Thursday, February 14, 2008

Brunch at Rue Cler

Weekend brunch at Rue Cler features not only great, strong coffee and the possibility of beignets for a starter but also savory crepes, steak frites, and their version of eggs Benedict.

I've been to Rue Cler several times for dinner but I only tried out their brunch last week with a friend. I love the space. It's small and a little noisy, but that gives it a warm, lively feel.

I resisted having fried dough as a starter, but if you are in need of a sugar and fat fix order the beignets. The coffee is dark and strong and perfect with some cream. It's strong enough to make a mule run backwards, so if that is not how you like your coffee, then you might order hot tea instead.

I order a crepe filled with Boursin cheese and roasted bell peppers. It was served with a side salad. The dish was delicate and subtle but substantial enough to fill me up. My friend ate ever morsel of the eggs Benedict, so it must've been good although I didn't taste it.

If you are looking for a place to go with a dash of elegance for brunch, then head to Rue Cler. If you are looking for a hearty meal of eggs, bacon, grits and biscuits then head to Elmo's or Honey's.

7 comments:

Marsosudiro said...

"If you are looking for a place to go with a dash of elegance for brunch, then head to Rue Cler. If you are looking for a hearty meal of eggs, bacon, grits and biscuits then head to Elmo's or Honey's."

And for something in between, Watts Grocery? :-)

The beignets sound great. As for the mule walking backward -- I'd like to see that. (Joke variation: "you're so ugly, if you were my mule, I'd shave your butt, give you some coffee from Rue Cler, and make you walk backward."

BTW, did you ever read the book "Mule Trader" the story of Ray Lum, one of the legendary (and last) mule traders?

http://www.upress.state.ms.us/books/510

An expression I sort of remember from Lum, describing a man who was eager to accept Lum's asking price for a mule, "He like to have ripped his pocket off, going for his wallet."

Anonymous said...

The duck confit crepe at RC is heavenly.

Anonymous said...

I agree re: the confit. Had it for the first time last week. Only crepe I have ever enjoyed. Wife really liked the salmon salad. So much so that she said I needed to comment on it.

Anonymous said...

DF, someday we should go together, you order the duck confit crepe and we'll each try a bite... I had it last time I was there, and had to send it back - it was disgusting (salt and musk). I guess an off day, as I've had their confit before and ate every morsel.

I did enjoy the beignets, although not quite what I recall from back home in southern LA.

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I enjoy your blog and have a link to it on my blog, Prospero's Kitchen. Would you be so kind as to put a link to it on your blog?

www.prosperoskitchen.typepad.com

Thanks!
Ann

Anonymous said...

Alison: odd. Confit is really a method of meat preservation, so maybe the one you had was just that bit too old.

Talking of which, I saw a recipe I really want to try for duck confit in one of the Magnolia Grill books. Maybe if I'm feeling fancy some time soon, I'll make squash tortellini with duck confit...yum!

Anonymous said...

Mmmm beignets. I love beignets. I may have to replace my weekend brunch at Elmo's with a trip to Rue Cler. Thanks for the mouth watering descriptions!