Rhyme or Reason or Battle Royale (With Cheese)

The Slow and Savory Review

It had been a long time since Brandy last saw some of her best friends in the world, Bambi Buttercup and her husband Bear, so she was quite delighted when they let her know they were coming into town. "And we've got a little surprise for you!" Bambi twittered in her signature sing song voice. Now, one thing to know about Brandy is that she is not good with surprises. When told a secret is being kept from her, Brandy goes into full Baker Street mode and analyzes everything she has at her disposal in order to solve the mystery. Christmas presents are impossible to hide from her. Trying to plan a surprise party? Forget it. Once, she even predicted a marriage proposal before the groom to be had even bought the rings.

So imagine Brandy's surprise when she met her friends in front of her new home and discovered that there was not two of them, but three. "Surprise!" Bambi shouted, "Meet our son, Bambino!" Brandy's eyes grew wide as she was handed a smiling mass of flailing limbs and golden hair. "We were going to tell you, but Bambi thought it would be funnier not to," said Bear as he hauled their luggage out of the town car. "But... but... I thought you were on tour with your one woman show!" Brandy exclaimed. "Oh, I have been! But he doesn't mind. He just goes to sleep in my costume trunk while I'm on stage," Bambi replied. Bambino gurgled and giggled. "Having a baby hasn't affected your lives at all?" Brandy asked in wonder. "Well, we don't get to eat out as much," said Bear. "And that's where you come in!" Bambi sang, "We thought that since you've got the scoop on all the deliciousness in Chicago, you might know a place we could go all together to enjoy a meal out on the town like we used to!"

An idea occurred to Brandy in that moment. Just as Bambino had been created by Bambi and Bear in perfect collaboration, another collaboration had been on Brandy's mind as of late; that of Sherrie Tan, baker extraordinaire at Sweet Mandy B's, and the chefs at Rhyme or Reason, the recently opened disco themed haven in the heart of Bucktown. Rhyme or Reason had tapped Sherrie to partner with them in creating two fabulous brunch dishes to be offered as specials throughout the month of September, one sweet and one savory, and Brandy had been looking for any excuse to try them. Now she had one.

Showing her friends into the sun filled venue, Brandy was delighted to find that even a hip and groovy restaurant like Rhyme or Reason was prepared to help out with baby Bambino, providing him a high chair, a special water cup or his own, and a plate of avocado so that he could munch right along with his parents. Once settled in, the group was able to enjoy the beautiful pops of bright colors all around the room, which stood out against the base of cool grey tones. The retro vibe was certainly there (present most definitely in the music), but it wasn't so intrusive so as to make the place seem like a corny theme restaurant.

The group began with a round of drinks. Bambi went for the house mimosa, made with white grapefruit juice and Segura Vidas Cava, which gave the drink a pleasant bitterness. Bear went with the Bro-Mosa, a more manly version of the drink, made with Triple Sec, vodka, and a citrus scented pale ale along with a splash of orange juice, creating a rather floral flavor along with the zingy citrus. Brandy picked the Let's Get It On, a fruity and tropical delight with mango flavored vodka, pineapple, passion fruit, coconut, and lime juice and a bit of reisling for an extra touch of fruitiness.

To start them off, the group toasted each other with a plate of Deviled Eggs. Bear and Brandy enjoyed the regular version, which was adorned with a dollop of espresso scented bacon jam. The eggs had a nice mustardy flavor, but the hint of espresso really made them quite unique. Bambi and Bambino sampled their eggs without the bacon jam and still found them to be quite tasty and baring the unique espresso flavor.

Bear picked the Chilaquiles as his entree, having never experienced the dish before. He very much enjoyed the mix of tender pulled chicken meat, sweet corn, black beans, and the bright bits of salsa throughout the dish. He was very impressed to see that the house made chips at the base remained crispy under the weight of all the toppings and the perfect amount of heat in the spice mix meant that every bite kept his attention.

Bambi went with the Croque Ma-DAYUM, which just happened to be the previous month's Hanover Special plate. This version of the classic French breakfast dish was absolutely succulent, between the soft eggy bread, the thinly sliced ham, and the deeply flavorful beschamel sauce. "I can imagine that if I were indeed hung over, this would be simply perfect for soaking up all those icky toxins!" she proclaimed.

