Morning Glorious
Ten local dishes to blow your mind before you’ve had your first cup of coffee.
The Sunday brunch at Carino Japanese Bistro offers up pretty much everything you’re most certainly not serving at home. Yuzu ( a deliciously sour Japanese citrus fruit, as well as the name of one of the country’s most popular pop- rock bands) shows up in several of the bistro’s dishes, including the Hollandaise sauce that accompanies the Croque Madame with House- Made Brioche ($ 14) and in the vinaigrette on the mixed baby greens that come with every brunch entrée. If it’s never occurred to you to eat pasta— or scallops— for breakfast, it will now: a bowl of Mentaiko Pasta with roe, baby scallops, prawns, shiso leaf and seaweed ($ 14.95) should carry you through until dinner. 709 Edmonton Tr. N. E.; carinobistro.ca.
Ricky’s may not be fancy but it’s fast and there’s one near you. Load up for the day on a platter of three hand- battered chicken tenders on
waffles ($ 13.99) with maple bacon strips. Several locations around the city; gotorickys.com.
If you’re still suffering from a Dickensian childhood of being forced to eat gruel on a daily basis, this classic item on Diner Deluxe’s menu will fix you up for good: Maple Fried Oatmeal ($ 12) topped with lemon curd and vanilla bean cream is more dessert than entrée— so better order the Breakfast Poutine ($ 9), too. Reservations “politely declined” at 804 Edmonton Tr. N. E.; accepted at the 350 Aspen Glen Landing S. W. location. Dinerdeluxe.com
Congee, a. k. a. jook, is considered the ultimate Asian comfort food. It’s basically thick, mushy rice porridge served with meat, fish, eggs and/ or veggies. In some countries congee is breakfast; in others, it’s dinner. At The Nash, it’s brunch. If you’ve still got room after a bowl of Crispy Pork Belly ‘ Prairie’ Congee ($ 17) with shimeji mushroom, peanuts and scallions, follow it up with The Must Have Cinnamon
Roll ($ 6). 925 11th St. S. E., thenashyyc.com.
What to do when faced with OEB’s menu options of Confit Duck and
Egg ($ 14.99) served with russet potato pierogies and crisp apple-wood-cured bacon, and a plate of Seared Smoked Mackerel with crisp potatoes in brown butter Hollandaise ($ 14.50; $ 26 if you add a blob of certified organic Canadian sturgeon caviar)? Thankfully, they’re open from 7 a. m. to 3 p. m., which gives you plenty of time to work up an appetite for second breakfast. 824 Edmonton Tr. N. E., eatoeb.com.
The Valencian Style Paella ($ 36) at Ox and Angela makes for great breakfast- time date food ( garlic breath notwithstanding). The dish is a beautiful mess of chicken, Spanish chorizo, manilla clams, summer peas, saffron and butter beans over bomba rice; served in an 11- inch pan meant for two ( or more) people. 528 17th Ave. S. W., oxandangela.com.