Eggslut | Venice, CA

I'm late to the game. I admit it. Eggslut has been serving up yolky-goodness since 2011, and I've only just visited. The lines rounding the corners of the original brick and mortar spot in Grand Central Market have always been daunting, and I admittedly have passed them by for other food stands. I thought "it can't be THAT good", and since there are so many wonderful restaurants in the market, I just never waited patiently for one of those glorious egg sammies. 

But I'm happy to announce, this Brunchographer has finally joined Team Eggslut, and I'm hooked!

The newish location in Venice drew me in. It popped up on my Yelp app one day when I was looking for a casual brunch spot in my Westside neighborhood, and I figured since I had no agenda that morning, I could finally check it out. My boyfriend and I mentally prepared for the line and potential chaos, and we drove over to Venice. Luckily we found parking right across the street from the restaurant, but that also allowed us to clearly see the 20 person line ahead of us. We both hesitated, but eventually soldiered on. Now was the time! 

We hopped in line and were immediately greeted by a warm, charming employee who handed us menus and provided us with an estimate of our time in line. "From this spot, it's usually 20 minutes until you'll get to the counter, and your food will be ready 10 minutes after that!" he informed us. Ok, thanks guy! We appreciated the up front info. The estimate ended up being pretty spot on, too.

The interior is simple and slightly industrial with pops of bright yellow decor mimicking Eggslut's famous runny egg. It's a bit chaotic, though. The line is organized well, but after you order, you wait in a sea of hungry Venice folk who are eyeing tables freeing up and listening anxiously for their names to be called. But eventually you get your seat and your gorgeous tray of food, and you become oh-so-happy.

We started with "The Slut". A staple menu item for Eggslut, it sounds a little odd upon first read,  but once you pierce through that perfectly coddled egg atop a potato puree and the bright orange yolk spills out, you know you're in for something special (#yolkporn to the max). We spread some of the eggy potato goodness over a piece of toast and with a bit of chunky salt and a touch of chive on top, it was a singular divine bite. Order this up for an brunch appetizer, and you'll start your meal right.

The Slut

For our main sandwiches, I ordered the "Sausage, Egg and Cheese" and Jeff ordered the "Cheeseburger". I can't turn down honey mustard, and Jeff can't say no to cheeseburgers with eggs, so both sandwiches were matches made in heaven for us.

The "Sausage, Egg and Cheese" was a simpler combo. It's the type of sandwich you hope you get every time you order a breakfast sandwich, but so rarely actually arrives on your plate. I've been burned too many times by a disappointing breakfast sandwich, but this one was simply done well. The ratio of sausage to egg to cheese was perfect, and the honey mustard aioli shone through brightly with an acidic pop in every bite. The sausage was spiced nicely and the runny yolk was sopped up perfectly by the spongy brioche bun.

The Sausage, Egg and Cheese

The "Cheeseburger" was a heartier sandwich. The angus beef patty holds a perfectly over-medium egg and a melted slice of cheddar cheese, and sits atop a power-trio bed of bacon, dijonnaise, and bread and butter pickles. We were both weary of the pickles (neither of us are fans of the bread and butter variety), but with each bite, we were more convinced that they belonged. They added a tangy crunch factor, and with the salty bacon and flavorful dijonnaise, this brunch burger was accessorized just right.

The Cheeseburger

To round it out, we got an iced coffee and a super refreshing cup of freshly-squeezed orange juice, and neither of those disappointed either. At the very least, get some OJ with your meal to add to the aesthetic factor. How pretty is this table with another punch of orange, right?! 

All in all, our trip to Eggslut was a success. Yes, the line can be intimidating, but sometimes it's fun visiting a place that is so sought after. Part of the fun of the food scene is LA is sharing your experience with other people who are just as excited as you are, and that's what Eggslut is all about. Their mission is to not just serve high quality food and provide great service. They want your meal to be an experience, and that's just what they deliver. So get yourself a brunch-venturer friend and get in line. You won't regret it! 

Eggslut - Venice Location

1611 Pacific Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90291

Other locations: Downtown LA / Glendale, CA / Las Vegas, NV / New York, NY

Sqirl | Silver Lake, CA

I have a confession to make. It's a really embarrassing one. 

Up until a few weeks ago, I hadn't been to Sqirl. 

I had been waltzing around Los Angeles, considering myself a "brunch expert," and I hadn't experienced what is widely considered the best brunch in the city. I know! I'm ashamed. And I'm here to say I'm sorry. 

Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

When I say that this place is widely considered the best brunch in Los Angeles, I do mean widely. Just about every list of where to eat in the city of angels includes Sqirl at the very top - and I'm not talking about lists of where to have breakfast or brunch or lunch in Los Angeles, I mean where to eat. Period. So that's a little bit amazing, since this is a breakfast-and-lunch-only kind of joint that closes at four o'clock in the afternoon each day. Just about every food critic in the country has written at least a paragraph or two about Sqirl, and the verdict is overwhelmingly positive. Jonathan Gold poetically sang Sqirl's praises in his L.A. Times review, calling founder Jessica Koslow "masterful." For LA Weekly, Besha Rodell said that Sqirl has "some of the most thoughtful, satisfying, beautifully executed food in town." And in what felt more like a love letter than a review, Bill Addison said "Sqirl is literally the neighborhood restaurant of my dreams."

