Brunch at Wakefield’s Chez Eric

Jessey is a writer, digital communications strategist, and the founder of Local Tourist Ottawa.

So, we’ve already written about the wonderful little restaurant Chez Eric, located in nearby Wakefield, but I hadn’t actually been there until this weekend.

Photo credit: chezeric.ca

Sure, LTO co-founder Amy talks about this cute little spot…a lot…but it wasn’t only her review that led me to Wakefield this weekend, it was actually a great little write-up in re:Porter on how to spend a full-day in Wakefield.

Yes, I know that is an airline in-flight magazine, but it’s almost always a great read. 

On Chez Eric, the author wrote:

“Here, the  eponymous chef is not Eric but rather Che. A tall, chatty gent, Che Chartrand came up through Ottawa’s Beckta and Chelsea’s Les Fougères, but he raised some eyebrows six years ago when he took over Chez Eric and transformed the local coffee house into a fine-dining bistro. But the locals were quickly won over by Chartrand’s commitment to inventive Québécois cooking and top-quality local and sustainable ingredients, many of which are grown in his own garden.”

What I liked about Chez Eric, is that when I called to make a reservation they asked about allergies – and without hesitation the chef made a wonderful custom bowl for a friend of mine who is currently on a very restrictive diet. 

Custom smoked salmon brunch bowl

I had a beautiful breakfast sandwich:

Bacon, egg, cheese etc…but somehow every ingredient more delicious than the average breakfast sandwich.

And then the hungrier of the group (namely, the dudes) had the MAD Stacker:

Yes, there are sausages in those pancakes.

In the end, we only really scratched the surface of Wakefield; after breakfast we went for a spontaneous swim in the river, before returning back to Ottawa for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Just 30 minutes away from my house, I think I’ll be heading to Wakefield a lot more often.

What’s your favourite spot in Wakefield?

Simple food, bold flavours: Brunch at Chez Eric in nearby Wakefield

Cafe Chez Eric

There’s just something about a lazy Sunday, when the spring is starting to show signs of turning to nicer weather, that makes you want to get out and explore.

Brunch Board

So when I got the chance to get out of the city and in the Gatineau Hills — and all in the name of breakfast, no less — I was thrilled. Three friends and I headed off to Wakefield, Que., for a leisurely (read 2.5-hour) brunch and afternoon of coffee-drinking. In a stroke of luck, it was one of the days where rain was kept at bay and the temperature was sitting at around 12 degrees. But driving up into the Hills, snow could still be spotted between the trees and there was a noticeable drop in warmth. (I think the weather just added to my exploratory mindset, adding a non-city freshness to the air.)

Lasagna with Grilled Veggies and Homemade Bechamel

Our destination was Chez Eric, a small bistro-style restaurant located right in Wakefield. While it boasts only a smattering of tables, the constantly changing menu focuses on seasonal and local ingredients, many of which are sourced from the rural area surrounding Wakefield. When we arrived just after noon on Sunday, Chez Eric’s owner Che Chartrand was outside smoking duck breast and making prosciutto.

I believe everyone should make the trip to Wakefield for its beauty alone. However, on a weekend, brunch at Chez Eric is a must. The cozy restaurant has a ridiculously friendly staff, large portions and a menu that offers something for everyone. Between the four of us, we managed to select veggie lasagna, a burger, eggs benedict with homemade trout gravalax and a fine herb and feta quiche. Not only is the food delicious — and it could be the air — but the flavours were standout: bold and plentiful in all the dishes that were otherwise quite simple.

Spinach and Feta Quiche with Fine Herbs

From my experience, the food at Chez Eric is all about balancing flavours. My eggs benny, for example, weren’t overwhelmed by the taste of the trout, which was sweeter in flavour than I was expecting. The richness of the homemade hollandaise sauce accompanied it well. And the bit of lasagna I stole seemed to burst with bright tomato sauce, but the freshness of the veggies — especially the mushrooms and the zucchini — was also quite apparent in the dish

Eggs Benny with Gravalax Trout

And the restaurant is on this little piece of land that has spindly trees around the property line, with a small brook running across. In the summer, the outdoor patio makes it a beautiful place for dinner on a warm night. The shop also sells a few cute culinary add-ons, like flavoured salts, rubs and jams.