Brandy, of course, went for the current Hangover Special, the Mac Daddy. This monument to gastronomy was comprised of macaroni and cheese tossed with roasted corn, blistered cherry tomatoes, and hunks of bacon lardon, then topped with a panko breaded chicken breast and two sunny side up eggs. After one bite, Brandy looked up at her companions and proclaimed, "None of you are getting any of this." Between the sweetness of the veggies, the richness of the cheese sauce and bacon, and the crunch of the chicken, Brandy could not imagine a more perfect mix of textures and flavors. Luckily for her, everyone else was also jealously guarding their entrees. "They don't know what they're missing," she silently giggled to herself as she shoveled more pasta into her mouth.

Finally, they decided to share the second special of the month, the Foxy Mama, as dessert. This decadent treat consisted of a whipped cheese cake mousse between two churro buns covered in dulce de leche and accompanied by slices of bruleed bananas. As each of them sunk their fork into this masterpiece and brought it to their mouths, their eyes collectively rolled back in their heads in sheer ecstasy. The problem arose when all of them went back for a second bite and found themselves fencing with their cutlery to get as much of the delectable treat as they could. "We're going to need a few more of these if we want to make it out of this brunch alive," said Brandy as she dead locked gazes with her dining companions. Even baby Bambino reached a chubby hand out for a slice of banana.

Once every last morsel of the Foxy Mama had disappeared from their table, the group were able to finally relax. The cheerful and accommodating service had made the meal all the more enjoyable, even with baby Bambino vocalizing his displeasure every time the group were eating without him, and the prices were so reasonable that Bear actually roared with laughter when the check arrived. "Oh this was just lovely," said Bambi, bouncing Bambino on her knee as he tossed a piece of avocado to the ground. "Yes, well, next time you decide to surprise me like that, if you could do it when we're already at brunch, that would be wonderful," said Brandy, "That way, I'll at least have a drink in front of me already!"

The writers of this blog were given a portion of their meal free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

The Short and Sweet Review

Harvest Moon or Moonage Daydream

The Slow and Savory Review

While Bunny and Brandy were busy branding 2017 "The Year of Togetherness," Brandy's friend Bailey was making a different New Year's resolution in the form of returning to her love of art. "I barely painted at all last year. I miss it so much. Being covered in splatters of color, having pigment under my fingernails, getting splinters from gripping the brushes too tightly... Oh, I miss it so much." "Well then," said Brandy, "Why don't you bring out a canvas and get to it?" "I need some inspiration!" Bailey sighed, "With everything that happened last year, I just sort of... lost touch with my creative spark. I need to find something to ignite my imagination." "Well, I know my little old brain box always works best when I'm well fed." "Brunch is your solution to everything, isn't it?" "Brunch is the world's solution to everything, darling, not just mine."

Thinking about Bailey's artistic inclinations, Brandy was drawn to an eccentric little spot in Bucktown called Harvest Moon. Backing up its Bohemian vibes with a local and seasonal inspired menu, a rotating selection of local beers, and local live musicians, Harvest Moon stood poised to become a favorite hangout for artistic types from all over the city.

From the very start, Brandy was enchanted by the design and feel of Harvest Moon. Large surreal murals of Edwardian women filled the space on the brick walls not taken up by the high backed booths, which adorably resembled over sized arm chairs. The bar's back wall and sides had been covered in moss and lit with tiny fairy lights for an extra touch of magic, while the ceiling had been decorated with a patchwork of empty picture frames. The layout was open and flexible enough to allow for different table configurations, which came in handy when one took into consideration the stage at the back of the room, which throughout the week would host live musicians, DJ's, and trivia nights. "I simply adore the decor," Brandy swooned, "This place is like a speakeasy in Wonderland!"

The brunch menu was limited to a few signature entrees accompanied by traditional brunch cocktail options (like bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary's, though the bloodies came in some very interesting sounding flavors), so Brandy and Bailey decided to just split a few dishes between them while sipping on some mimosas. First up, they started with the intriguing sounding Breakfast Pot Pie. Brandy had been hoping for something quiche-like, but the dish actually more closely resembled a frittata. Coming served in a miniature cast iron pot, the dish consisted of an eggy mixture with spinach and bacon topped by a circle of puff pastry. Brandy enjoyed that these traditional breakfast flavors were being combined in such a new and interesting way, especially the bacon, which had been crumbled so as to function almost as a flavoring salt.