The famous line at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Koslow's new cookbook, Everything I Want to Eat, for sale at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Impossibly hip clientele at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

So what was keeping me from brunching at Sqirl? For one, it's basically on the other side of the world (we West Siders are the worst, aren't we?). And if you're going to drive an hour for brunch, do you really want to wait at least thirty more minutes in line once you get there (after, god help you, you've hopefully found parking)? And then there's always that pesky fear that it won't live up to all that hype - that you will have trekked across the city and waited in a line that's the stuff of legends, all for something you could have made at home. I mean, how good could ricotta and jam on toast really be?

Chalkboard Menu at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Outdoor seating at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Well, friends, I'm here to tell you that I was wrong. Even as a staunch hater of lines (fact: I got out of bed before 6 am while on vacation to avoid waiting in line for donuts), I can confidently say that Sqirl is worth it. Ricotta and jam on toast can be really good, and unless you're Jessica Koslow, you can't make it like this at home. 

Jessica Koslow working the line at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

It all started with jam. Koslow, unhappy in her television production career, returned to a job she knew she loved - working in a kitchen. After some time in the South, learning the ins and outs of pastry and preserving, she returned to Southern California and started to make jam the old fashioned way, in a huge copper pot. Her seasonally rotating market-driven flavors were a hit, and before long, she'd opened up shop in Silver Lake. The jam operation later expanded to a café in the very same space, with the team behind G&B providing delicious coffee and Koslow offering a menu of bright, vegetable-forward breakfast and lunch fare. Koslow's food was thoughtful and innovative, often setting the perfect stage for her much-loved jams and preserves to shine. You can guess the rest: word got out, people started talking, and soon there was a permanent line around the block. 

The famous line at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

We joined that famed line at a respectable 9:30 on a Saturday morning (as all reports indicate that the line is actually at its worst at the opening time of 8:00 am), and while it was formidable, it was not as ghastly as I had once imagined. In fact, it moved quickly enough that I wasn't quite prepared to order by the time we made it to the register, let alone did I have time to take a moment to appreciate Koslow herself hard at work behind the counter. By the time we were through, a perfect table opened up, and we settled in with our coffees. There's an elegance to how Sqirl operates, no matter how chaotic it may seem from the outside. 

Menu at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Brunch spread at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

As much as we wanted to taste absolutely everything on the menu, we restrained ourselves to four dishes: The Mosca Breakfast Sandwich, the Famed Ricotta Toast, Braised Chickpeas, and the Cauliflower Hash. We also had to sample a cappuccino with house-made almond milk and The “Al Puccino” - a sweetened iced cappuccino. 

Cappuccino with house-made almond milk at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

The coffees were both delicious - just what you would hope from a café that was home to the inception of G&B, one of L.A.'s absolute best coffee shops. The espresso was rich and flavorful, and the house-made almond milk was perfect. The "Al Puccino" will please those who like their coffee on the sweet side. It's also a fun treat to have a foamy cappuccino served cold - it's a rare find here in the states. 

The Mosca Breakfast Sandwich at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

The Mosca Breakfast Sandwich has both style and substance. Sure, it's great for the 'gram with a knife dramatically ensconced in its depths like the sword in the stone, a huge slab of griddled halloumi (be sure to add this when you order - it would be a mistake to skip it), a fried egg, and a healthy-sized chicken patty, all topped with a thick sauce of tomato, green peppers, and spices, and sandwiched between a shiny brioche bun. But then you bite into it, and it practically screams with flavor. When these already bold components combine - the savory chicken sausage, tangy halloumi, spiced menemen sauce - there is somehow harmony. Koslow didn't skimp on the fat in this dish, either, which makes it all the more decadent and satisfying. 

The Mosca Breakfast Sandwich at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Braised Chickpeas and The Mosca Breakfast Sandwich at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Served with an impractically long piece of toast (it's kind of comical how they refer to this as "long toast" on the menu - "long" doesn't begin to describe it), the Braised Chickpeas are a heartwarming, stick-to-your ribs breakfast. The stewed garbanzos are reminiscent of the middle eastern breakfast dish ful muddamas, delightfully soupy and flavored with bright lemon and spiced baharat oil. On top, thinly shredded chard add lightness and crunch, and two soft poached eggs make it that much more satisfying. You're going to want to slurp up all this delicious sauce - luckily you'll have enough bread to soak it up. 

Braised Chickpeas at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Cauliflower Hash at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Sqirl's Hash dish rotates seasonally, pairing fresh vegetables with roasted potatoes, fermented hot sauce, and a fried egg. The current special features tender roasted cauliflower, piri piri, and leeks. The hot sauce, served on the side, is really delicious and offers quite a kick. While simple, this dish was satisfying and felt healthy - especially since it came with a side of greens. 

