It doesn’t matter whether you are a ‘local’ or bringing people from out of town. Culinary Dropout is a great place for happy hour with music weekdays and a really good place to go for Saturday brunch.
As you may have heard this month is my birthday month. I didn’t intend for it to be that way. We did a dinner on my actual birthday at Le Papagayo, Encinitas, and for some who could not attend, we did a brunch that Sunday at A’Louest, North Park. Apparently I’m a pretty hard person to buy a gift for! Robyn and I went for a belated birthday brunch this past Saturday, when she found exactly the right gifts!
We start with a ‘better than expected’ 9 ounce pour of Prosecco. We follow that up with shrimp and avocado Louie which is basically a salad. But before we start eating, Robyn asks me to open the bag she brought with 3 beautifully wrapped gifts. A mug, a thermos and a soft comfy blanket, with comments about chefs. How thoughtful. And it’s nothing I already have, so that is great! Thanks Robyn!
At the end of our waiter who has been nothing but wonderful, brings us out out a mud pie on the house for my birthday.
I would say that’s a relatively healthy brunch.
Why I consider this a healthier lunch/brunch
I explain to Robin that I have a three bite rule for dessert.
First Bite: Wow! That’s good! Second Bite: Yes. That is so good. Third Bite: Now I’m being naughty. Then I laugh.
But the truth of the matter is I do that for desserts and I also do it during the holidays.
I eat a little something before I go to a party so I don’t arrive starving. I walk around the food, then dessert and pick three things I’m just dying to try. Now remember I’m working on a three bite rule so that’s three bites of three things.
Now, if I don’t like something after 1 bite, I switch to something else. I don’t finish it just because I should always finish everything I put on my plate. Sound familiar?
Then, I move onto my second thing and then third. This way in the worst case scenario if I take three more bites of yet a fourth choice, I am certainly able to stop after that.
Everything is mindset. If you go into a party with a game plan like the three bite rule, you don’t over eat.
I remember one holiday I actually lost weight after attending several parties. For me, it’s always about tasting anyway. Even when I go out to dinner or I take a group out to dinner. Six of us we order 6 or 7 dishes … maybe two appetizers, three ‘mains’ and a dessert or two.
And I really believe that if you savor each bite you really get to satiate yourself, to satisfy that craving. After the second or third bite, you’ve done exactly that and you really don’t need any more of that particular dish. Just consider that so when you go out to dinner or attend a party.
Anyway it always helps to have good company when you go out to brunch. An hour brunch turns into more than two, when the conversation is good!
Robyn says: ‘This is the best brunch I’ve ever been to”. And it’s the company, the food and the music, plus a lovely waiter to round it all out!
With garlic, gusto & gratitude,
Chef Marian🥂
📧 ChefMarianKitchenConfident@gmail.com
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