SUNDAY BRUNCH ~ SIN OF CORTEZ ~

One place I always make a point to hit up when I'm home in California is Sin Of Cortez, located in Chico California.  Trust me, I love an all American breakfast... but, sometimes I just want something a little out of the box, and that is why I love to come here.  This place is normally really busy and it takes a while to get a seat but, good things are worth waiting for, and everyone here is very nice.

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Sin Of Cortez offers a variety of healthy breakfast choices featuring local and fresh produce from the Chico area.  Many dishes have a Latin twist but not all of them.  I think of it more as a bohemian gypsy style breakfast.  Most dishes can come with a side of brown rice or a whole wheat tortilla. I LOVE scrambled eggs and rice!  I honestly feel like its one of the best parings, and you rarely see them accompanying each other!  When Curtis and I honeymooned in Costa Rica, the national breakfast dish there was called Gallo Pinto, which was scrambled eggs, fried white rice mixed with black beans and covered in a coconut sauce... ooohhh I miss it!

Anyway, at Sin Of Cortez I love to order there blueberry cornmeal pancakes.  They are so light and have a little crispness to them.  Maple syrup is on every table in old Jorito soda bottles.  I'm also a huge fan of there scrambles.  You can get anything from spinach to pesto to tofu to jalapeno, and every scramble is served with a side of lightly sprinkled rosemary potatoes.  Each dish is carefully crafted and arranged so beautifully, its hard to actually eat!......... Actually no, no it's not hard to eat at all.

Sin Of Cortez makes everything "In Kitchen" which I actually had to research, because shouldn't everything be made "in kitchen?"  By that they mean, everything is made fresh daily.  The beans don't come out of a can, they are soaked and cooked fresh.  Everything from the salsa to the whipped cream is made fresh daily.  They actually quote themselves, "If we had more room, we'd raise our own beef."

There coffee is some of the best you can find, and they hold a very high standard to what they use to make it.

There motto is; "Make the best coffee possible, damn the cost!"

They're coffee is made from Single Origin beans, meaning they come from the same plant, or group of plants.  They will never be blended or dark roasted to save cost.  Single Origin beans are the only way to ensure consistent flavor and texture, no after taste and balanced acidity.

Of course the love of my life is there Mexican Hot Chocolate!

It is perfectly sweet and spicy at the same time. With fresh REAL whipped cream (Not from any can or tub!) and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and chocolate syrup.

Oh my heart starts palpitating just thinking about it.

So if you live any where near or are passing through Chico California, absolutely stop and grab yourself a cup o' Cortez Joe and some seriously good eats!

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If you would like to visit Sin Of Cortez on the web just click HERE

"Beep Beep!" from The Little Road!

SUNDAY BRUNCH ~ THE BROWN BAG CAFE

There is nothing better then having a great brunch with great friends.  Curtis and I have been planning on spending this morning with two of our closest friends Courtney and Brandon.  Everyone is pinching pennies these days, and Courtney tells me that when the two of them want to take a minute to splurge and really want to treat them selves, the Brown Bag Cafe is where they go. 

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Walking in to the Brown Bag is walking into a maze of old windows, antique nick knacks and scooting around hoards of people eventually  to get to the front counter to put your name on the list.  I generally think having to wait a while for your breakfast is a good sign, and it was definitely a good sign for this mornings nosh.

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The original owner, Ward Myers used to be a cook and baker in remote Alaskan logging camps, where a fresh home cooked meal was hard to come by.  Later him and his wife moved to Washington and opened the first Brown Bag Cafe.   The restaurant was an instant hit, because it offered local loggers a hearty 4am breakfast, as well as a brown paper bag lunch to go.  Today the restaurant is owned by their son Alex, who is the morning baker.  While your waiting for your table you will see many patrons ordering bags and bags of enormous English muffins and Cinnamon rolls to take home with them.

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A few of their specialties include banana and pecan pancakes and french toast made from their in house made cinnamon rolls, yes frosting and all!  Yum!  Our table was over flowing with yummy breakfast food this morning.  A wonderful over filling breakfast with wonderful friends equals delightful over satisfaction for me.  We immediately had to go play a round of miniature golf afterwards to keep us from going home, curling up in bed and having a complete food coma.