Cauliflower Hash at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Famed Ricotta Toast at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Like the good children we are, we made sure to save our dessert for last: the Famed Ricotta Toast. It's truly the stuff of legend - it's the single-most Instagrammed dish in the world (I have no concrete evidence to support this, but I've got a strong hunch), and there are whole articles dedicated to the art of its construction. And yet somehow, the actual height of that brioche took me off guard. It's massive. But like other toasts you may have eaten since toast took over the world, this one is not a tooth-breaker. Though thoroughly toasted (read: nearly burnt), the brioche remains soft and supple, providing a buttery pillow for the impossibly creamy ricotta and the tart jam to rest on. The flavors are spot on; the play of sweet and tart to salty and buttery is heaven. Do not make the mistake of coming here and not ordering this. Just trust us. 

Famed Ricotta Toast at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Brunch Spread at Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

It's hard not to sensationalize a place that everyone in the world seems to love. You want to be a part of the excitement, to be a part of a movement, to eat the best thing you've ever tasted. On the other hand, it's also easy to unfairly criticize something popular just to be subversive. With this in mind, I maintain that Sqirl is great. Not everything we tasted was life-changing, but everything was good, and most was really good. If it weren't so far away, I'd be at Sqirl every week, just to make sure I could work my way through the entire menu. It's worth the hype, and it's worth a long drive - and I'm sorry I didn't experience it sooner. 

Sqirl, Silver Lake, CA

Sqirl
720 Virgil Ave #4
Los Angeles, CA 90029

Haute Cakes Caffe | Newport Beach, CA

When it comes to brunch, Los Angeles is bursting at the seams with options. It feels like there are new restaurants opening every week, each offering food more delicious than the ones that came before. Honestly, it's difficult to keep up. So why would you ever venture outside of county lines to have your Sunday mid-morning feast? Because, friends, the O.C. knows how to brunch, too. A quick Yelp search will reveal that cities like Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and Irvine are absolutely packed with delicious brunch options, some of which even give L.A. a run for its money with their creative, scrumptious fare. My husband and I find ourselves in Orange County quite a bit visiting family, and have managed to sample some really delicious and satisfying brunches. One recent such trip took us to the lovely Haute Cakes Caffe in Huntington Beach. 

Tucked away inside a rather nondescript shopping center you'll find a sweet little garden dining area, as well as an inevitable line spilling out the café doors. Each weekend, OC residents flock to Haute Cakes, lining up for baked goods, egg sandwiches and scrambles, and inarguably delicious pancakes. Luckily, the line moves fast, and there's plenty of seating available both inside and out. This operation is a well-oiled one - which comes as no surprise when you realize that this restaurant is coming into their 27th year of business. 

Both the interior and the patio are absolutely charming, it's clear that the owners strive to keep the place looking fresh and modern and that everything here is done with a lot of love (maybe it's the adorable hearts hiding everywhere that tipped me off?). Outside, locals linger over their treats with their families and pets - dogs are more than welcome on the lovely garden patio. Inside, the pastry case is packed with beautiful sweets from homemade pop tarts to shiny croissants and tempting cupcakes. There's a rumor going around that the cinnamon rolls are unmissable, but as they typically sell out of these within an hour or two of opening, I can neither confirm nor deny. The coffee is taken quite seriously, too; they're brewing up delicious Stumptown coffee in both drip and espresso form. 

Our table sampled plates both sweet and savory, since every good bruncher knows that variety is the spice of life. First, an almond croissant that was flaky, buttery, and light - just exactly what a croissant should be. 

Then, the "Hello & Good Morning" Sandwich: two fried eggs sandwiched between a buttery brioche bun, with crispy bacon, avocado, tomato, greens, sharp cheddar, and onion-jalapeño jam, served with a side of oven roasted potatoes. This was a hearty, satisfying meal with a wonderful kick from the jam. 

Next, the All American Scramble, a perfect choice for those looking for a more classic breakfast. With crispy smoked bacon, avocado and tomato, toast, jam and oven-roasted potatoes, this was another really filling breakfast choice. Normally, this dish is also served with cheddar, but ours was without - my poor husband who ordered it sadly is allergic to dairy products (awful, I know). 

Of course, I am a sucker for some avocado toast, so when it pops up on a menu I'm rarely able to resist. Haute Cake's version comes with smashed avocado, heirloom tomatoes, rosemary sea salt and soft herbs on sourdough toast. I opted to have my eggs sunny side up, because I do love a runny yolk. On the side, some seasonal fruit, which to my delight was a heaping pile of fresh, tart berries. Now that is the way to do a side of fruit (none of this honeydew melon nonsense, thankyouverymuch). 

And because I couldn't in good conscience come to Haute Cakes Caffe and walk away without having tried some 'cakes, we ordered a side of the Orange Ricotta Haute Cakes. The menu warns that these take a bit longer than usual to cook, but ours were out only moments after the rest of our food arrived. Topped with juicy berries and served with a side of maple syrup, these pancakes actually melt in your mouth. Creamy, soft, and perfectly cooked, these were definitely a winner. 

To you Angelenos: next time you have the occasion to venture south of our lovely city, consider doing so on a weekend morning so you can indulge in some Orange County brunch as well! There are many delicious treats to be found, including some really wonderful pancakes. 

Haute Cakes Caffe

1807 Westcliff Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660