Searcys, St Pancras Grand 16.01.11

In my quest for the perfect Eggy B I decided to step up my game and move out of my comfort zone... (Shock horror, last Sunday was not spent in 'The Diner'!)

Pulling myself out of bed to venture slightly further afield I convinced Nicc and, our good friend and housemate, Simon Johnson along with me to check out the Sunday brunch menu at Searcy's.

We were all tempted them with the prospect of good food, good company, live Jazz and a bargain offer in what only seemed like one of the more elegant ways to... stuff our hung-over faces!

Arriving slightly early was not a problem, it was very empty inside. The live jazz on offer was a very calm and talented female vocalist and acoustic guitarist. Not quite what I expected, but then again. I am not sure what that would have been anyway...

I took a look at the "Brunch Menu". 2 courses for £15, I couldn't resist. Only it was not your typical brunch offering. It was...well... LUNCH! Salads and roasts were on the menu so I avoided this and stuck to the all day section on the main menu. Phew! Eggs Benedict was comically listed by it's ingredients only. So I ordered, and awaited the Eggy B delights.

What arrived (and in super fast time) was a beautifully presented dish of (in the words of Searcy's menu) 'toasted muffin, ham, poached egg and hollandaise sauce'!

Before I divulge further, I have decided not to use a scoring system. I decided I was by nowhere near expert status yet to warrant this. I mean, what is a '5' anyway?!

THE ROUND-UP

Taste
Delicate sauce, finely sliced ham, light airy and crisp muffin. I am indeed very pleased with this one... A couple of days later and I still find myself wanting more. I could have easily eaten this twice on Sunday!

Runniness of yolk
Well, I have to admit this was on the money for me... I mean, it was firm and just enough of the gooey yolk slid right onto my plate. Look! Yum. Fact.



Hollandaise analysis
Creamy but not rich, this sauce had a really delicate flavour, thin and silky texture. If it was any richer there would have been too much for me, but overall balanced the dish well.

Warm plate?
Oh yes, and boy was I pleased. Not so hot I couldn't touch the plate but hot enough to keep the food warm for the 10 seconds it took me to finish!

Extra's
No extra's this week, and it didn't need it. I was pleasantly full as opposed to not being able to move.

Staff
Friendly and welcoming, and very accommodating it turns out. The venue was soooo hot when we arrived, I asked if there was any chance they could turn the heat down or the air-con up, as this is out of their control, the manager/maître d’ opened a door instead... Whilst I was sceptical this simple gesture would do anything, it actually provided just enough air to make me feel less like I was going to burn up and die.

Simon's kedgeree "when you write your blog, will you quote me?"

Price
Pretty good value, for two eggs benedict and a Kedgeree (Simon's choice - I'm not inviting him again! But for those who prefer fish and rice with their egg, it was a very tasty dish indeed, not a speck left behind). We also ordered two drinks each, and including service the bill came to just short of £52 for three of us. Happy days.

Location
Whilst the grandeur of the refurbished St Pancras station is certainly an elegant way to start your journey, I feel going here specifically for the brunch was somewhat of an error. It's a relatively large dining room and it felt very empty and quiet. On the "Rendezvous" floor this was off the beaten track in terms of thoroughfare. Great place though and certainly worth a stop by to admire the interior.

In short
Like a good girl, I cleared my plate (minus the parsley, which whilst it looks nice the addition of such a herb generally infuriates me!) I would definitely go and eat here again - but maybe only when I board the Eurostar!


Signing off,
B.x

The Diner, Kensal Rise.

Just a stones throw from my North West London home, is The Diner. For me, this is Eggs Benedict, hangover cure, perfection!

Every Sunday (or there-abouts) I drag my beloved Nicc to The Diner, and I rarely choose anything but eggs benedict.  They have an un-canny nack of making the eggs so perfectly runny, but not undercooked. I like their use of lean ham as opposed to bacon and the muffins always crisp, and never soggy. How do they do it?!

To top it off, I thoroughly enjoy the relaxed atmosphere here. The staff are always great (although maybe sometimes slightly over friendly!) If they are busy you can wait for quite a while, but there are complimentary papers and free access to their wi-fi, so your Sunday fix of the Sunday Times shall not go a-miss!

So, how did they do?

• Taste: 4/5

Always room for improvement but this rarely fails to hit the spot.

• Ham or bacon? 4/5

Lean ham, great taste.

• Runniness of yolk: 4/5

Excellent yolk, but for my taste the white was a smigden under-done, I squirm at the jelly like centre.

• Hollandiase analysis: 5/5

Not too much, not too little. Creamy, especially when the perfectly cooked yolk sinks into it! Although Nicc might wish for more, for me, it was juuuust right!

• Warm plate?

Usually yes, but this can vary.

• Extra's:

Crisp, fresh and not too greasy, hash browns. Oh, and I do add black pepper - mainly because it looks good!

• Staff: 3/5

No nonsense and friendly. Can be slow when busy.

• Price: 5/5

Excellent value for money with a decent portion size, £6.50.  I like to eat mine with hash browns and a strawberry milshake - with added malt. (Highly recommended). For two people it will cost £25-£30 in total.

• Location: 5/5

If you live near Kensal Rise. There are another four locations to choose from otherwise, but I can't vouch for their eggy b, just yet! Closest tube: Queens Park or Kensal Green.

• In short:

Perfection in the most modest of forms.

This place has certainly won me over during 2010, but part purpose of the blog is to discover the best in town... Where is your favourite? How do you think it should be served? Are you an eggy b or an eggs royale? Let's start the debate!

Signing off,
B.x

The beauty of Eggs Benedict

Hello, I trust you are sitting comfortably, and most importantly of course, ready to salivate over the beauty of eggs benedict? Yes? Great!

For your benefit, new and loyal readers, it would be pertinent to start with an introduction into what I hope this blog will become and of course, a little about my love for Eggs Benedict, or as I affectionately call it, Eggy B...

Over the last year, in particular, I have been partial to regularly enjoying a plate of Eggy B, or, 'the most delicious combination of flavours since time began', and my Sunday staple has since become that of enjoying brunch at my local Diner (more on them later). A hangover cure, a feast to set you up for the day and utter satisfaction can only be found in this most divine dish.

What I love most about eggs benedict is the way that, when you cut the egg gently with your knife, the yolk falls into the hollandaise. (In my eyes this happens slow motion.) Anticipation of that first bite is overwhelming and my mouth waters... The intense creaminess from the hollandaise, the saltiness of the ham/bacon rounded off with the freshness of the toasted muffin, pure delight. Forming somewhat a sense of escapism... Every moment to be savoured.

You may be surprised to now read that I don't make it for myself very well at all! Maybe this is what drives my love of it.. Admiration for those who can pull it off, with finesse.

Whilst this blog will be 100% in awe of eggs benedict, it will also aim to provide you with fair and critical reviews of some of the best eggy b joints in town (from The Diner to The Wolsley, I've got it covered...) Not to mention my one woman journey into making my own perfect eggs benedict, your views and tips will also be welcomed. Finally, I'll share some foodie stories, finds and photography to whet any appetite.

In short, this is a blog to feed my (mild) obsession. I look forward to the adventure...

Signing off,
B.x