I recently had a “MasterChef” moment. That’s because the Feastly team invited me to be a judge, alongside Feastly COO Leigh Goldstein and SF Weekly arts editor Peter Lawrence Kane, for their Battle of the Brunch Masters. Of course I said yes!
On the day of the showdown, three top chefs presented their unique interpretations of eggs Benedict and a mimosa – and I was tasked with delivering a critique of each pairing before the contestants themselves and a crowd of 40 feasters. I felt like Christina Tosi, only much less glamorous, eloquent and accomplished. A girl can dream, right?
The fare was inventive and exquisite, which made the job easy (or difficult, depending on how you see it). Here’s a glimpse of the contenders’ creations; I was obviously more interested in sipping on versus snapping pictures of the craft drinks.
Geoffrey Reed: Pork belly Benedict with ginger and lemongrass mimosa – I’ve experienced Geoffrey’s culinary skills once before, so should have known his dish would be divine. No surprise, every bite – from the pillowy bun and crispy egg to the crunchy pickled vegetables – was ambrosial. And Geoffrey’s mimosa, hands down, was my favorite.
Cregg Green: Braised oxtail Benedict with ginger-lime mimosa – This morsel packed a flavor punch, and the perfectly seasoned meat literally melted in my mouth. It was an obvious hit as the only criticism among the judges and diners was, “More, please!”
Ronny Miranda: Miso cured ham Benedict with passion fruit, cava and cocoa nib mimosa – This sweet-and-salty entry won me over. With a bit more brioche to sop up the hollandaise and egg, it would have been flawless.
And the Winner Is …
It was as a tough decision, but Geoffrey’s pork belly Benedict with ginger and lemongrass mimosa was proclaimed best in show by the judges and satisfied diners.
You Be the Judge
Do you live in the Bay Area, Chicago, New York or Washington, D.C., or plan to visit any of these cities? You can get in on the Feastly action! Pop-ups are happening daily – just take a look at the current offerings. If you come across an event that you’d like to attend, sign up with promotional code twoofakind to get 20 percent off your meal. Good food, good company, good deal … what’s not to love?
Awesome review of the showdown! My favorite was between Geoff’s and Ronny’s benedicts…but all were so good, and Geoff’s mimosa really packed a punch haha. Can’t wait for the next one in Octobe (fish tacos woohoo!)! 😀
-Joce
It was a treat to be invited to the showdown! I bet the October event will be amazing. Any plans for a dumpling showdown? 😉
Yum!! I love this recap! That was quite the meal and how gorgeous is the Feastly headquarters? So nice to see this event in a blog post!
Xo, tiffany | http://www.sunshinedaydreamphotography.com
Thanks so much, Tiffany! I am in love with the space – especially the “fern wall.” The Feastly team is so nice, too … they treat everyone like family!