A couple weekends ago, I was invited to try out the new brunch at Catania, the newest concept of the same group that runs Whisknladle and Prepkitchen. I was excited, not only because I’ve been pleasantly pleased with their lunch & dinner (Duck Sugo is a fave), but you can never have too many brunch options! The restaurant sits atop the new La Plaza building on Girard, about a block or so from the beach and has inviting, laid back, yet upscale feel.
Familiar faces abound as other food writers were invited to sample as well. We were seated in the shaded outdoor patio which also features ocean-view & breeze, bar seating.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with Nutella Brioches and coffee. I was intrigued, because I’m not a nutella addict/freak, but love trying new things. A few bites later, I realized that my addiction may have lain dormant, because before I knew it, I had devoured the entire brioche. Well, so much for pacing myself.
I had a second to glance over the menu, giving me an idea of what to expect! Breakfast with an Italian twist and it looked delicious! And then the dishes rolled out…
We started with the Arugula and Eggs which included pancetta / roasted mushrooms / pecorino toscano. This to was the perfect “light” breakfast. It included all you could wish for on a plate but didn’t leave you stuffed!
Next up was the Two Eggs and Ham. Although simple in name, the dish came with italian sausage / prosciutto coto / tomatoes / toast. It was nice to see a classic, old school, and familiar dish, with an Italian twist.
Eggs All’Amatriciana
Baked eggs made with Swiss chard, guanciale, white beans and breadcrumbs. I don’t know what else was in this dish (pure goodness), but this is a shareable and enjoyable dish!
Veal Milanese
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I don’t see veal milanese on too many menus, so I was excited to see it here! Made with eggs, tomatoes, and toast, it pretty much hit the spot!
Farro Oatmeal
I hardly ever order oatmeal but this Fargo version came with pistachio marscapone, persimmons, currants, cinnamon, and my fave, figs!!
Polenta Pancakes
Drizzled with fall fruit, lemon syrup and mint, these little fluffy cakes were savory yet light!
At the bar, which is accessible from the patio or the interior of the restaurant, they featured Italian drafts and cocktails, which we sampled. My fave? Il Piccione. In a nutshell, it’s the Italian version of a Paloma. But be warned, its delicious yet strooong. 🙂
Sampling with fellow food writers/bloggers ellicts laughter at scenes like this…
Be sure to make your way to the village and have brunch at this gem! They serve up bunch every weekend till 3pm! Don’t forget to give them a shoutout when you go!
You can also see their deliciousness on their Instagram page!! Make sure to follow and post pics! Don’t forget to hashtag it #psilovesandiego !!
http://instagram.com/cataniasd
