When I was growing up my parents would always talk about Sunday brunch, the breakfast and lunch hybrid reserved for Sundays. Once I hit my 20's, brunch with friends would be scheduled for Saturdays too, so for as long as I can remember brunch has always been a weekend affair. But what if you're craving brunch on a Wednesday?

Pip - 10403 83 Avenue - Edmonton AB

Whether I'm cutting into perfectly poached eggs with a loved one or toasting mimosas with friends over good conversation, there's just something special about brunch that makes it high priority on my weekend to-do list. But given the nature of my profession brunch only happens on alternate weekends, so it definitely feels like I'm missing out on the weekends that I'm scheduled to work. I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels this way, but luckily there's a new option for those of us that work weekends; say hello to weekday brunch at Pip!

Down the street from MEAT and next door to the Next Act Pub, Pip is the little sister to these two well-loved restaurants of Old Strathcona. Pip's 28-seat space is much smaller than the space occupied by its big sisters and differs with it's minimalist decor and a hip, sophisticated vibe. The space is cute and cozy with soothing shades of slate, mint, and birch.

Pip serves brunch daily until 3 pm, which is perfect whether you're an early riser or you like to start your day a little later. The brunch menu is short and sweet with 8 dishes, some optional sides, and a handful of fresh cocktails to enjoy.

I've been to Pip on two occasions now and enjoyed the Traditional Eggs Benedict ($17) both times. Two perfectly soft poached eggs sit on thinly shaved ham and are generously covered in a rich, buttery dill hollandaise sauce. I could argue that the hollandaise is one of the best in the city - I almost licked my plate clean! The accompanying pan-fried house hash was flavourful, although the potatoes could be a little more crispy for me.

The menu offers a Quinoa Breakfast Bowl ($14) for those looking for lighter fare, served with arugula, avocado, basil pesto, toasted hemp seeds and a hard boiled egg. With all the components mixed together and a generous squeeze of lemon juice the bowl is a fresh start to your day.

Perfect for a cold winter morning, the Eggs & Bocconcini ($15) baked in a tomato basil sauce and served with toast is a soul-warming dish. The rich egg yolks are well balanced by the tangy tomato sauce. Spoon it onto a crispy slice of toast and you have a hearty breakfast!

Pip also offers a rotating breakfast sandwich special paired with house hash, and on our particular visit the sandwich featured a Meuwly's Italian sausage patty with artichoke mayo, tomato, arugula, melted cheddar and a runny fried egg on a sourdough bun. The sausage was well seasoned with a little kick and the sandwich was delicious with all the components combined. Who doesn't love a breakfast sandwich with an oozy egg?

If the line-ups out the door are any indication, Edmonton's brunch game is picking up and I'm glad to have a weekday option available in the city. Unfortunately there are no reservations for brunch, so line up early or be prepared for a wait. Given the small space, tables for two have the quickest turn over, so bring a loved one or a close friend for brunch any day of the week.

Duchess Bake Shop is arguably one of the best patisseries in Canada. On any given day there is guaranteed to be a line up for their beautiful baked goods, which are always worth the wait. Last year at Christmas in November I learned that there were plans to open up a breakfast spot 5 blocks east of their current location, so I've been waiting eagerly ever since.

Cafe Linnea - 10932 119 Street - Edmonton AB

Following the opening of the new Duchess Provisions at Holland Plaza comes the opening of Cafe Linnea, co-owned by Chef Kelsey Johnson and Garner Beggs (part owner of Duchess Bake Shop). This breakfast and lunch spot takes its inspiration from traditional Scandinavian and French cuisine, both of which share a part of Chef Kelsey's heritage.

I stopped by for lunch with a friend on a Thursday to find a busy restaurant with a small wait list. Although Cafe Linnea is tucked away from the busy 111 Avenue traffic, its hidden location has not stopped patrons from finding the space. The open concept restaurant features clean lines and minimalist Scandinavian-style decor, with copper accents giving the space a bit of warmth. Concrete boxes filled with plants and mossy vegetation bring some life to room, and in some ways it feels like you're dining in a greenhouse with the sunlight coming in through the windows along the roof.

