For the second straight year, my fiancee and I decided to do a "Brunch-Off" for Valentine's Day - a fun way to do something different from the normal crowded restaurant. Thought I'd share our pics. Two dishes and a cocktail each - the first three were mine. I purposefully chose dishes that weren't overly time-sensitive (i.e. a runny egg or something), because she's really bad with time, and we invariably eat like a half hour after she tells me when to be ready. And we have a three-month-old, so that made the timing of everything even more unpredictable this year.
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Deviled Eggs Two Ways - with Crispy Chorizo, Chorizo Oil, and Smoked Paprika; with Confit Tuna, Olives, Tomato, and Olive Oil
These deviled egg variations are two of nine listed on Kenji's site. I even splurged and spent $6 on a new plate (I think it's a sushi plate?) for the presentation!
Deconstructed BLT Soup - Chilled Lettuce Vichyssoise with Crispy Pork Belly, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, and Homemade Crouton
I conceptualized this dish on my own, and was pretty proud of how it turned out!
Golden Sunset - Bloody Mary with Fresh-Squeezed Yellow Tomato Juice
Purple Potato Cakes with Warm Brussel Sprout Salad - Maple-Glazed Brussel Sprout Salad over Chorizo Potato Cake
Inside-Out Breakfast Sandwich - Bacon and Caramelized Onion Muffin with Fried Egg and Blueberry Jam
This was awesome. She made a dozen of the muffins. There's one left. :/
Apples & Honey - Honey-Infused Bourbon with Apple Cider Vinegar and Sicilian Lemon Soda
This was delicious too. The idea came from a (non-alcoholic) cocktail we had at Minibar about a year ago. The apple cider vinegar in this drink made all the difference - so crisp and refreshing.