The Fuzzy Chef & Friends

Eggs Benedict, or "Benedicts", or "Bennies", in their many variations, are quite popular restaurant brunch items here in California.   This is probably because they fall into that class of food which is easy for a restaurant to make, but both annoying and too decadent to make at home.  Today, you can order dozens of different "benedicts" which none of the various Benedict families would recognize, including Florentine (sauteed spinach), Cajun (chile-cream sauce and bacon), New York (smoked salmon and tomato), and the Northwestern paragon, the Dungeness Crab Cake Benedict.

This "benedict" aims to be quintessentially California, simple and easy to make at home, and comparatively healthful.  The secret is in the organic free-range extra virgin heirloom handmade ingredients. Hence I christen it the "Cal-Bennie".  Recipe follows ...

These are all about the root vegetables, more like kartoffelpuffer than they are like flapjacks. While the sweet potatoes don't really change the flavor, they do add interesting color and vitamin A. Good for brunch by themselves, or for dinner with sausage and salad.

Brenda's French Soul Food

Good Cajun/Creole breakfast in the 'Loin.  Expect long waits.

• Overall: 3.0
• Food: 3.5
• Service: 3.0
• Noise: @@@
• Coffee: 4
• Vegetarian: 2.5
• Expense: $$
• Type: Cajun/Creole
• San Francisco, Tenderloin
• Breakfast & Lunch only

Tartine

Food: 4 Service: 3.5 Atmosphere: 2.5 Coffee: 3 Tea: 3 Vegetarian: 4 Potatoes: 4.5 PPPIE: $18 French-American New York City, West Village

A perfect choice for brunch if you need to be in downtown Oakland on a weekend.

• Food: 3.5
• Service: 3.5
• Atmosphere: 3
• Vegetarian: 3
• Coffee: 3.5
• Tea: 4
• PPPIE: $15
• Type: California Fusion Brunch
• Location: Old Oakland, Oakland, California