Brunching Babes Weekend Hit List Edition :Summer Brunching Having a Blast

Happy Friday brunch lovers! Have you all noticed that on Friday everything just seems a little better? That asshole on the train is a little nicer, coffee taste like sweet nectar of the Gods , you may not want to punch people in your office that you normally want to before consumption of aforementioned nectar and with every passing moment the glorious weekend gallops towards us. This weekend brings an extended treat as its Memorial Day weekend! On Monday we remember all those that lost their life in service to our country while in active duty, Thank you a million times to these Men and Women who played an integral part in the lives of people just like you and me being able to enjoy our freedom. As such this weekend is also traditionally characterized by the dusting off of the grills, the gathering of family and friends, spending time with loved ones, and the unofficial kick off of summer fun.

 

Whether you are a native New Yorker,a tourist popping in to town or coming back from some time away we are determined to give you an awesome hit list of  destinations with Al fresco spaces to kick off your Summer Brunching. After being locked inside almost all week, held hostage to random bouts of extended rain and well a brutal winter we know everyone wants to get outside and play! The babes are dying to spend as much outdoor time as possible. *While last year we were giving the Guido's a run for their money at the Jersey Shore this year we are putting our fist pumps and hair gel away and keeping it local. ( Side note we love Italian food, wine and men)

Note to Brunchers: Local does not have to mean boring!

 We personally feel there is nothing like sitting with friends outdoor, sharing a meal with friends& family all while sipping on a refreshing cocktail with your oversize shades to scream VACATION MODE! So get ready to be armed and fabulous here,s your guide to a selection of Al fresco brunching that will have you saying so were meeting at the hotel pool bar later right. Enjoy!

Name: Le Brasserie Beaumarchais

Location: 409 West 13th Street (Ninth Ave. and Washington Street)
New York, New York

Brunch Days: Le Grand Brunch Every Saturday & Sunday

Link To Menu:Brasserie Brunch

The Brasserie Beaumarchais located in NYC's ultra chic meatpacking district. Promises a "club style" brunch you will never forget. This famed brunch will whisk you away to St.Tropez or the Mediterranean faster than you can say "Partys Here" all from the comfort of your own table. The babes have heard that when Brunch is in full swing the lights get dimmed the DJ's come out fist pumpers can be seen dancing on tables and they have something called the " Champagne Superman" that you have to see to believe. This weekend promises to be particularly exciting with the brasserie holding a memorial day weekend brunch extravaganza! With sassy brunch drink selection that includes Mimosa, Coconut Ciroq and  La Rose Framboise among many you may see the babes throwing their fist and drinks up in the air here this weekend.

Name: The Tangled Vine

Location: 434 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10024 
Brunch Days:  Sunday Brunch
Link To Menu: Tangled Vine Brunch


Check out The Tangled Vine Wine Bar & Kitchen, which was selected by  
Huffington Post as having one of the best outdoor dining options in all of Manhattan. Not only can you have an awesome Brunch which include awesome foodie words such as grueyere cheese, vegetable fritattas, mascarpone & NUTELLA ( cant help but type this word in all caps that's how much this ingredient excites us) but this locale is also an amazing organic wine bar. Whether you are in the mood for some classic Brunch cocktails with a spin or a nice glass of wine with your brunch your guests and you are sure to have a wonderful time enjoying brunch and the outdoors at the same time.

Name: La Bottega Trattoria Located inside the Maritime Hotel

Location: 363 West 16th Street New York, 10011
Brunch Days:  Every Saturday & Sunday from 10-4pm

Link To Menu: La Bottega Brunch

What better way to disguise your city stay-cation than to Brunch it up inside of a Hotel! This Brunch touts Italian cuisine with luxurious menu items like Truffled Eggs and the savory such as Proscioutto and Margherita Pizzas along with an extensive drink menu. The rooftop and outdoor space at the Maritime hotel is truly one of my faves it can turn any frown upside down and while you brunch you will get a good dose of beautiful people watching in the trendy downtown scene. By the time you finish brunch you may want to stroll over to one of the cabanas or bar and just hang the rest of the day before you know it you may be wandering tipsy over to the front desk asking how much it is to stay for the night ;).