We opted to sit at the bar by the espresso machine, where the barista worked non-stop throughout our entire meal. What's interesting about Cafe Linnea is that it is a no-tipping establishment. Prices on the menu are reflective of using high-quality locally-sourced ingredients and are inclusive of GST, so what you see is what you pay. The reasoning is that by paying their staff high wages (full time staff are salaried and get benefits) the staff are motivated to come to work, and tips are not expected.

The menu is split between small bites and main dishes, both of which have a fair number of options to choose from. As we debated between a few different dishes we had our drinks to start. The cappuccino came along with a baby meringue - a sweet little touch! The bar also features a juicer for daily made-to-order juice. During our visit it was a mix of peaches and other seasonal fruit.


Daily Juice
For lunch my girlfriend went with the Seared Carrot Galette ($16). Caramelized carrots, raclette cheese, crunchy cabbage, kobocha squash puree, and a perfectly soft poached egg sat beautifully on a folded buckwheat crepe. The sweetness of the carrots and squash paired well with the savoury cheese, and the cabbage added a different textural element. The runny egg yolk tied it all together.

While I get tempted by sweet brunch dishes I almost always end up going in the savoury direction, and the Oeufs-en-Cocotte ($21) caught my eye. The dish came with two soft-baked eggs on a caramelized onion and mushroom ragu with potatoes, topped with baby kale and served with a side of whipped butter and housemade sourdough. After one bite into the eggs and ragu I was done for. The creamy ragu was packed full of umami from the different mushrooms used in the sauce, and each variety gave the dish a different texture. With creamy egg yolks added to the mix, it was a perfect pairing with the lightly toasted sourdough and butter. You bet I wiped the dish clean with my bread!

A meal isn't complete without dessert, even when you're full, so we opted to share the Roasted Nectarine Crepe ($11) with bourbon vanilla semifreddo and caramel. The roasted nectarines had a slightly nutty flavour and paired well with the silky custard of the semifreddo. Even with the caramel sauce the dessert wasn't overly sweet and rounded off the meal just right.

Edmonton's brunch scene is growing and it's great to have another option available in the city. Prices range from $6-$21 per plate, putting this cafe on par with other establishments in the city. The use of local ingredients and house-made condiments brings to the table high quality dishes that customers of Duchess Bake Shop have come to expect. Stop by for breakfast or brunch, but be prepared to wait - there are no reservations unless you have a party of 6 or more. Reservations can also be made for high tea service on Sundays ($55/person), which I hope to check out soon!

When I have guests visiting in the summer I always recommend a trip to visit Fort Edmonton Park. There is so much history in that park alone, it's fascinating to take a step into the past. During the off-season the park operates on a limited basis with occasional film screenings at the Capitol Theatre, accommodations at the Hotel Selkirk, and Sunday Brunch at the Johnson's Cafe.

Johnson's Cafe at Hotel Selkirk - 1920 Fort Edmonton Park Road - Edmonton AB

Fort Edmonton Park played a huge role in my childhood. From attending their summer camps to going on a yearly field trip with school, the park holds many memories for me and I make a point to visit once a year. The park offers Edmonton's most unique Sunday Brunch setting, as Johnson's Cafe is inside the 1920's style Hotel Selkirk. Brunch at Fort Edmonton has been on my to-do list for a while, so my boyfriend and I were excited to give it a try when we were invited by the park.

Johnson's Cafe can accommodate up to 96 guests, and we were surprised to see how quickly the room filled up with tables of two and large family groups. Sunday Brunch runs from 10:30AM-1PM with seatings available every 30 minutes. Tickets for brunch are purchased online in advance at a cost of $32.95 for adults (13+), $27.95 for seniors, and $19.95 for children aged 4-12. For a buffet-style brunch the pricing is similar to others around the city, but there is even better value when the park is open since park admission ($26.20 for adults, $20.90 for children/youth/seniors) is included in your brunch price!

In terms of food there is a wide variety available and the serving stations literally take over the entire lobby of the hotel. The stations are grouped into morning pastries, cold plates and salad, signature hot plates, a chef-attended omelette station, a chef-attended carving station, and a specialty dessert selection.

My first stop was at the made-to-order omelette station, where you could choose between an assortment of eight toppings. If the line was any indication, this was one of the most popular stations for brunch.

