Sunday, October 23, 2005

Breakfast Envy at Thomas Beisl

Have you ever coveted your neighbor's plate? This morning at Thomas Beisl, I looked longingly at my friend's breakfast. Ironically, I had suggested that she order that particular selection: the brioche French toast. Three-inch-thick slices of eggy brioche were snowed under with confectioners sugar, thickly spread with homemade apricot jam and festooned with caramelized bananas. The whole glorious mess was accompanied by real maple syrup and creme fraiche.

(My friend didn't care much for the creme fraiche, but as she gleefully poured on the syrup, she regaled me with stories from her New England childhood. Apparently she used to tap maple trees and enjoy wintertime "maple snow." Her mother would heat up the maple syrup and pour it over a handful of freshly fallen backyard snow.)

I had ordered the intriguing-sounding souffled pancakes with fruit compote and raisins. But although I enjoyed the stewed plums in the compote, the pancakes were more like pieces of heavy fried dough with none of the airiness of a souffled preparation. Fortunately, my friend was generous with her French toast, and I believe I will order it the next time we meet for brunch. (I later consoled myself with a fresh-out-the-oven wild blueberry muffin at Blue Sky Bakery.)

Thomas Beisl: 25 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, (718) 222-5800.
Digg this

1 comment:

EFB said...

I've heard good things about the brunch at Thomas Beisl. I've only ever had dinner there and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's one of the better German-Austrian restaurants around where you can get good quality without exorbitant prices. Might be time for me to make another trip.