Name: Habana Outpost

Location: 757 Fulton St # A New York, NY 11217 
Brunch Days:  Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm
Link To Menu: Cafe Habana Menu


Whether you love Cuban Music, Cuban Food or just the culture this is one spot  you and your group wont want to miss! Open daily from 12pm-12am Habana outpost celebrates authentic Cuban cuisine in a  colorful outdoor setting that can leave any bruncher feeling like they just took a trip to an island. The play lively music as you are surrounded by colorful tents and umbrellas and aim to give you a laid back casual experience with your brunch pick up a couple of beers or margaritas to go with your brunch and your experience will be complete. As NY is currently celebrating Cuban culture in a number of ways this month this would be great flavorful way to introduce or re immerse yourself into the culture! Looking to complete the experience check out  the Contemporary Cuban Art Exhibition  that will be open to the public free from May 27- June 1! Looking to get out of Manhattan here is a perfect excuse

Name:  The Mermaid Inn

Location: 96 2nd Ave # 1, New York, NY/ 568 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY
Brunch Days:   Saturday (UWS only)  & Sunday from  11 -2:45

Link To Menu: Mermaid Inn East Village Mermaid Inn UWS

Here you have two wonderful locations to chose from both lovely out door seating options. What sets Mermaid Inn apart if you have not already had the pleasure of attending is there wonderful seafood theme that translates nicely into their brunch offerings! While they have great traditional options with a twist such as Tres Leche French Toast & Mermaid Bennedict  and Steak & Organic eggs.You will also find tasty creations centered around our sea friends such as the Ragin Cajun Po Boy or Mermaid Fish Tacos. The Babes love seafood especially our amigo Lobster! Its refreshing to find a seafood friendly brunch option with two locations you can pick where you and friends want to enjoy your outdoor crustacean!






  Youv'e Been Hit!Be Safe this weekend, enjoy your free time stop by one of these tasty listings
                                                                        XOXO-

The Brunching Babes

Babes Attend Culintro Panel Series

Besides being great brunchers, the babes have a gift of being great networkers. We want to spread the good word of BRUNCHINEE to all foodies in NYC and throughout the world. We recently joined Culintro, a professional organization based in NY that provides great resources and panel series to those in the food/culinary industry. Culintro’s mission is to establish a source that will provide insights on major trends, access to business professionals, and serve as a gateway to influence industry development.

Culintro holds several panel series and networking events throughout the year and on Wednesday evening, the babes attended their panel series titled Restaurant Design: Stretching Boundaries at The Gabarron Foundation and you better believe we will be attending future events. 

Before the actual panel, Culintro hosted a cocktail reception sponsored by Veev an Acai flavored liqueur that drinks like a vodka and is made from 100% all natural ingredients that are picked in the Brazilian Rainforest. Veev is the first and only distilled spirit made from the acai berry. Veev also contains vitamin C rich cherries and prickly pears that are said to help combat hangovers. This sounds like a great liqueur to use for brunch drinks doesn't it? (Yes, somehow everything written on here always goes back to brunch. Get used to it. hehe) In addition, Veev donates $1 per every bottle purchased towards the conservation of the Brazilian tropical rainforest. Anything to protect nature.

The babes headed over to the drinks table where the bartender was mixing 3 different drinks from the Veev cocktail menu. On the menu were the Spa Cooler (Veev acai spirit, lime juice, simple syrup, mint and cucumber), the Acai Mojito (Veev acai spirit, lime juice, and sample syrup w/ mint leaves) and the Veev It up (Veev acai spirit, club soda, lime wedge). 

We grabbed our spa cooler and mojito and went over to a nearby table and chatted with 2 nice ladies that shared their love for brunch with us. One of the ladies is a writer for a food and wine magazine and the other works for Certified Angus Beef. We bonded over our love of steak and eggs for brunch and shared some of our favorite brunch spots. Always nice to chat it up with fellow foodies!

After the cocktail hour we proceeded downstairs where the panel series took place. The panel series was sponsored by Hospitality Magazine and Sam Tell, a New York based foodservice equipment and supply distributor. Stacy Shoemaker Rauen from Hospitality Magazine spoke about the different restaurant design trends that she has seen in New York, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Toronto, California and Chicago. This topic of conversation is important in regards to brunch because the design of the restaurant will make an impact on your experience. The design is just as important as the food that you serve.  You want people to feel a certain comfort when they visit your restaurant. The design helps set the tone.