The cold section featured a fresh salad bar, assorted cold cuts and cured meats, pickled vegetables, fresh vegetables, and ready-to-eat salads like a traditional potato salad, corn and chickpea salad, and country-style coleslaw.

From the hot side was a variety of breakfast and lunch options. Breakfast must-haves included crispy bacon, plump breakfast sausages, and crispy hashbrowns, but I particularly enjoyed the parmesan grilled tomatoes. The signature lunch dishes change from time to time, but the ones available during my visit included grilled chicken, pasta, vegetable paella, and seared salmon, among other dishes. The chef-attended carving station was featuring a beautiful prime rib with a peppercorn jus.

If there was one thing I was saving room in my stomach for, it was for the jaw-dropping selection of desserts! With sweets like red velvet cake, cream puffs, blueberry cobbler, watermelon tequila shooters, cupcakes and other plates, I didn't know where to start. The desserts change from one week to the next but the milk chocolate fountain is a staple, and when I saw the flowing chocolate I was done for!

After dipping numerous skewers of fresh fruit, marshmallows and rice krispies into milk chocolate, the other dessert that caught my eye was the rosemary creme brulee. The smooth custard with earthy rosemary was a perfect flavour combination that I'm going to have to replicate at home!

The Sunday Brunch experience at the Johnson's Cafe was lovely. Our server was constantly checking in and made sure our water glasses and coffee mugs were never empty. Food quality was great and there was enough selection to ensure there was something for everyone. While having brunch in a 1920's style hotel is an experience in itself, take advantage of the brunch price during Fort Edmonton Park's operational season and explore the park after brunch! With admission included in your brunch price, it really is a no-brainer.


*Disclosure: I was invited to try the Sunday brunch at Fort Edmonton Park. Views expressed in this post are solely mine. This post is 100% my opinion, and as always, my priority is to you, the reader, to present an unbiased, thorough review.

Edmonton's brunch culture outside of buffet-style service was never hugely popular until last year. I've been noticing more restaurants jump on the brunch train, the latest being a popular Mexican spot right in the heart of Old Strathcona.

El Cortez Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar - 8230 Gateway Boulevard

As a place I frequent for tasty tacos and guacamole on the patio in the summer time, I was excited to see El Cortez offer brunch starting the weekend of March 19 & 20. Every weekend from 11AM - 2PM the restaurant offers five brunch dishes at a great price of $14.

I dropped by with my sister for brunch on opening weekend at 11AM and the restaurant was bright and inviting. We were shocked to find how quickly the restaurant filled up, as every seat was occupied by 11:30. Edmontonians love their brunch!

Chef Lindsay Porter designed this menu to reflect traditional Mexican elements, while staying true to the LA inspiration that the dinner menu draws upon. While all the options sounded fantastic I couldn't pass up the Chilaquiles, which featured peppers, onions, verde cream, queso, chorizo, and two eggs with sauteed corn tortilla chips. Arriving piping hot (and on a beautiful plate to boot!), the chilaquiles had a punch of flavour and a kick of heat with every bite. The oozy egg yolk really brought all the ingredients together in this filling dish.

My sister went for the Huevos Rancheros with rojo sauce, 2 eggs, queso, pulled pork, pico de gallo, and crema on housemade tortillas. The fresh pico de gallo went well with the smoky pulled pork and rich rojo sauce. It's another filling brunch dish, but who can say no to tacos early in the day?

To accompany brunch plates, El Cortez offers a variety of sides ($4) to mix things up. While thick cut bacon, cornbread, and fresh fruit are great options, I had my eye on the Fried Patatas. I just can't say no to crispy potatoes seasoned with smoked paprika and drizzled with tangy aioli!

El Cortez is a strong contender in the Edmonton brunch scene. Although the menu is small there is something for everyone at a very affordable price. Service is great, food is tasty, and the lively environment is perfect for fun, casual brunch. If you don't feel strongly about any dishes in particular the regular menu is available too, so swing by on the weekend and let me know what you think!

When I think of brunch it's usually some version of eggs benedict accompanied by a mountain of fruit. Meat isn't usually the first thing to come to mind, so when Meat deviated from their weeknight dinner service to offer weekend brunch I was curious to see what was on the menu.

