Weekend warrior brunch dishes
I'm currently working on a brunch feature for an October edition of the GOOD TASTE column, and I thought I'd share a sneak peek of a few standout dishes from some of the places I plan to mention.
Halloumi and za'atar croissant at Roast and Toast (1746 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley)
Roast and Toast has been getting a lot of attention for serving booza, a stretchy Arabic ice cream that's very tasty. But the savory items are excellent too — the halloumi and za'atar croissant is great to split with coffee, or eat solo for a filling brunch on the go. Sit outside in the sun for the full effect.
Karashi su miso steak and eggs at Chotto Matte (50 O'Farrell Street, SF)
Chotto Matte recently invited me back up on their rooftop for brunch, a new addition to Saturdays and Sundays. My friend and I particularly loved the miso-marinated steak and eggs. It's the high ticket item on the brunch menu at $55, but it can be easily split between two people, perhaps with a sweet accompaniment of a starter of craffles (croissant waffles) and fresh berries. For a couple hours, I felt like I was on vacation in Los Angeles or Miami on the roof. I also recommend going there for lunch on weekdays, when they have a well-priced "Elements of Chotto" lunch special with a ton of food for $40.
Breakfast burrito at Al Pastor Papi (232 O'Farrell Street, SF)
My friend Miguel Escobedo of Al Pastor Papi has been playing around with occasional brunch service at his new restaurant. He'll be open from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday to celebrate DJ Bitesize, the local winner of the national DMC Open U.S. DJ championships, and it's a good opportunity to try one of his breakfast burritos. The one I tried when I was the DJ for his grand opening event in July had bacon, eggs, cheese, and hash browns, and I'm still thinking about it.
If you're going to Portola this weekend, make sure and read my food guide before you get there!
Tamara Palmer
See you next weekend!
Tamara