Some of the trends that were discussed were the idea of less is more, the homey feel, the different use of art and graphics, and bringing the outdoor in. Here are some examples of restaurants in NY that use these trends: Ma Peche (less is more), Wildwood BBQ (homey feel), Hudson Hall (use of art and graphics) and Zengo (bringing the outdoor in).

The panel series continued on with panelists, Elle Kunnos de Voss from The Metrics, a design consultant agency and Chef John Fraser the creator of the pop-up restaurant currently in SOHO, What Happens When. What Happens When is a temporary 9 month restaurant installation located in Cleveland Space (btw Lafayette and Spring St.) This restaurant transforms every 30 days giving its patrons a different culinary, visual and sound experience. Now in its 4th month, What Happens When is part of a new trend of pop-ups that will be seen in the restaurant scene more often. Currently, What Happens When is serving a New Orleans inspired meal and will switch over to an Asian inspired cuisine on June 7th. We cannot wait to try this pop-up restaurant before it closes in October! 

Elle Kunnos de Voss, Chef John Fraser, Rep from Sam Tell

When people walk into a restaurant, the design dictates what the person could expect from the restaurant. People gravitate towards that homey feel, that certain vibe that makes them excited and keep them coming back. We believe that the reason why people keep coming back to a certain restaurant is not only because of the cuisine (of course this is important) but the design/feel/ambiance of the restaurant also contributes to the overall experience.

What are some of your favorite restaurant trends and how do you feel this contributes to your overall experience? How do you feel about music in restaurants? Weigh In in our comments section!

Weekend Roundup! The babes do Sunset Park and Atlantic City!?

Sooo the world did not end on Saturday and if it had, these babes would have died completely happy thanks to these 2 amazing brunches we had this weekend!

Check out where the babes brunched this weekend.....You guys ready for our weekend roundup?? Giddy Up brunchers!

Weekend getaways are a bit of a tease but sometimes one needs those couple of days to get away from it all. The mind, body and soul needs it and living in the tri-state area we are at an advantage because we can just drive to the neighboring states.

This babe headed out to Atlantic City, New Jersey for the weekend with a group of friends and you better believe I got my brunch on! I cannot disappoint our lovely followers nor my tummy.

We stayed at the Harrah’s Resort which is a beautiful hotel and casino located in the marina district of Atlantic City. Just look at how awesome our view was (Don't mind the lamp, it is a reflection haha): 

The Harrah's is the 2nd tallest building in Atlantic City and boasts to have one of the hottest indoor pools and they have every right to because this babe LOVED it. Imagine brunching and having this as your view? Awesome? I think so!

 (We actually ran into David Hasselhoff AKA "The Hoff" near the pool as he hosted the pool party that evening.)

I was the first one to wake up on Sunday and you better believe I was the brunch nazi! I rounded up the troops and we took our hungover bodies down to the Waterfront Buffet where brunch was being served from 9am-2pm. For $25 you can enjoy an immense selection of all you can eat items. From crepes stations to Mongolian BBQ stations, to omelet stations, to a steak station, to desserts galore, to waffle/pancakes stations, this brunch did not disappoint! I was a bit overwhelmed so I did a run through and checked out everything before making my selections. I quickly formed the line at the omelet station where Antonio hooked me up with an egg white omelet with the works (onions, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, cheddar cheese). I paired it with a medium well grilled steak and some potatoes and TADA there was my brunch! Pass over the ketchup, this bad boy is going down!

No unlimited booze here but before coming to brunch I enjoyed 3 mimosas at the casino while I played on the Sex and the City slots. 

The Waterfront Brunch Buffet also offers these drinks for $6-$7:

Here are some more pictures of the brunch buffet:

Waffles

Crepes filled with scrambled eggs, ham and cheese

Crepes Station

Mongolian BBQ station

That is ice cream! Rocky Road Coldstone Creation

Egg's Benedict

Omelet Station

And if that is not enough, check out this video I took with my flip cam. 3 minutes of Brunching Heaven: 

Thank God for Brunching! Hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did!