MEAT - 8216 104 Street - Edmonton AB

Opened just over a year ago, Meat delights those in Old Strathcona with the smell and taste of tender smoked meat. The large windows bring in lots of natural light to the open concept dining room, and the communal dining tables give this restaurant a casual, laid back feel. Bourbon, cherry and spicy barbeque sauce and mustard line each table, waiting eagerly to accompany your meal.

The brunch menu is straightforward, offering seven breakfast dishes and three sandwiches. My boyfriend started his day with the Beef Brisket Benny with Hashbrowns ($15), where the soft poached eggs and brisket sat on caramelized onions and a fluffy buttermilk biscuit. The housemade hollandaise added flavour to the dish and the crispy hashbrown was a great accompaniment, but it did feel like the dish could have used a bit more brisket.

For myself I went with the Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Flapjacks ($16), and it was probably the best decision I made that day. Biting through the crispy skin revealed piping hot, juicy chicken that was perfectly seasoned. The three cornmeal flapjacks with butter and rosemary maple syrup made for the perfect sweet and salty combination and the portion size held me over ‘til dinner. Unfortunately, one of my pancakes wasn't fully cooked through, but another quickly arrived to the table in its place. If you're going to Meat for brunch, this dish would definitely be my recommendation!

Edmonton doesn't have as much of a brunch culture as other cities (hello, Calgary!), but it's great to see another restaurant start to offer casual weekend dining. Old Strathcona is a great area to spend a warm weekend afternoon, so why not kick it off with brunch at Meat? And not to worry if you're a vegetarian, as they have veggie friendly options too. Not too many people seem to know about brunch yet, as it wasn't overly busy during our visit, so you can avoid long lineups and kickstart your weekend with some smoked goodness!

The new year started with a bang for me in terms of food! After a late night of ringing in the new year with friends, my boyfriend and I did not want to have to make our own food the morning after. There aren't too many brunch spots in Edmonton, and most of the ones in Edmonton weren't open on New Years Day. Luckily one of the newest cafes came to our rescue.

Cafe Blackbird - 9640 142 Street - Edmonton AB

Cafe Blackbird opened its doors at the beginning of October and is located conveniently along 142 Street in the heart of Crestwood right by Delux Burger Bar, Cobs Bread and Careit Urban Deli. I stopped by once before for drink to go, and knew I had to return to try out their brunch and lunch options. Their New Years 'All Day Hangover Brunch' fit the bill, so off we were on Thursday morning to meet a friend for brunch.

My morning started off with a Vanilla Latte ($4.50) made with beans roasted by Edmonton's own Iconoclast Coffee. The latte had great flavour and definitely woke me up. It was nice to know that high quality, locally roasted coffee is the choice at Cafe Blackbird, since it's so important to support local producers! (On a side note - YEG Coffee Week is coming March 7th-15th, and Cafe Blackbird is participating! Details to come.)

The main feature on the Hangover Brunch menu was a Loaded Waffle Panini ($17) which featured two waffles with eggs, bacon and cheese, served with maple syrup, brunch potatoes and fruit. My boyfriend and I are known to visit District Coffee Co. on the weekends for their breakfast waffle sandwiches, so this waffle panini was calling our names. When the dish arrived at the table we couldn't wait to dig in. The waffle panini tasted just like we would have imagined, savoury from the gooey cheese and bacon, and slightly sweet with the addition of maple syrup. The portion size was very generous (read: TWO whole giant waffles!) and I feel two people could have shared this one.

For myself I wanted to try the Eggs Benedict ($16) which is my typical go-to on brunch menus. The version at Blackbird is two poached eggs on ham, with hollandaise and served on top of Cobs Bread sourdough with a side of brunch potatoes. The eggs were poached beautifully with soft whites and an oozing yolk, and I liked the kick of heat to the hollandaise. The use of sourdough as the base for the dish was novel choice, but I found it was very difficult to cut through. With a bit of effort I was able to cut through and the payoff was some fresh, chewy sourdough, but I would prefer the traditional English muffin. The brunch potatoes served with our dishes were fluffy and flavourful, making them a filling side for both plates.

