Friday, June 22, 2012

BRUNCH BABES: WEEKEND HIT LIST 


Another weekend is upon us  and we have survived another work week, suffice to say this one was a SCORCHER! We are happy to say the HIT LIST is back! Think of this as a quick weekend reference guide for Brunch picks. We know that every bruncher has a different price point and requirement of brunch so we have split up the list into some categories and there is something for everybody..  In a gastronomical paradise of over  18,000 restaurants we think this list can be pretty handy! Happy Brunching.


BRUNCH FOR GROUPS 

Panorama Cafe 





Where: 1574 2nd Avenue ( Btwn 81-82nd Street)
When: 10 am -4:30 pm Sat & Sun
Phone Number: 212.772.2220
Comments: Located in the trendy Upper East Side for $15 extra convert your brunch into AYCD with a selection of Mimosas, Bellini, Screwdriver & Bloody Mary. No particular need to reserve laid back vibe, varied menu that covers the traditional American breakfast fare to more savory brunch items. Stroll in with friends in tow and get ready for a great time...Tell Homer the babes sent you =)



BRUNCH ON A BUDGET
Vamos NYC



Where: 348 1st Avenue ( Btwn 20-21st Street)

When: 12 pm -4:00 pm Sat & Sun


Phone Number: 212.358.7800

Comments: For an additional $7 dollars ( the price of one cheap drink may we add) you can commence a 90 min AYCD frozen margarita party. Entrees are price between 12-15 dollars a plate, inside and outdoor seating available. Good place for a weekend Brunch date on a budget so treat a special  señorita  or señorito. 

YOU FANCY HUH....
Bistrot Bagatelle




Where: 409 W 13th street ( Btwn 9th Ave & Washington Ave)

When: 1pm – Till you can’t party anymore Saturday. Closed Sunday

Phone Number: 212.255.9717 (Reservations Required)

Comments: This is the home and birthplace of the champagne brunch where if you have an extraordinary event to celebrate or promotion round up the crew and head down. Recently re-launched in May this boozy brunch aims to take you from NYC to St. Tropez in one sitting. Once the brunch party ensues DJ's come out, sparklers from bottles of champagne and strolling out way past dark is what you can expect. If you don't make reservations try to arrive before 2pm to score an entrance for your ritzy friends and you. 

GRAND OPENING 

Empire Rooftop

Where: 44 W 63rd street

When: 2pm – Till you can’t party anymore Saturday.

Brunch Menu: Very limited information available seems like this will be more of a liquid brunch. However the rooftop regularly has a menu available so we are sure you will find something to nosh on.
Phone Number: 212.265.7400 (Reservations Required)

Comments: With the grand opening this weekend this party has been dubbed “La Vita Brunch Party” by Empire hotel. From 2pm on you can expect a nonstop brunch party with 360 views of Manhattan of Empires rooftop. Though they haven’t released a menu yet the rooftop has a regular menu and with the infamous Ed’s Chowder House down below we are sure Empire will have decadent eats to match the flowing libations. If you attend make sure to report back from the dance floor!

BRUNCH DEALS

Groupon Brick NYC- Tribeca



·         The Deal: $29 for two brunch entrees and four drinks (up to an $88 value)$55 for four brunch entrees and eight drinks (up to a $176 value)
Where: 22 Warren Street (Right off of Church Street)
When: Saturday Only 11am-4pm
Phone Number: 212.577.2725
·         Comments: Straight from the Groupon site, “Jazz music fills a dining hall as brunchers eat smoked-salmon Benedict, pizza with fig and goat cheese, and buttermilk pancakes with syrup” 



Gilt City  Dovetails NYC-UWS


The Deal: Prix Fixe Brunch for two is $72. (canapés to share, one entree per person and trio of desserts to share 1 bottle of sparkling wine


Where: 105 W 77th street (Btwn Amsterdam and Columbus)
When: Sundays Only 11:30-2pm
Phone Number: 212.362.3800 
·         Comments: Straight from the Gilt City  site “ Entrees include breakfast-y choices like crab Benedict Swiss served with chard, radish and spicy hollandaise, or a skinny shrimp omelet with melted fennel, as well as lunch-style options lie a trout Cesar salad.” 





You've Been Hit...Now get out there and brunch!






XOXO,
The Brunch Babes

Saturday, June 16, 2012

What's Hot On The Brunch Scene? 3 Places You Must Check Out This Summer

Tired of the same old brunch scene? Looking for some HOT new spots to meet friends or meet a date? Want good deals and boozy brunch ideas? Look no further we have put together a list of 3 spots that you must check out this summer in your NYC brunchventures. Hey, you might even spot the babes!


1) POCO: Located in the East Village on 33 Avenue B at 3rd street, Poco offers an amazing brunch menu created by Abe Lopez,  season 7 winner of Food Network's "Chopped". With an all you can drink brunch for only $26.95 with your entree, this place is an immediate hit! Not just any boozy brunch let me tell you! You have the choice of mimosas, bloody marys or sangria all served in these huge mason jars. What other place serves mimosas in mason jars? Say hi to Rachel, the bartender for us, she sure knows how to hook it up!