Cheers!

-Erika

                          
Part Deux

                 Hey  Brunchinators...Its not really an Arnold joke so its still OK to say right? GOOD,  lol. So if you were in NY this past weekend you know Saturday was a mixture of  sunny with a chance of rapture, which seemed to be supported by the weathers bi polar mix of Sunny as a Malibu beach and as cloudy and rainy as what I picture Seattle to be like in my head. Although my babette in crime was hanging with lady luck in AC, I was determined to put on my *galoshes  (*by galoshes I mean 6 inch open toe strappy sandals) and tango my way with Mother nature to a new brunch. A hop skip to the Brooklyn Bridge, crossing train ride and two clicks of my heel later I arrive in lovely Sunset Park.

note I was not kidding about Sandals

As you know our motto in these parts of town is WILL TRAVEL FOR FOOD  which applies to other boroughs as well as country. Sometimes living in the city its a little hard to pry away from continual city brunching. My wish list is miles long and it seems as if I'll never eat my way through them all. However, its important to remember the way you usually find out whats new and hot is usually by, well going to whats new at least to you! OK enough of my  Tao of Brunch. A short 3 block walk from the D R or Q trains off of 36th street will have you at lovely Maria's which serves an all you can drink certifiably authentic Mexican brunch for a whopping $11.95 from 11-4pm. Yea, you read heard right $11.95 I am almost scared to let this gem out of the bag as I am certain we will be babing it up in there for many future brunches. I present you with Exhibit A:

<3 They had me at 11.95 <3

So with that I began my best impersonation of Guy Fieri circa Diners Dives and Drive ins  bleached my hair spiked it up proceeded in with my camera and told the crew lets go to FLAVOR TOWN! By that I mean I whipped out my iPhone photo bombed Maria's harder than a mother at her child's first school play, stalked employees talked to patrons and made my boyfriend hold my purse.

The following are a series of pics of this charming neighborhood treasure that came just 4 years ago to Sunset Park but has since become a staple for residents, brunchers and tourist alike and yes If I take the train more than 10 stops in any direction to a place I have never frequented I am now a tourist in your land.

Having just come back from Mexico recently in March, I felt a nice sense of nostalgia from the decorations to the fact that all of the staff was straight from the mother land and takes the authentic preparation of Mexican food very seriously and thankfully so for its patrons sake! While you will still find the regs of every Mexican brunch such as Huevos Rancheros, Burritos or Quesadillas when you come here you want to go for the other authentic offerings that are often absent from most other Mexican brunch menus. When was the last time you saw Tamales and Pozole on the brunch menu? 

Is this the kitchen or your Tia Dolores Living Room. I know I <3 it too

First up Mimosas!

Unlimited Delicious & Made with Fresh OJ!

What's a Mexican brunch without Fresh Guac Table side!

Without Further Ado the starlets of our journey 

Machaca A La Mexican- Shredded Steak with  Peppers Eggs Onions Rice and Beans

Asado Plasero- Steak bigger than my head 2 fried Eggs Rice & Beans and home fries!

By the time I took my last bite,  I was already sad and wanted to relive my meal again! The steak was tender done nice and Medium Well  not Well-Well as we all know to many places suffer from and between the eggs beans and steak I consumed more protein than the "I pick things up and put them down" planet fitness commercial guy and felt fully prepared to give a new meaning to the concept of unlimited mimosas! My honey could not stop raving either and was content that the size of his plate finally matched the size of his appetite. I have to say it was another great one for the books and bellies and the only thing that could make me leave then was the thought that we will soon be bringing friends back because even though it was too cold this past Sunday, Maria's also has an Al fresco section outback and we know Al fresco is really code for FIESTA! So remember.....

Live Laugh Brunch

xoxo Yadi

BRUNCHING FOR A CAUSE- BRUNCH BABES WEEKEND HIT LIST

Hello Lovers ! The babes hope you've been having a wonderful week and staying dry....This gloomy weather could give anyone a serious case of the S.A.D's ( Seasonal affective disorder). So a big heart felt : 

TGIF &TGFB !