Cafe Blackbird is a great spot in the Crestwood community and I'm sure the local residents are loving it! They offer comforting cafe fare, and support local producers at the same time. Brunch is available on weekends, and tapas are available in the evenings from 5pm til close. They even have some wines for you to indulge in! I'd love to have a locally owned cafe like this near my home - those of you in the west end are lucky.

On my most recent trip to Vancouver I booked my flights in such a way that I could maximize the length of my trip, and therefore maximize the amount of food I could eat. Arriving at 7:30 AM on a Friday and leaving 8:00 PM the following Tuesday gave me plenty of opportunities to indulge! The first order of business was to meet up with Jo, a local blogger that I have met and grown close to over my years of blogging.

Cafe Medina - 780 Richards Street - Vancouver BC

Arriving in Vancouver at 7:30 AM meant that I had been awake for 4 hours prior to landing without having any real food. I admit it: first world problems. Jo had suggested we meet for brunch at 10:00 at Cafe Medina, and I was determined to save my stomach capacity for the many meals ahead. My boyfriend and I wandered around downtown before arriving at Cafe Medina at 9:30 AM to find the place packed, so we quickly put our names down on the list and were quoted a 20 minute wait time. Unfortunately they don't take any reservations, and your entire group must be present before being seated. Fair enough!


Milk Chocolate Lavender Hot Chocolate
This location on Richards Street is actually their second location, which opened earlier this summer. Their first location closed so that they could grow into this larger, gorgeous space with high ceilings and plenty of natural light coming in from the large, street-facing windows. The dining room is able to accommodate 65 patrons, while the bar can seat 10 and the coffee bar seats 8. The space is buzzing with conversation and the large open-kitchen is bustling with activity. It's such a energizing environment to be in for brunch and the space smells amazing.

To start off my day I had to try the Milk Chocolate Lavender Hot Chocolate ($4). The massive mug of hot chocolate was frothy and felt quite light, with just the right hint of chocolate and lavender. I was a little hesitant when ordering because some hot chocolates (especially made with milk chocolate) can be overly sweet and very rich, but Cafe Medina does this one well. On my return, I'll be trying out the white chocolate pistachio rosewater hot chocolate!

As we all enjoyed our morning punch of caffeine, it was difficult to choose what we wanted to eat. All the items on the menu were enticing, and upon scanning the dining room, all the other patrons' food looked delicious. Jo picked out the Fricassee ($17) which has two fried eggs over braised short ribs, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, applewood smoked cheddar and seasonal greens. Finished off with some matchstick apples and a side of grilled focaccia, the ribs were tender with bold flavour, making this a very hearty brunch dish.

My boyfriend went with the Paella ($14), featuring a fried egg over an orzo based paella with spicy chorizo, seasonal vegetables, Grana Padano, avocado and charred tomato salsa. I really wish pictures could give off smells, because this dish may not look like much, but it smelled amazing. The paella base had a lovely colour and punches of flavour and heat throughout. The creamy avocado added an extra textural element and the broken yolk bound every ingredient in the dish together.

I found it difficult to settle on just one dish, but Les Boulettes ($17) eventually won me over. Spicy Moroccan lamb meatballs are cooked in a roasted red pepper and tomato stew with black olives and raita, served with two poached eggs and a side of grilled focaccia. Holy moly flavour explosion. The lamb meatballs were moist and tender, seasoned well and free of any gamey flavour. The herbs (especially coriander) were fragrant and the acidity from the tomatoes packed a great tangy punch. The eggs were poached perfect with soft whites and an bright orange, runny yolk. You bet I took that focaccia and lapped up all the sauce.

No meal is complete without dessert, and brunch is no exception. Cafe Medina is well known for their Liege-style Waffles ($3.15), so we ordered one with a side of their raspberry caramel, and one with a side of white chocolate pistachio rosewater ($1 per topping). The made to order waffles were warm and fluffy, but missing that crunch and caramelization that liege waffles are known to have. I really enjoyed the strong raspberry flavour in the sauce, but found the white chocolate too strong and covering the delicate tones of pistachio and rosewater.

At Cafe Medina you wait to be seated, and the food is definitely worth waiting for. The Mediterranean inspired menu offers tons of choices that are sure to make your mouth water. The space is inviting, the staff are friendly, and I would definitely return again on a future trip. Now if only I could convince them to come to Edmonton too...