Baker Miller

FINALLY! Lincoln Square has a new addition to the neighborhood and I crossed it off my list yesterday morning. Baker Miller, Chicago's first "grain-centric" sweet and savory bake-house,  offers baked goods and other items that are made with non-GMO grains. As a San Franciscan, finding places in Chicago with this sustainable mindset is not as easy as you would think, so I'm more than thrilled to have this spot within steps from my apartment. The interior of the bakery/mill house is welcoming and friendly and the staff are all pleasantly kind. I love the art hanging on the walls and wanted to take more photos of the pieces, but didn't want to be that obnoxious girl with a camera intruding on people enjoying their breakfast.

Initially I thought this spot was solely a bakery joint, specializing in the incredible pies I've been hearing about. BUT it's not, in fact, Baker Miller is much more. They have a seasonal breakfast menu, which we sampled here. Limited, but delicious. Jaclyn and I shared the grain bowl, a sausage link, and a delicious baked good.

caught Jac Instagramming

(We devoured that delicious Big Fork Black Pepper Sausage before I had time to snap a photo)

this beauty is a sourdough cinnamon roll... heaven. 

The Grain Bowl: 

preserved cherries, roasted pumpkin, sheep's milk feta, a softboiled egg, and cilantro piled on top of delicious Baker Miller cracked soft winter wheat.

You probably saw this on my Insta (@fincerty) already, but go give Baker Miller a follow @bakermillerchi

Baker Miller is really a great space and other people should catch on to what they've got goin on. I'm so happy to see them in our hood.

Happy Friday!

xx

Crosby's Kitchen

I think every Saturday and Sunday morning should start with a Bloody Mary, accompanied by a 7 oz. beer back. Here are some very delayed snaps from a long, hilarious brunch with the girls when our friend Regan came to town last month. I just found these photos and am remembering how good Crosby's Kitchen is! Def a go back.

We all have the tendency for our eyes to be larger than our stomachs, so we opted to split this delicious warm, homemade cornbread served in an iron skillet. It came with hot maple butter...let's just repeat that one more time: hot. maple. butter. 

That is all. 

Jac and Kels both went for the benedict served over a homemade cheddar bacon buttermilk biscuit. Quite the mouthful, eh? T'was a delicious mouthful, you can bet your bottom dolla that I tried it, multiple times.

Regan was in the mood for a burger that tasted better than it looked (sorry for no snaps of it). I on the other hand decided the fried egg sandwich with bacon on Rye sounded particularly yummy.

Let's just take one last look at that marvelous poached egg...ahhh

If you're in the Southport area and are hungry for brunch, hit up Crosby's. If you're lucky and the weather stays nice for a few more days (fingers crossed!) then be sure to grab a seat outside. Enjoy! 

xx 

Mission Beach Cafe

I'm a huge fan of brunch for a combination of two reasons. The first, and main, I'm never voluntarily up early enough to eat breakfast when everyone else does and it seems there's always a line in San Francisco, no matter what time you arrive. Secondly, I think you can get away with trying things at brunch that you might not care for at 9am. So when Kelsey asked to get brunch a few days ago at Mission Beach Cafe, I gladly accepted since neither of us had been before. We went for brunch, got in with no trouble (surprising right?!) and let's just say we had trouble deciding which of the mouthwatering options we wanted to try. I'm a supporter of all things truffle, but I was a bit hesitant having it with my eggs Benedict, but our server swore by it, so I went for it! 

I opted for the wild mushroom benedict with spinach, carmelized onions, truffle mornay sauce, and delicious crispy potatoes.

Kels went with the classic benedict with hollandaise, Canadian bacon, hot sauce, and crispy potatoes.

We split this glorious pancake with pistachio, vanilla creme, bourbon syrup, and fresh fruit.

Probably my 4th cup of coffee... bottomless is always a good idea.

Overall, great music, friendly servers, and delicious coffee. MBC is a spot I'd def venture back to, specifically for the lavender infused french toast with fresh fruit or the dungeness crab benedict with avocado...how is one supposed to choose?! 

xx

Plow

avocado toast with a poached egg on Acme sourdough 

lemon ricotta pancake + pure maple syrup

smoked salmon toast with capers 

dungeness crab scramble with the best crispy potatoes 

Plow is one of my favorite spots in the city, and I might even go as far as saying, the best brunch in San Francisco. I've never been disappointed with anything on their menu and am obsessed with the interior of their space, so it was a no brainer that my mom and I dined here for our first meal back in the states! The only downside is going on a weekend because you'll be waiting for a table for years and on a Saturday or Sunday morning, that's the last thing I want to be doing. Go during the week (closed Mondays) and mosey through your cups of coffee and lemon ricotta pancakes instead of being rushed.

xx

p.s. thought this list was very accurate upon my arrival home 

Six Snaps

Relaxing 2013 away in Palm Springs

And ringing in 2014 with the best.

Is this an issue that this was my first meal of 2014?

hangin' with this nugget

farewell breakfast

49er Faithful. 

xx

Mama's

Mama's is what we would call a small mom & pop restaurant, located in North Beach, that has become famous for their breakfast & brunch offerings. We all know I'm not one to wake up early, nor am I someone who enjoys waiting in lines for at least an hour for any meal, let alone breakfast. As a native San Franciscan, these two ideas situated in an extra touristy location aren't exactly too appetizing, especially before a cup of coffee. But, I must say, waking up early to beat the humongous lines is worth it for a brunch at Mama's. You have to try the pancakes!

I ordered the Norwegian, a classic Benedict with smoked salmon and Kels went with the Northbeach, prosciutto and grilled tomato. Ordering this way was perfect since we gave each other one of our eggs, we each got to sample both! We split a stack of homemade Old Fashioned light buttermilk pancakes with fresh seasonal berries on top.

I would go back solely for these bad boys.

Hope you aren't too hungry! 

xx