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Sunday is the one day my husband and I get to spend together without work, chores, or agendas getting in the way. After a morning run, we head out for brunch and a few mimosas. Though we usually stick to a la carte meals, we decided to give the brunch buffet at La Gloutonnerie a try.
Read also:
La Gloutonnerie: Expensive, Expertly Precise French Cuisine in South Beach
La Gloutonnerie started Sunday brunch buffet back in July. Served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., it’s $45 per person (which includes two glasses of champagne or mimosas). Kids 7-12 eat for $22.50 (champagne, of course, not included), and kids under 7 eat free.
I generally don’t enjoy buffets. To me, many of the items look slightly
“picked over.” La Gloutonnerie is different.
Most of the selections are behind a counter, where a host of chefs and servers will dish out salads, carve meat, or prepare omelets
or waffles.
The self-serve items are on small trays that are refreshed
frequently. They’re located above the counter so you have to
reach up for your food. Now if you’re short like me you might have to get up on your toes, but in all honesty it’s worth the
stretch to know the cheese and smoked salmon are above sneeze height.
In
addition to the above mentioned salads, eggs, cheese, meats, and fish, the
buffet offers freshly shucked oysters, chilled shrimp, ceviche, a carving station (lamb was offered), breakfast meats (bacon, ham, and sausage), and a fish that’s
prepared to order.
The fish changes weekly but we must have hit the
jackpot, because that day it was Dover sole, prepared almondine style. When it arrived, a man sitting at the banquette next to us
stopped dining to mention how wonderful the dish looked. It did look
wonderful. It tasted even better. So much so, that I quipped I’m going to have to call every Sunday to see if they’re
serving the sole again.
Dessert. Well, this is a French buffet,
so be prepared for an overwhelming display of tarts, puffs, cakes,
macarons, and breads. There was also a fruit basket that looked
untouched. I know that we all should eat healthier, but choosing a
banana over a berry tartlet is pure insanity. And I am not that crazy.
As I sipped my coffee (also included) and worked on my second glass of champagne, I realized that buffets are like mates — there are plenty out there. You just have to find the right one to spend your Sundays with.
Follow Laine Doss on Twitter @LaineDoss and Facebook.
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