Montreal is the brunch capital of Canada. I don't know that that fact has been officially recognized enough, so I would like to give our fashion capital its haute cuisine dues. I had some of the most amazing brunches, all within walking distance of my shabby bachelor apartment. Inventive omelettes, delectable fruit parfaits, the best soy lattes, croissants. Oh the croissants. Going for brunch, which often served more as a breakfast, was one of my favourite activities. Get up, go to yoga, and then sit with the girlfriends/guyfriends over coffee before starting the day.
So now, relocated to a land of slightly less culinary splendor, I am inspired to hunt for a new cafe brunch. Calgary has the greasy spoon diner breakfast down to a tea. But that is certainly not what I'm looking for. I can use too much grease for my scrambled eggs at home, thanks.
So, without further ado, raves or rants, my first venture into the world of Calgary brunch.
Bistro 2210
At her urging, I made long overdue plans with my fellow Montreal transplant, Yule (ok, for the sake of full disclosure, Yule's from the Yukon, and I am originally from Calgary, but we shared a love of French Canadian brunch that makes us feel like Montrealers in a strange strange land). So, after having read an article the listed all of Calgary's prominent brunch offerings, I chose a restaurant close to my work and her home: Bistro 2210. And as I made my way down the treacherously snowy sidewalks and through the heavy wooden doors, I liked what I saw.
High ceilings, warm woods and inviting leather; it was ideally comforting on a frigid winter day. The ambiance had me prepared for a brunch repleat with coffee options ranging beyond decaf or full leaded and inventive and palatable breakfast profferings.
I was pleased to immediately see on the menu that yes, they clearly had an espresso machine. Sadly their coffee options were nto as varied as I'd hoped, thirsting as I have been for a soy latte. Regardless, I ordered an espresso and started soaking in the menu while I waited for Yule to join me.
I was so so so tempted by that Pulled Pork Benedict - certainly the most unique item on the menu. I won't pretend that I didn't find the strictly savoury breakfast options a touch disappointing. It is clear that, while they offer brunch on the weekends, their kitchen's focus is elsewhere, so eggs pretty were pretty much it. But I thought the prices were not too bad for the amount, having settled on the Bistro breakfast with grilled tomatoes (my favourite breakfast food, not offered often, though not pulled off perfectly in my opinion).
Would I go back? Yes, definitely. It was cozy and adorable, and the ingredients were of clearly high quality. When I am being less waistline conscious, that Pulled Pork Benedict is going to be all up inside me. Like that.
But this was not quite the breakfast nirvana I thirst for. So, the search will go on.