You have the option of sitting indoors or outdoors depending on the weather of course.

What to EAT?
Pictured above is the lobster eggs benedict which is served on a crispy arepa topped with two poached eggs and pimiento hollandaise sauce (DELICIOUS!). Other brunch dishes included: one of their popular dishes the Lobster Mac N Cheese as well as a great take on some brunch faves: Poco Benedict, French Toast, Truffled Mushroom Omelet, Chorizo Hash and more.
 *Also serve vegetarian friendly options.


Follow POCO on twitter at @poconyc for all the scoop on their brunches and other great specials!



2) CALLE OCHO: Located in the Upper West Side on West 81st St between Columbus and Central Park West inside The Excelsior Hotel, Calle Ocho serves one of the best Latin brunches in NYC. (Don't believe us? Check it out for yourself!) Included with your entree, you can enjoy UNLIMITED sangrias and not just one flavor but 8 different flavors ranging from fresas, mojito tropical and more! Mixing is encouraged!

What to EAT?
We love options and this place brings you some amazing brunch entrees. After all celebrity chef Alex Garcia created this menu. We expect nothing less. Pictured above on the top left is the Tortilla Espanola (Spanish fritata with asparagus, potatoes, piquillo peppers and wild mushrooms over a crab enchilado) and on the bottom right hand corner is the Vegetariano (wild mushroom paella, Guatemalan green salad with sweet pea vinaigrette). Other options include some of their more popular dishes: Vaca Frita, Burrito Sucio and the Pollo Ranchero. You can pair any of these with a side of yuca fries, sweet plantains or some avocados and you will be glad to have ever come across this blog.
*Vegetarian friendly.

Follow Calle Ocho on twitter at @calleochonyc for more info and other great deals!




3) HK CAFE: Located in Hell's Kitchen on the corner of 39th and Broadway this posh brunch spot offers not only an alfresco brunch scene but all you can drink brunch which includes bloody marys, bellinis, mimosas AND screwdrivers for an additional $17.95. One cool thing about this place is that you can begin drinking at the bar while you wait for your brunch gang or while you wait for your table. (Get that brunch party started!)

What to EAT?
Pretty much anything brunchy you are craving you will find it in HK's menu. Whether you are in the mood for some Egg's Benedicts with Lobster or with spinach and mushrooms (pictured above)  or if you are in the mood for some pancakes or waffles this place is a winner. Other great options are the Grilled Steak and Eggs, the HK Burger, Moules Frite, HK Fritata and much more!
*Vegetarian friendly options.

Check out HK's website for more info on their brunch menu: http://www.hkhellskitchen.com/!


There you have it folks some great recommendations you HAVE to try this summer! Let us know when you visit and make sure you tell them the Brunching Babes sent you! Enjoy your brunch filled weekend and make sure to come back to brunchinee.com for more blog posts, brunch reviews and much more!

Live, Laugh, Brunch,

The Brunching Babes <3




Friday, June 15, 2012

It’s Been A Long Time…



Mic check 1,2,1,2...is anybody out there? It’s been a long time we shouldn’t have left you without a dope BRUNCH to step too…I think it was appropriate to quote the late and great Aaliyah in this situation. Well the truth is these Babes have sorely missed you! You fierce ever-loving brunch crowd who through thick and thin are willing to troop near and far for an amazing meal, great company, the numerous deals, the fun memories and madness that brunching can induce. Of course, let us not forget also to sip the sweet and sacred weekend brunch nectar, booze… here we have one tried and true saying: “We Salute” you or “Recruit you”, so here we are Cadet Brunch Babes reporting back to the dance floor for duty.

If you’ve been hanging with us in the jungles of social media (@brunchinee) you can see we’ve still been chirping out the deals and booking our face off on your timelines with all the fascinating meals and discounts that cross our inboxes and plates, however we sorely miss updating you on the weekend warrior brunchventures these babes have been having and the groovy people we meet, or meet with to eat and trust me there have been some epic stories..but In between hectic days, traveling for work/pleasure and the daily nuances of life and our responsibilities it’s crazy how fast some of your biggest passions can slip to the back burner while things you swore you’d never forget about quickly gather dust.  Has this ever happened to you?  Well Guilty! Yet like any good stew our brunch pot has been simmering on that back burner this whole time and we’ve been busy beefing up our little Brunchinée baby with tons more ideas and flavor that we are ready to serve up!

We will be back with some of our old favorites like the weekly survival guide, Brunch Babes Weekend Hit List as well as recap/reviews of everything we get our little snouts into. However, expect new sections too such as interviews with chefs or fabulous guests we have for brunch, recipes (originals and  replicas) of our fave brunches for your kitchen and friends but also ways to link up with the babes in person at brunch centered events! So pull up a chair and RSVP because Chez Brunchinée is back in business and your brunches or weekends will never be the same.

XOXO,

The Brunch Babes