Friend of a Farmer, Nov. 26, 2005
Friend of a Farmer
77 Irving Place
Thanksgiving was spent in NJ with the in-laws (and parents) which gave us the requisite turkey, stuffing and other side items but also a chance to do the ol' winter switcheroo. This switcheroo involves your average weight comforter and a big, billowy goose-feather down blanket. It also involves lightweight and heavier jackets, winter hats and other such items that we leave in storage (aka the parents' houses) during the warmer months.
So with all of this heavier/space-reducing stuff, the leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner and the laundry we brought home to do for free, we would need a ride home.
So Carin and Leo gave us a lift into the city on Saturday and in return for the favor we took them to brunch.
We were all excited to check out Barca 18, but upon arrival at 11:15 - the doors were locked and found us looking at the fine print on the glass door which told us that brunch was only served on Sundays. Ugh.
Fortunately a veteran in the neighborhood, Friend of a Farmer, had only a 15 minute wait. Despite walking past it dozens of times, I'd never been in for a meal.
The wait was made easier by grabbing a cup of coffee from the shop next door (the coffee was average - which in this city isn't a good thing). A few minutes later and we are brought into the warm, cozy and transporting feeling of this multi-tiered, multi-roomed country farmhouse-turned-restaurant. Our hostess avoids the packed room with the lit fireplace and takes us up above the checkout counter to the second floor, and then to the secondary room that was like a snug back bedroom. There were 4 larger tables back here and autumnal touches throughout and finished with exposed wood beams and floral, fabric wall coverings. What a great place and a terrific way of going to Vermont (or Locust Valley, NY for that matter) without ever leaving the neighborhood.
I ordered the Southwestern Omelette which was a crispy tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and cheese. I also ordered a side of bacon. The tortilla clearly took a quick bath in a fryer; the eggs were cooked appropriately long, allowing it to hold up against the naturally watery salsa, sour cream and guacamole, but the bacon, though salty and crispy, was also clearly deep fried, giving it an oily texture and taste. Bummer. The dish, served in a cast iron skillet, was accompanied with a tiny triangle of watermelon that seemed a little dated for this time of the year (and the cold weather outside) and an orange slice that reminded me of fall soccer games as a kid.
The only thing I'd change would be to add sausage to the omelette and maybe ask for a little extra cheese to be added to it.
Danna and Leo had the Eggs Benedict and Carin had Taylor's Tasty Toast (french toast) which was made from their house-made plum cinammon raisin bread. All looked quite good, and all were devoured in good time.
I'd return - perhaps once more this fall/winter and would definitely suggest it for this time of the year. It seems especially made for the fall.
77 Irving Place
Thanksgiving was spent in NJ with the in-laws (and parents) which gave us the requisite turkey, stuffing and other side items but also a chance to do the ol' winter switcheroo. This switcheroo involves your average weight comforter and a big, billowy goose-feather down blanket. It also involves lightweight and heavier jackets, winter hats and other such items that we leave in storage (aka the parents' houses) during the warmer months.
So with all of this heavier/space-reducing stuff, the leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner and the laundry we brought home to do for free, we would need a ride home.
So Carin and Leo gave us a lift into the city on Saturday and in return for the favor we took them to brunch.
We were all excited to check out Barca 18, but upon arrival at 11:15 - the doors were locked and found us looking at the fine print on the glass door which told us that brunch was only served on Sundays. Ugh.
Fortunately a veteran in the neighborhood, Friend of a Farmer, had only a 15 minute wait. Despite walking past it dozens of times, I'd never been in for a meal.
The wait was made easier by grabbing a cup of coffee from the shop next door (the coffee was average - which in this city isn't a good thing). A few minutes later and we are brought into the warm, cozy and transporting feeling of this multi-tiered, multi-roomed country farmhouse-turned-restaurant. Our hostess avoids the packed room with the lit fireplace and takes us up above the checkout counter to the second floor, and then to the secondary room that was like a snug back bedroom. There were 4 larger tables back here and autumnal touches throughout and finished with exposed wood beams and floral, fabric wall coverings. What a great place and a terrific way of going to Vermont (or Locust Valley, NY for that matter) without ever leaving the neighborhood.
I ordered the Southwestern Omelette which was a crispy tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and cheese. I also ordered a side of bacon. The tortilla clearly took a quick bath in a fryer; the eggs were cooked appropriately long, allowing it to hold up against the naturally watery salsa, sour cream and guacamole, but the bacon, though salty and crispy, was also clearly deep fried, giving it an oily texture and taste. Bummer. The dish, served in a cast iron skillet, was accompanied with a tiny triangle of watermelon that seemed a little dated for this time of the year (and the cold weather outside) and an orange slice that reminded me of fall soccer games as a kid.
The only thing I'd change would be to add sausage to the omelette and maybe ask for a little extra cheese to be added to it.
Danna and Leo had the Eggs Benedict and Carin had Taylor's Tasty Toast (french toast) which was made from their house-made plum cinammon raisin bread. All looked quite good, and all were devoured in good time.
I'd return - perhaps once more this fall/winter and would definitely suggest it for this time of the year. It seems especially made for the fall.
posted by Michael Mahle at 6:03 PM
1 Comments:
I love Friend of a Farmer. Ate there years ago and found nothing had changed upon eating there a few months back. And I love the skillets too. Ha, I'm not a fan of watermelon (my mom says it's so un-American of me) either so I left that on the plate.
Good to see you had a great breakfast.
Post a Comment
<< Home