Next up, they tried the Shrimp and Grits, which like the pot pie, ended up more resembling another traditional brunch dish. Instead of southern style grits, this dish actually came with a block of polenta, which was surrounded by several large shrimp, a spicy tomato sauce, and topped with a fried egg. The spice in the tomato sauce certainly wasn't kidding around and had both Bailey and Brandy reaching for their drinks after the first bite. "This reminds me more of the Spanish dish, Eggs in Purgatory," said Brandy, "Quite ingenious to combine the two dishes into one." The shrimp were nicely tender and the egg too was perfectly cooked. "And look, we got a double yolk!" Bailey exclaimed, pointing to the egg, "Those are good luck, you know!"

Following that, the two dived into the Chicken and Waffles. The chicken was quite a generous portion of leg resting on a large waffle, which had more of the crumbled bacon mixed into the batter. Bailey, the expert on fried chicken, really approved of the cornmeal coating on the chicken, which had a great crunch, as well as the tender meat. The waffle, on the other hand, was a bit dense for her taste and even though it had been dotted with bacon, didn't seem to have much flavor. "The whole point of chicken and waffles is that it should combine sweet and savory," Brandy observed, "So in my opinion, the waffle generally needs to be firmly on the sweet side. Otherwise, what you've got is more chicken and a biscuit." Of course, a good slick of maple syrup helped to bring the flavors together a little better, but still, both ladies felt the waffle needed a reformulation to really live up to the delicious chicken.

Lastly, they ended on a sweet note with an order of the Cinnamon Apple French Toast. The toast came served with cooked green apples and plenty of whipped cream. While well done, there wasn't anything really remarkable about the dish that set it apart from similar dishes at other establishments. The apples were nicely sweet and tart at the same time, the toast was eggy and well caramelized, and the cream added a nice bit of decadence. "You know me," said Bailey, "I'm never going to turn my nose up at anything with apples in it."

The service at Harvest Moon was relaxed and friendly, leaving Brandy with not just the feeling of being taken care of, but of having actually made a human connection. The prices were quite good for the dishes as well, mostly ranging from about $10-$15 a plate, but it seemed that most of the plates were devoid of side dishes, which had to be ordered separately. "So, do you feel inspired yet?" Brandy asked as Bailey finished up her last piece of chicken. "Oh yes, I think I've definitely found my inspiration. You know how the chef here has combined ideas from several different dishes to create new ones? I think I want to try something similar by combining different styles of art to create a whole new genre!" "Sounds good to me," said Brandy, "After all, the greatest meal known to man was created when some intelligent person decided to combine breakfast and lunch."

The writers of this blog were invited to dine at the restaurant free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

The Short and Sweet Review

AMK or America the Brunch-i-ful

The Slow and Savory Review

It was a little over a year ago that Brandy met an aspiring film maker by the name of Boxty Ban who was determined to make a movie about her brunching adventures.  Sadly, The Rise and Fall of Sweet and Savory never did find the funding it needed to get off the ground, but that hasn't deterred Boxty's ambitions one bit.  "I think what we need is a good angle, one that will send people flocking to the box office.  We could incorporate a tragic love story, for instance, or maybe super hero or a vampire!"  It was obvious to Brandy that Boxty had been corrupted by the Hollywood system.  "A film about brunch doesn't need all that," Brandy chided her, "It's just like when a brunch menu tries be too whimsical or twisty.  Put the focus on the classics, the fundamentals, and go from there, that's what I always say."  "I'm not sure what you mean."  "Well, let's go get some brunch and I'll show you."

Brandy chose AMK Kitchen & Bar in Bucktown, thinking the hip sensibilities and American comfort food based menu would help to prove her point to Boxty.  The inside of AMK had that modern industrial kind of feel so common now a days, but here it was done nicely, with exposed brick walls decorated in custom graffiti art and twinkling strings of light throughout the cozy, but open space.

