NoHo Star is way-o too expensive for the average brunch (our bill, for two entrees and a coffee, totaled over $40), but it happens to also be, well, sorta worth the price every once in awhile. I haven’t seen the dish pictured at left – Eggs Benedict over french toast, stewed apples, and bacon, all doused in maple syrup – anywhere else, and it is awesome. And not so tough to make en casa.
EGGS BENEDICT w/ APPLES & BACON
1. Stew those apples. This should be done in advance, ’cause it takes awhile. Just slice up some Granny Smith apples super-thin and put them in a heavy-bottomed saucepan with a few teaspoons brown sugar, a squeeze of lemon, and a dash of cinnamon. Cover and cook for about 45 minutes, or until apples are tender.
2. Fry up that bacon. Maybe rub some brown sugar onto it first for some extra sweetness.
3. Poach those eggs. Just bring a large pot of water to a boil, crack an egg into a large spoon or ladle, and lower it into the water as slowly and gently as possible. Release it and let it cook; it should be ready in about 3 minutes.
3. Mosey up some french toast. The challah french toast pictured above is fantastic, but I just make mine with whatever bread I have laying around the house (I prefer white) dredged in beaten eggs and fried up in some high-quality butter with a sprinkling of cinnamon.
4. Assemble as follows: Strew the apples over the french toast, then top with some bacon slices. Pour over a little maple syrup, then finish it off with two poached eggs adorned with Lemony Hollandaise Sauce and a sprinkling of chives.
(The other dish we ordered at NoHo Star was the Mayan Omelette: eggs scrambled together with refried beans, guacamole, bacon, and chopped tomatoes. Too delicious.)
