gough Street
San Francisco, CA 94102