The cocktail menu immediately attracted Brandy's attention.  She first went for the Thorn Cherry with vermouth, lime, champagne, sage, and cherry liqueur, which Brandy found had a nice deep fruity and floral flavor without being too heavy.  Boxty's choice was the Garden Girl, which had such a pleasant sweet and creamy strawberry flavor that it could easily turn dangerous.  Brandy also sampled the Rhub Me Off, which had a bright tropical flavor that Brandy thought went extremely well with breakfasty foods, while Boxty switched to the Uncle Sam's Espresso with bourbon, cinnamon, vanilla, and of course coffee.  "And I thought Irish coffee was bad enough!" the native Irish Boxty exclaimed, "But this is a whole new experience!"

The meal started off with a pair of dishes at opposite ends of the spectrum: Turduken Meatballs and a Grilled Watermelon and Beet Salad.  The salad tasted just as colorful as it looked, with a great mix of textures both crunchy and soft between the beets, the melon, some roasted pumpkin seeds, and the beautifully bruleed balls of goat cheese, and the bright citrus vinaigrette pulled everything together nicely.  The meatballs had a good even consistency and a well spiced flavor that shown through the tomato sauce that covered them.  Brandy especially enjoyed the cheesy garlic bread that came served on the side, which was slathered in butter.  "If there's anything more comforting in American cuisine than bread, butter, and cheese, I don't know what it would be," Brandy commented.

Boxty went with the Chilaquiles and Huevos as her entree.  The chips at the base had perfect crunch, even under the abundance of toppings, and a dose of chicken chorizo gave the dish a good kick of spice.  Boxty especially liked that the mix of pico de gallo and the avocado sour cream, which ensured that every mouthful was slightly different.  "Don't you think that's a nice twist on a traditional chilaquiles?" Brandy asked.  "Well, I can't say that I am familiar enough with what a traditional chilaquiles s we don't really have anything like this in Ireland, but it is rather tasty," Boxty replied.

Brandy picked the Chicken and Waffles for her main course.  The chicken had a good thick coating on it that gave a satisfying sort of crunch.  The waffles were also substantial with a good malty flavor that went well with the chicken, especially with the addition of a drizzle of maple syrup.  Brandy did find the choice of adding fresh berries to the dish a little strange, as while they did make everything look nice, they didn't necessarily go with the chicken.  "Though I'm usually the last one to complain about adding a little fruit to a plate for some color," she reasoned.

Not just the moderately priced and tasty food at AMK had put Brandy in a good mood, but also the exceptional service and the attention to detail in the way the dishes were plated, something that a lot of restaurants simply don't bother with when it comes to brunch.  Sitting back and enjoying their cocktails to the last drop, Brandy wondered if Boxty had seen the value in using a classic as a foundation for building new and exciting things upon.  "I think I do see what you mean now," Boxty admitted, "The classics are classics for a reason, and even they were once built on the foundations of even older classics."  "Exactly!" Brandy exclaimed.  "So, what I'm thinking now is that we do The Rise and Fall of Sweet and Savory as a gritty reboot of Breakfast at Tiffany's," said Boxty with a gleam in her eye.  "Oh goodness," Brandy stopped her, "Now we need to have a discussion about remakes."

The writers of this blog were invited to dine free of charge by the restaurant in exchange for an honest review.

The Short and Sweet Revew

Scone City or My Kind of Town

The Slow and Savory Review

First it was cupcakes.  Then donuts.  Then macaroons.  The pastry trends can be difficult to keep up with these days.  Since Brandy makes regular practice of visiting as many bakeries as possible, she likes to think she's on top of things, but there are a few items she would like to see becoming the next sought after treat.  "Scones, for one," Brandy explained one day, "Scones in this country are often little more than edible paper weights.  Back home, scones are tender, chewy, delicious little things that go perfectly with a cup of tea.  I do wish there was more places I could get a good scone or two."

Luckily for Brandy, the delightfully named Scone City recently opened in Wicker Park, specializing in not just scones, but home made jams and artisan coffee drinks, including cold brew on tap.  "A cafe that sells only scones?  It's like someone read my mind!" Brandy exclaimed upon hearing the news.


