Hoof Cafe Brunch

The most decadent brunch I've had to date, by far was had today at the Hoof Cafe (and most expensive at $80 for 2 with no booze). It was attempt number two for the hubs and me - with our first try ending in empty stomachs and furrowed brows. Given that they will be closing as of next week, I was determined to make this visit a successful one. 

The plan was to arrive just before 10am to avoid the hour long line ups - fail. A night out at Ame the night before lead to four young women stumbling down Wellington trying to hail a cab. Needless to say, all I wanted to do at 9am was roll over.

Around 10am, sheer determination to get my hands on a tongue grilled cheese set in and I finally willed myself up. Thank all things good that I did. 


Despite of the horizontally blowing snow and the hour long wait (in our car since all near by coffee shops were full of Hoof Cafe queuers), it was magnificent.

We started with the tongue grilled cheese - a sandwich like no other. Thinly sliced smoked beef tongue layered on perfectly grilled, evenly buttered dense bread with a mild, creamy brie.

Then I had the suckling pig benny which, after the grilled cheese was just good. I imagine if I wasn't hung over and didn't have the grilled cheese first, this would have been a dream benny. The suckling pork was sweet, saucy and perfectly cooked.

 

This decadent, over the top foie gras french toast is like nothing I've ever tasted before. Thick cut challah toast was crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside - how everything should be. It was drizzled with warm maple syrup, peanuts and a sweet, vanilla sauce. The foie gras was thinner than I expected but added a rich deliciousness to each bite. Even if I did have pangs of guilt for the little duckies. 

Let's hope the Black Hoof & Co keeps brunch on their menu for the sake of the hundreds of us who would brave all kinds of craziness for a bite.