Now, this is a bittersweet moment for me. This post is not only another scrumptious restaurant, but it is also my last required post signifying that I will be home before the week is done and that I don't technically have to continue these posts. Although I am extremely eager to go home, I've realized that I'll be going a month without a new restaurant adventure in what is technically considered my new home. Wait a minute? Did you guys really think I could go a whole month without checking out enticing new dishes? Psh! I've been making my list to go and check out the LA food scene now! I haven't quite decided if I will continue my blog...it's actually been great having an excuse to constantly go to a new restaurant all the time and it's been a great way to document them so I can decide what kind of food I am looking for. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to see...let's continue with the post.
Let me just start with a desperate lament: "Why, oh why, has Max Brenner not graced Los Angeles with his chocolate magic?! WHY!?" Ok, I'm done now. But seriously, it isn't far, because this place is chocolate heaven! I swear,
Max Brenner is the real life Willy Wonka and his restaurants, gift shops, and kiosks (like the one in
Bryant Park during the holiday season) are his Chocolate Factories. My wonderful aunt, yes the same one who has taken me to the majority of these food gems since I've moved here, was able to get last minute reservations at the
841 Broadway location for Sunday brunch. Let me just tell all those future Max Brenner fans...GET A RESERVATION! It has to be done online, but trust me you definitely need it. The place is packed with tourists and New Yorkers dying for the next available table. Oh, and another side note, don't be late for your reservation because they will give your spot away. Even with our reservation, and us being on time, we still had to wait for about 10 minutes, so we spent the time looking at all the tempting sweets for sale (I ended up buying the "Nuts" I gushed about in
Fall in the City and my aunt bought "Dark Chicao", dark chocolate thins with West African cocoa bits, for my mom) and at the holiday decor and other wonderful objects around the restaurant, like the HUGE vats of chocolate near the host stand.
When we were finally seated, we spent quite a while looking over the menu. My aunt and roommate wanted to go for an omelette and salad, but me and my ridiculous sweet tooth convinced them since we probably wouldn't be visiting Max Brenner's as often as we would like, we should go all out and get something different. So we went to the "Optimistic Sweet Breakfast" side of the menu and after ordering an Italian Thick Hot Chocolate to share, we decided to share the Royal Berries Pancakes (with candied blueberries and blood orange maple syrup), the Intense Black and White Chocolate Blintz (with a whipped cream dollop and Belgian cocoa powder), and the First Time Bagel with Hazelnut Cream (filled and pressed with a melted milk chocolate bar; the hazelnut cream could be substituted with peanut butter). As you can also see from the picture (left), the syrup for the pancakes and the chocolate sauce for the blintzes came in cute little vials that reminded my roommate and I of Harry Potter and potions (which we are both obsessed with). The presentations of the dishes were beautiful and we spent as much time devouring the other dishes with our eyes as we did eating what was actually on our plates. We had intended to get dessert, but our breakfast was so filling and as sweet as dessert that we decided to forego that thought and stuck with water to try and flush out the sugar (my aunt stuck with some tea, which is in the picture on the right).
Max Brenner was definitely one of the restaurants that I kind of became obsessed with and really, really had to go to, and I am so glad I did. Just like Serendipity, all the hyper you've probably heard about this place...IS TRUE! I definitely suggest you go, and even if you don't have a sweet tooth, they have an abundance of items that are savory and that looked as amazing as their sweet confections. Thank you, Max Brenner, thank you.
When we were finally seated, we spent quite a while looking over the menu. My aunt and roommate wanted to go for an omelette and salad, but me and my ridiculous sweet tooth convinced them since we probably wouldn't be visiting Max Brenner's as often as we would like, we should go all out and get something different. So we went to the "Optimistic Sweet Breakfast" side of the menu and after ordering an Italian Thick Hot Chocolate to share, we decided to share the Royal Berries Pancakes (with candied blueberries and blood orange maple syrup), the Intense Black and White Chocolate Blintz (with a whipped cream dollop and Belgian cocoa powder), and the First Time Bagel with Hazelnut Cream (filled and pressed with a melted milk chocolate bar; the hazelnut cream could be substituted with peanut butter). As you can also see from the picture (left), the syrup for the pancakes and the chocolate sauce for the blintzes came in cute little vials that reminded my roommate and I of Harry Potter and potions (which we are both obsessed with). The presentations of the dishes were beautiful and we spent as much time devouring the other dishes with our eyes as we did eating what was actually on our plates. We had intended to get dessert, but our breakfast was so filling and as sweet as dessert that we decided to forego that thought and stuck with water to try and flush out the sugar (my aunt stuck with some tea, which is in the picture on the right).
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