Scone City, tucked away just off the corner of Ashland and Division, had a stark white interior with contrasting black accents that fit quite well with the espresso bar theme. Bar stools sat by the window up front, then small tables and chairs, and more comfy arm chairs on an elevated section at the back. The scones were proudly on display beside the counter, making the choice simultaneously easier and more difficult.  So excited was Brandy to try the scones that she ended up forgoing the delicious sounding house made jams ("They even have clotted cream!" she exclaimed with glee) and ordered up six flavors to supply her with breakfast for the rest of the week.

Day 1: The Breakfast Scone with bacon, egg, and cheddar.  This scone had a chewy, but not heavy texture that resembled more of a buttermilk biscuit. The flavor was nice and cheesy with just enough bacon to make things interesting (Brandy was actually happy they hadn't gone overboard with the bacon) and a little bit of scrambled egg in the middle. "Quite an interesting concept," Brandy commented, "And most definitely delicious, but not quite the kind of scone I'm used to."

Day 2: The Halfwit with bittersweet chocolate chips, espresso glaze, and cocoa nibs.  Brandy thought the texture of this scone was almost cookie-like and certainly would have paired well with a cup of Joe.  The cocoa nibs made for a nice crunch in each bite, but Brandy would have liked the coffee flavor in the glaze to be a bit stronger.

Day 3: The Blackberry and Orange Glazed.  This was probably the most traditional scone Brandy tried, with a chewy, more moist texture than some of the others.  The berries were plump and juicy inside the scone, and the orange glaze provided a bit of tartness, but there was an odd perfumey aftertaste to it that Brandy didn't quite care for.

Day 4: The Brie, Thyme, and Honey. Certainly one of the most appetizing looking scones of the bunch, this one had a very dense texture, but was still very tender and crumbly.  The honey provided a nice floral note, while the thyme was subtle and perfect, and the brie more of a garnish than a predominant flavor. "This one definitely needs to be accompanied by a beverage, whether its tea or coffee," Brandy commented, "But I do so love a sweet and savory pastry."

Day 5: The Triple Chocolate.  The name of this scone was pretty self explanatory, as it was a basic scone with huge milk, dark, and white chocolate chips scattered throughout.  "This is a pretty standard type of scone for a coffee house," Brandy contemplated, "But the little addition of sugar on top marks this as being quite a bit better than other cheaper imitations."  The texture again was a bit dense, but the melt-in-the-mouth, high quality chocolate made it feel rather luxurious.

Day 6: The Afternoon Tea with Earl Grey soaked raisins and a tea flavored glaze.  Unsurprisingly, this was Brandy's favorite scone of the bunch.  The tea soaked raisins were plump and full of that distinctive citrusy, herbal flavor Earl Grey is famous for. The glaze added another layer of flavor, but didn't overpower the scone with sickening sweetness.

Though not always the authentic English scone texture she so desired, the scones from Scone City were none the less pretty bloody delicious.  At only about $3 a scone, their substantial size was more than enough to satisfy as a meal in itself, along with a good cup of tea or coffee, of course.  Brandy was certainly interested to return to Scone City as soon as possible, not only to try out some of the other flavors on offer, but also to finally get at those house made jams to see how they might enhance some of the more simple scone varieties.  "I do so hope scones are becoming the next big thing," Brandy mused, "Scones are meant to be enjoyed at leisure, not wolfed down in one, which is why people who appreciate proper scones are generally more intelligent and relaxed.  And if there's anything this world can use, its smarter, calmer people inhabiting it."

The Short and Sweet Review

The Monarch or Horses and Hawks on a Field of Green

The Slow and Savory Review

Ever since being properly introduced to American football at the beginning of the fall last year, Brandy has made a determined effort to keep pace with the weekly competitions, often spending her Sundays afternoons (after brunch, of course) at her local pub, watching along with all of the other enthralled fans.  "I may not understand what's happening half the time, but I love being caught up in the excitement of the crowd," Brandy says, "That and when we get to yell at the referees.  Reminds me of the time I was a part owner of Manchester United.  But that's another story..."

