Welcome (again) to another delightful ad hoc Chopbiscuit inspection of some of the USA's most frequented saloons, dining halls, dive bars, food trucks, in-room dining and high end bistro's. At least one of your humble contributors is on the road virtually every week and luckily have the opportunity to dine at some of the finest institutions and loathsome watering holes known to man. Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, some deity would permit us to be pirates and savage our nutriment.
We like eating. It fascinates us. We sit and look at the food for hours. We often eat while laying down in my hotel room with a bib in my lap and my outlook calendar open. Eating is our tweeting, except it's much cooler. Food is often made into the celebrity of carnage, which makes us appear to be pompous and scarce in regards to the act of eating itself. You eat because you fuel. We eat because we're hungry. We eat because it's our job. We go out to these establishments to consume their lineups with arrogance.
I then judge it. (Poncho Sinatra style)
Hattie's Restaurant
45 Phila Street
Saratoga Springs, New York, 12866
Ever since I migrated west to Saratoga Springs, one of my favorite spots locally has been Hattie's. The soulful dining spot serves a variety of Southern and Louisiana cuisine, including their famous Southern fried chicken and homemade desserts. The chicken is so good that it's been written up in some of the most famous industry periodicals and Jasper, the Head Chef, even won a throw down with Bobby Flay. My wife and I had them cater our wedding rehearsal dinner a couple years ago to rave reviews from our guests.
Recently, Hattie's dove into the brunch business. We were finally able to stop in and check out brunch and were pleasantly surprised by the uniqueness of how they translated their southern cooking to pair with standard brunch staples. If you first glance at their menu, you realize it's something special if they are serving Brandy Milk Punch. Make sure you take a look at their entire brunch menu here.
I decided to go with the Cajun omelet, which featured North Country Smokehouse Andouille sausage, caramelized onions and extra sharp Cabot cheddar cheese. The smoked sausage added great flavor to the extra sharp cheese. The omelet was cook perfectly with a nice melted filling. It was tough not to choose the Pain Perdu (New Orleans style french toast), but I was going to be wearing a speedo in the south of France in a couple days, so I wanted to loosen up on the carb intake. I kid. The highlight of the brunch were of course the Beignets, or as they are often known in New Orleans as, French Quarter donuts. They were fried to perfection with a nice topping of powdered sugar. So, there goes the speedo option.The menu has a bite for all brunch fans and puts their Hattie's flare into many early weekend staples.
So, if you're ever in Saratoga for weekend brunch - make sure you swing by Hattie's.