Thats right here at Brunchinee the babes: Thank God Its Friday and Thank God for Brunch. Brunch is imaginative, delicious, relaxing, and a restorative experience all rolled up into one.  This weekend as you enjoy your last leisurely hours catching up with friends family and love ones, you could also be pulling double duty and helping to  make a difference in people's lives, who need it the most! Excuse me? Did you say FOOD FUN, FRIENDS & a Feeling that will leave not just your tummy full but your heart as well.

 Yes Yes We did! Let's Brunch to make the world a better place!

This week the  babes have made a special dedication and round up on our Hit List of Brunches that are dedicated to a great cause. So this weekend time to get our your wallets and appetite for some GREAT CAUSES. While you fill up on Bellinis and Mimosa, the sweet or savory menu items,  you have a chance to make a difference and help a cause all from the comfort of your table. We have filled up the list with brunches that benefit children, countries, illnesses that need to be eradicated and more. Hopefully you find a cause that speaks to you. Lets get to it! Read the snippets below or just click on the logos for more info!

click me for more info

This first ever "Sunday Funday" brunch event was created as a way to bring the already successful "Pancakes for Parkinson's" to NYC.  This 3 hour full buffet brunch at the newly opened Dos Caminos (Meatpacking) includes pancakes and so much more!  Open bar options, live music and auction items make this a truly NY experience.All net proceeds will be used to benefit Team Fox and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research.

click me for more info

Name: Brunch Party 4 A Cause
Location: The Rooftop at Bar Basque @ The Eventi Hotel - 839 6th Ave (29th Street)
Event Time: Noon - 4pm
Event Details: Food, Drinks, Dj and Dancing
DJ Details: DJ CHACHI will be headlining the event, with opening and closing sets by DJ Zeke Thomas
Open Bar Details: Mimosas, Bellinis, Prosecco & Bloody Marys from Noon - 2pm
Food Details: Eggs, Pancakes, Sausage, Bacon, Home Fries, Assorted Yogurts, Granola, Cereal, Cheese Plates, Danishes,  Fruits, and Mini Muffins from Noon - 2pm
A Cause 4 Celebration: A Cause 4 Celebration is a 501(c)-3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for other charities that provide (1) research, (2) care, (3) treatment and (4) education for children with cancer. www.acause4celebration.org
Beneficiary Organization: Proceeds from the event go to Cohen's Children's Medical Center @ North Shore LIJ (www.northshorelij.com/ccmcny/home)

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On any Sunday you can visit with the Choir and enjoy a soul-food brunch at BB King Blues Club, New York City. Here the Choir brings their experience of Harlem and the Black Church to Times Square in a foot stomping, hand clapping show for fans from around the world.

The home-style "all you can eat" southern buffet is guaranteed to fill the hole in your soul, and the Choir's joyous performance will have you dancing on the stage.

The world famous Harlem Gospel Choir is the most famous gospel choir in America and a pre-eminent gospel choir world-wide. It travels the globe, sharing its joy of faith through its music, & raising funds for children's charities. The Choir was founded in 1986 by Allen Bailey, who got the idea for the Choir while attending a celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Cotton Club in Harlem. The Choir presents the finest singers & musicians from Harlem's Black Churches & the New York/Tri-State area

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 On May 21st, Bryan Greenberg, musician and star of HBO's "How to Make it in America," will host The Olevolos Project's May 21st Brunch Party at New York City's Le Cirque on 151 E. 58th Street from 1:00-4:00pm. The proceeds from the ticket sales to the open bar brunch and silent auction will benefit children of the village of Olevolos, Tanzania.

click me for more info

 Nuela, the acclaimed Chelsea restaurant and major supporter of AID FOR AIDS International’s AIDS Walk campaign, will host a brunch this Sunday to celebrate the Walk and benefit of the AFAI medication recycling program.

Ten percent of the proceeds from the $43 brunch, which follows the conclusion of the AIDS Walk at 1 p.m., will be donated to AFAI.  The package price includes a prix-fixe menu and unlimited mimosas. For those of you walking with AID FOR AIDS for this year’s AIDS WALK, Nuela has also offered a special price of $24 for the prix-fixe menu (which includes one mimosa or fresh-squeezed orange juice).

Happy Brunching You've Been Hit!

XOXO-The Brunching Babes