To watch the final weekend of playoffs, Brandy decided to combine her lust for sport with her brunching routine by killing two birds with one stone at The Monarch on the border of Bucktown and Wicker Park.  The small, closely packed space seemed rather run of the mill at first with its exposed brick wall, high tables, and dark wood bar, but there was a secretive, almost hidden sophistication to the place.  Little touches like a wax drenched silver candelabra on the bar and repeated heraldic symbols throughout the room gave a sense of history and decorum.  

The menu too had its own hidden treasures.  Aside from the usual bar fair of burgers, fries, and the like, there were also more exotic choices like mussels with fennel and French toast with blood orange and mascarpone cheese.  While she mused over the choices, Brandy ordered up a mimosa, which while not exactly unique, was still nicely bright.

Finally, Brandy landed on a pair of sweet and savory dishes to snack on as she watched the champions of the gridiron battle it out on the big screens above the bar.  First up was the Sweet Spiced Pretzel with a side of cinnamon raisin cream cheese.  Brandy was simply staggered to find that the order came with not one, but two freshly baked pretzels, which were slathered in cinnamon and sugar.  Pulling the mouth watering confection apart and dunking it into the cream cheese made the perfect combination of flavors:  the salty skin on the pretzel mixed with the spice of the cinnamon, the sweetness of the sugar, and the creamy, thick cream cheese was comforting, familiar, yet surprising.

For her savory, Brandy chose the Chilaquiles with Duck Confit.  The dish had a nice mild punch from the salsa on top, countered by a creamy cool note from a little dab of queso fresco.  Though the duck was not as plentiful as she would have liked, the meat was still tender and well seasoned.  The tortilla chips that formed the foundation of the dish had the perfect soft texture, yet retained their integrity, which can sometimes be a difficult state to achieve.  The eggs on top were perhaps the slightest bit over done (the yolks were glossy, but not runny), but served their purpose in trying all of the ingredients together into the perfect hearty breakfast dish.

So enraptured by her dishes for a brief while was Brandy that she completely lost track of the games being played until a mighty roar went up from the crowd.  "What happened?" Brandy asked her neighbor at the bar.  "The Broncos just won!  They're going to the Super Bowl!" he exclaimed.  "Well isn't that lovely," Brandy mumbled, tearing another piece of off her pretzel.  "Say, is that any good?" her neighbor asked.  "It's very good.  Here, have some for yourself, I'll never finish both of these things."  "Thanks!  Want to try some of my fries?  They came with truffle mayo."  "Truffle Mayo?  Absolutely, dear boy!" Brandy exclaimed, reaching over to his plate.

Only one bartender manning both table orders and the substantial bar meant service was a tad slow, but the friendly atmosphere was certainly enough to make up for it.  "I'd gladly make this my permanent football watching pub for the rest of the season," Brandy told her neighbor.  "But the season is over," he said, confused, "There's only the Super Bowl left."  "Oh.  Well then... I suppose I'll just have to come here to watch some other sport.  What do you suggest?"  "Um... the Winter Olympics?"  "Perfect.  See you all in February for Curling and Figure Skating everyone!"  The jubilant crowd, probably still full of cheer from the game, roared in response to her.

 The Short and Sweet Review

The Savoy or A Breath of Fresh Sea Air

The Slow and Savory Review

There was a time long ago when Brandy was younger that she lived in a little seaside town near Calais in France.  There was always something about the smell of salt in the air that she found comforting.  Wherever she was, whether it was walking down the avenue to the market, sitting at the cafe, or simply wandering the pier, admiring all the boats anchored in the harbor, whenever the wind would whip through, carrying with it that briney aroma, Brandy would always have to stop and close her eyes for a moment, letting the sea embrace her senses fully.  To her, that salty wind carried with it greetings from exotic lands and the promise of new adventures in places she still had yet to explore.

With all that Chicago has to offer, the one thing it has never brought Brandy was that same sense of infinite freedom that a gust of salty ocean air once did in that little sea side town.  "The lakefront is all fine and well," she says with a sigh,"It may have sand and waves, driftwood and fish galore, but its just not the same as standing at the edge of a seemingly endless body of water and catching a whiff of the world beyond the shore you're standing on.  Here, all you catch a whiff of is... well, Gary, Indiana."

