It was a bright Sunday morning when I zoomed down Yonge Street, peddling through a barren Dundas Square and ghost town of a Financial District. I chained up my two wheeler at the corner of University and King Street before prancing into Earls on King Street.
Over the course of the next two hours, our little media table located smack dab in the sunlight sipped and nibbled through Earls official brunch launch. I felt humbly privileged to have the opportunity to be one of the first to taste their eggc-entric hangover cures. While Earls headquarters chose to launch their brunch in Toronto that morning fans of the Albino Rhino can join in on weekend breakfast mimosa infused parties starting in September at the rest of their locations.
While sipping and nibbling through Earls brunch I was impressed by the following:
1) My ability to eat almost every dish put in front of me.
2) The Chef’s use of fresh local flavours procured by local farms. Not the norm in this market segment so bravo!
3) The launch of their in-house sourdough program. Each Earls restaurant will be tending/feeding their own sourdough starter in order to showcase the hearty loaf in dishes such as Eggs Benny, Croque Madame and a light and fluffy French Toast.
4) Discovering a new favourite dish. Earls Chorizo and Mushroom Hash was totally out of this world and featured lightly spiced crispy fried potatoes slathered in hollandaise, scattered with avocado and plopped with a poached egg. Brunch paradise found in the crunch and munch. I may not be an Eggs Benny Lifer after all!
Special thanks to the team at Earls for hosting me as their guest for brunch.
Brunch Feast:
Signature Caesar
smirnoff vodka, clamato, signature spices
Mimosa
fresh squeezed orange juice, sparkling wine
Sangria
white peach or red with berries
Granola and Yogurt Parfait
house made flax, rolled oats, dried cranberries, sultanas, toasted almonds and pecans, fresh berries
Eggs Benny
virginia ham, hollandaise, grilled sourdough
Croque Madame
virginia ham, swiss, roasted serrano cream, sourdough
Sourdough French Toast
chantilly cream, berry puree, pure maple
Chorizo and Mushroom Hash
poached eggs, crispy fried potatoes, avocado, field mushrooms, hollandaise
Frittata
field mushrooms, grape tomatoes, goat cheese
