Foodie Round-Up: Mother’s Day Brunch Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Mother & Child’
courtesy of ‘nathangibbs’

I want to be my Mom. No, seriously. I do. You know when you read those things that are all like “Oh no! We are turning into our mothers!” – to that I say, YES! Can I please? This is because my Mother is phenomenal. She’s the wisest person I know, and she always knows just what to say to give me a new perspective on something, or make me feel better, and she and my Dad are the only people I can call about some problem in my life who will care as much as I do about it.  She is basically just is the best person to ever exist, period.

So I can’t put together a foodie round-up for Mother’s day and not get picky. I’ve been told about a lot of brunches, practically every restaurant in the city is doing something for Mother’s day brunch, I’m not joking. I’ve been inundated with menus, options and press releases. So instead of just listing them out for you like I did for Easter, I’m going to get more selective and only tell you about the brunches that I’d take my own rockin’ Mother to. So with that, a very subjective short list of brunches worthy of Katie’s Mother, in no particular order.

Photo courtesy of
‘POTENZA: A New DC Find’
courtesy of ‘ellievanhoutte’

1. Potenza. I told you that I’ve recently had the pleasure to take in a fancy lunch at Potenza, and I can say with authority, Potenza is good enough for my Momma. She’d love all the fresh bread and Italian pastries. Located on the corner of 15th and H at 1430 H Street, NW, Potenza is offering rustic Italian fare this Mother’s Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Executive Chef/Partner Bryan Moscatello has created a mouthwatering a la carte brunch menu which is designed with sharing and Italian authenticity in mind. Standouts include House Smoked Salmon Bruschetta with artichokes, frisee and caperberries; Corned Veal Hash with fried eggs, sweet bell pepper ketchup; Italian Brunch Toast with strawberries zabaglione, as well as Breakfast Pizza with prosciutto, organic eggs, arugula, and balsamic.

Photo courtesy of
‘art and soul tables’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

2. Art and Soul. Faithful readers know that I’m a southern girl, and although I’m more southern than my northern-raised Mother, Chef Art’s food is worthy.  Art and Soul is doing a complimentary Champagne Cocktail and a Fond Farewell box of chocolate. Guests will also have a choice of Heart Shaped Pancakes with seasonal fresh berries and whipped cream, in addition to the regular a la carte menus. I heart my Mom, and she digs pancakes. Worthy.

Photo courtesy of
‘Commonwealth’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

3. CommonWealth Gastropub. Sometimes my Mom doesn’t like to dress up, cause she can’t find the right things to wear (My wonderful mother is also wonderfully crazy and doesn’t like to shop. That trait? I do not share with her.) If she wasn’t feeling getting all dressed up I’d totally take her Commonwealth to chow down on British food items. She likes London. She also likes soup, and would love the minted pea soup with crisp ham on the menu. Also for Mother’s day brunch, CommonWealth is serving up Artichoke and Asparagus Tart with goat cheese and caramelized onions and Marinated Bay Scallops with spring vegetables. Main course options including Pan Fried Soft Shell Crabs with crisp bacon, pea shoots and Coleman’s mustard vinaigrette, Spring Lamb Loin Chops with morels and spring onions, Pan Seared Wild Salmon with sauce bernaise and asparagus and Beef tenderloin with ragout of mushrooms, twice baked potato and cabernet reduction.

Photo courtesy of
‘Bangkok Joe’s’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

4. Bangkok Joe’s. My mother likes to explore new food dishes. My father will tell you he’s been subject to trying all kinds of random recipes that she cuts out of the newspaper and whips up. Chef Aulie Bunyarataphan, executive chef and owner of Bangkok Joe’s, will offer some of her mom’s favorite Thai-influenced dishes this Mother’s Day that I bet my Mom would be down for. Menu items include Crispy-Fried Clear Spring Trout with fresh mango-lime sauce and cashew nuts. My mom loves cashews, tthis would be perfect. Mothers also snag a complimentary 4 oz. tropical flavor Mimosa like lychee, rose water or jasmine with any mini entrée. Chef Aulie’s famous fresh ginger-lemon iced tea will still be available.

firefly

5. Firefly. My Mom would dig Firefly, it’s so cute and quiet (a requirement in our family, nowhere deafening, please.) and the food is so good. I can’t get enough of Firefly and would love to take my Madre there. (I’m running out of words for Mother, just bear with me, okay?) Danny Bortnick at Firefly is featuring some of his new spring menu brunch items, including snake eyes: 2 soft-cooked eggs baked in a bread basket, country sausage, red eye gravy, potatoes and the hog roll: grilled Italian sausage with 3 fried oysters and sautéed peppers & onions on baguette.

Photo courtesy of
‘Beignets and sauce’
courtesy of ‘izik’

6. Acadiana. Touted as an “elegant interpretation of a Louisiana fish house”, Acadiana will be open for brunch serving up sweets including warm French Market Beignets with chicory coffee crème anglaise and the Decadent Chocolate Doberge Cake with tangerine caramel and orange blossom ice cream. My mother loves fish, and would enjoy the scallops and seafood soup served up here.

7. Little Fountain Cafe. While Little Fountain isn’t open for brunch, or lunch even, I’d take her here for dinner. She’s got a weakness for bread pudding, but hates raisins (which are pretty standard on bread pudding) and Little Fountain has a warm brioche and chocolate chip bread pudding (sans raisins) she’d die for. The simple food at Little Fountain is classic, straightforward and delicious, so I think it’s a guaranteed hit!

So those are my choices for my own Mother. I’ll even bet the ranch she’ll be kind enough to leave a comment and tell you which option she’d choose out of what I’ve just listed. Now if only she were going to be in DC for her special day, we could make her brunch a reality. Sigh. Oh well, next visit, Mom!

Katie moved to DC in 2007, and has since embarked upon a love affair with the city. She’s an education reform advocate and communications professional during the day; at night and on the weekends, she’s an owner here at We Love DC. Katie has high goals to eat herself through the entire city, with only her running shoes to save her from herself. For up-to-the-minute news and reviews (among other musings), follow her on Twitter!

3 thoughts on “Foodie Round-Up: Mother’s Day Brunch Edition

  1. What wonderful choices from a wonderful daughter! This is tough, but I think I’d choose the CommonWealth Gastropub. You got me with the soup:)

  2. Pingback: Mother’s Day Recommendations « brunch and the city