Longing for something to remind her of the sea, Brandy was delighted to learn about the new brunch menu at The Savoy in Bucktown, an elegant spot that not only specializes in fresh seafood, but also in the finest varieties of absinthe the world has to offer.  "Sounds just like my little cafe in Calais!" she exclaimed, and quickly enlisted her good friend Bailey Blue to join her.

Inside the Savoy was a rather chic interior with an open kitchen at the front and a dark, mysterious bar at the back.  Faux-rust covered iron cages hung around the bare light fixtures, barring a not so subtle resemblance to lobster traps, and thick hemp ropes, woven together into a sort of curtain framed the entrance to the bar at the back, both of which hinted at the fresh seafood on offer.  Brandy and Bailey especially loved the art work that was scattered about the dining room, depicting an ancient looking grand dame with a vicious sneer in various vintage settings.  "They are wonderful pieces, aren't they?" Bailey asked as Brandy continued to stare at one painting in particular, her brows furrowed in concentration.  "Hm?  Oh yes, I suppose they are," Brandy mumbled, "I think I know this woman.  She looks just like the last president of my needle pointing group."

The ladies started off with a couple of cocktails: for Bailey the house Bloody Mary and for Brandy a Passion Fruit Mimosa.  Bailey's eyes grew wide when she was brought the massively intricate Bloody Mary, which was decked out with olives, tomatoes, bacon, herbs, and a freshly shucked oyster on the half shell.  "I might not need an entree after this!" she exclaimed.  Bailey found the drink to be plenty strong with a good kick of spice to offset the tanginess of it.  Though bold for sure, the concoction was still somehow light in texture.  Brandy's mimosa was fresh and clean with a really lovely softness to it and a vibrant ephervensense that is sometimes lost in a mimosa when there is an over balance of juice to champaign.

For her main course Bailey went with the House Cured Salmon Gravlax.  The beautifully presented plate came with piles of goodies to accompany the luscious fish: cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, slivers of red onions, crunchy cauliflower, fried capers, whiped herb cream cheese, and a freshly made rye waffle.  Bailey absolutely loved creating different bites by combining the various elements on the plate to form exciting mixes of textures and flavors.  The waffle had the incredibly sharp flavor of a rye bagel, but with a more airy lightness and none of the chew.  Bailey's favorite part was definitely the delicate salmon, which had the slightest sweetness, blending well with everything else on the plate.

Brandy chose the Crab Cake BLT.  The sandwich was an absolute behemoth, preventing any normal human being (that is, those of us who are incapable of unhinging our jaws) from eating it without the aid of a knife and fork.  The bread was almost English muffin like and had been coated in a tartar sauce like concoction that added a lovely creamy element to everything else.  The innards of the sandwich consisted of a thick slice of heirloom tomato, thin strips of crunchy bacon, a large seared crab cake, and a perfectly fried duck egg.  Brandy was very happy to see that the crab cake was truly the star of the dish (bacon has a tendency to ham it up and steal the spot light) with its fresh, herbaceous flavor and delightfully subtle crunch, originating from panko bread crumbs hidden within the cake itself.  The bright tomato really helped to cut the richness of the egg, bacon, and crab, as did the tangily dressed greens on the side.

To finish off their meal with something sweet, Brandy ordered another cocktail by the name of This Morning's Milk, an ever changing concoction, inspired by childhood's favorite bowls of cereal.  This particular day, the flavor was inspired by Reese's Pieces, a creamy mix of peanut butter and chocolate.  Brandy found the drink to have a very slight, adult minded sweetness to it, with the chocolate coming as more of a cocoa powder hit and the peanut butter manifesting in a nutty aftertaste.

At only $55 for two entrees and three cocktails, The Savoy proved to be not only of fine quality, but also fair pricing.  The service was quick and attentive and the dining room matched the food perfectly, in that it somehow seemed chic without seeming formal.  As they were leaving, Bailey noticed Brandy stopping just for a second and closing her eyes, a slow smile spreading onto her face.  "Something wrong?" Bailey asked.  "Nothing at all dear.  Just smelling the salt in the air," Brandy sighed.

*The writers of this blog were given the items mentioned in this blog post at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

The Short and Sweet Review