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Cheers to the Brown Bag Cafe!

And Cheers to you!

SUNDAY BRUNCH ~ THE CRICKET CAFE

Curtis and I are huge fans of Portland.  Mostly because one of our amazing friends and the man who married us lives there, but what makes Portland such an amazing city is the FOOD!!  Every nook and corner has something new and creative to offer, as well as amazing care to the quality and freshness of the food its self.  Like the Seattle area, Portland is also booming with agriculture and specialized vendors of all sorts.  Though there are many places that I love to eat at in Seattle, I have to admit that Portland really has it figured out.  They have it figured out because all of these small little eateries in every nook and corner are taking full advantage to the natural resources and agriculture the city has offer.  It's really quite amazing!

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The Cricket Cafe is no stranger to that concept.  Pulling all of their ingredients from Farmers Markets, local family bakeries, local sustainable farms..... even their next door neighbors backyard stash of mint leaves!  Community and humanity are the heart and soul to small business.  That is what makes us great!  That is what makes us wholesome!  That is what makes the lines go around the damn corner!!

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Ill never forget the first meal I ever had at the Cricket.   It was a special;  Ricotta flap jacks, with glazed white peaches and hearty bits of CANDIED BACON!!!   Yeah..... that was CANDIED BACON!

I honestly don't think Ill ever forget that Sunday brunch.  Along with amazing food The Cricket also offers an impressive liquid menu.  The specialty is, "The Bloody Gary" 

Not just your every day bloody mary...  Jalapeno infused vodka and fresh horse radish.  It's self induced heart burn, but my oh my don't we just love to feel the burn!  My favorite bloody of all time!

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The restaurant was created on a bet between a husband and his wife as they were walking home one evening.  As they were walking, a white cat crossed their path, which later they found out was named "Cricket"..... And there you have it, The Cricket Cafe!

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My dear friends, if you are visiting Portland, you have to stop by 3159 SE Bellmont and have a "Gary" for me.  Oh, and if the line is around the corner, just remember.... CANDIED BACON!

 

CHEERS TO THE CRICKET!

SUNDAY BRUNCH ~ WILD WHEAT BAKERY

Getting your hands on a good Sunday brunch here in Seattle a lot of the time means waiting, sometimes lengthy periods of time to get a table at your favorite spot.  Though personally I am more then happy to wait a while to eat a fabulous afternoon brunch where I know the food is delicious and the people are nice.  But, on the other hand, there are those times when you really don't want to mess with that at all.

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Welcome to the Wild Wheat Bakery located in old town Kent Washington.  Might as well spend your wait driving a short distance in your car to get an amazing meal in an atmosphere that has A LOT of character and movement!  For those of you who are familiar with Old Town Kent Washington, you will know that the railway runs straight through it.  Wonderful Wild Wheat perches its self quaintly along side the tracks. 

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While you're enjoying one of their specialty breakfasts, you suddenly feel your feet a rumblin, and all the glasses start a clankin.......... Then......... TOOOT TOOOT!  Wild Wheat's large picturesque windows allow you to view the trains rolling by up close and personal, as well as frequently!

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Since Curtis and I live south of the Big City in beautiful Des Moines, Wild Wheat is just a hop skip and a jump from our house, and its one of my favorite haunts on a lazy Sunday.  Today I devoured yet again another Eggs Benedict, smothered in their house made lemon infused hollandaise sauce.  Perched oh so happily upon 2 slices of their divine hazel nut current bread and lots of little bacon crumbles.  It normally comes with a side of home fries, but I always opt for a bowl of fruit instead.  Mmmmmm.   Though I'm a huge fan of their Chai Latte, I took a picture of Curtis' Caramel Macchiato.  It was much prettier then my cup of Non-Joe.

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Take a look at some pictures of our brunch today.  For those of you who attended our wedding last August, this is where we bought all our fancy bread for our bread and jam table.

What are your favorite Sunday brunch hang outs?

Cheers!