We left much later satisfied and relaxed. A trip to Wakefield will do that for you — no matter when it falls. Though the town is  significantly more lively in the summer, when people stroll along the shoreline and pack the waterview patios along Wakefield’s main drag.

Also, be sure to check out Cafe Molo for a great cup of coffee and the famed Black Sheep Inn, which features live music on Sunday afternoons.

Any just-out-of town trips that you’re particularly fond of? Drop us a line!

Breakfast at the Elgin Street Diner – not just for the food, but also the memories

Shelly Lyonnais is a local elementary school teacher who has been living in Ottawa on and off for 20 years.  She spends her weekends in search of Ottawa’s great date night dinner locations.

Sometimes when our traditional “date night” isn’t possible, my husband and I still try to do something in Ottawa together but in a less formal way. This often leads us to breakfast out.

Ottawa has many amazing breakfast places but one of our favourites is, of course, the Elgin Street Diner. If you went to University in this city, you are probably well acquainted with the ESD. My husband and I love going there because the menu has barely changed (has it at all?), the atmosphere is laid back, all walks of life go through the doors, it is open 24 hours (we are early risers) and the servers are familiar.

One morning, we had one of those weekends where we were hankering for a good breakfast… so off to Elgin Street we went. We were seated at the back of the restaurant which is a great place to watch the happenings of the place, although I prefer the window tables so that I can watch the hustle and bustle on the street.

It was very easy to pick what we wanted to eat…. where else can you get eggs, your choice of meat, toast, beans, home fries… and poutine? Yes folks, that is the hangover breakfast! We were not hungover on this particular morning, although I am sure that the original reason for choosing this breakfast was after a long night of drunken debauchery, many years ago.

The breakfast is pretty self-explanatory and much like a breakfast that you would get anywhere else (minus the poutine) but what keeps drawing us back is the memories of days past, the comfort of knowing what we want and the staff that we are so used to seeing. No matter how old we get (40 is not old no matter what kids say!) this place will always have a soft spot in our hearts.

Do you love all things brunch in the city? Check out our growing battle of the Ottawa brunch spots, and let us know about your favourite spot!

Battle of the Ottawa brunch spots: Part IV – Murray Street, Le Café

Sarah V. is a friend of LTOttawa and overall, a very cool person. She has lived all over the world and (lucky us) she has been settled in the nation’s capital for a little over a year now.

Your November 17th blog about brunch left me wishing it was Sunday morning!

However, you forgot to mention Murray Street, which does an amazing $13 weekend brunch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The French toast I recently had was thick, made with sliced marble bread soaked in egg and fried, topped with a free-run poached egg, home-made sausage, smothered in cheese and drizzled with garlic maple syrup….too good not to mention! On another occasion I devoured the breakfast cassoulet, which was complete with duck confit.

Another classic, and a decidedly upscale example, is the National Arts Centre brunch at Le Café.  At almost $30 per head it is a bit heavy on the wallet, but it is a buffet, laid out by posh chefs after all!  The food is delicious and the desserts to die for!  It rivals the brunch at the Chateau Laurier… but beats it because the NAC restaurant is literally right on the Rideau Canal, which is lovely.  They serve all manner of delicious breakfast food, but also lunch items such as tuna tartar with lime, and fresh spinach salad with pancetta.

Care to share your favourite Ottawa brunch spot? Send us a note and tell us about it!

Battle of the Ottawa brunch spots: part III – Fraser Café

Avery celebrates her dad’s birthday with the Fraser Café’s bacon and donuts.

Angela Christiano is an event consultant who has lived in Ottawa ever since coming for the weekend in 1994.  Thanks for your contribution, Angela!

Remember the first cool – really cool – restaurant you went to? Both the food and décor had that common, comfortable, touch but in a way that made you feel classy (it is amazing what goat cheese can do to impress a burger).

Fraser Café in New Edinburgh is that place.

Here is a photo of our five-year old daughter’s order that speaks to the moxy of the restaurant: donuts and bacon. Seriously; a set of small homemade donuts accompanied by a deliciously sweet dipping sauce and warm, crispy bacon on the side.  Salty and sweet – the perfect combination.

Kudos to the Fraser Café for finding a way to incorporate what should be a death row last meal into a delicious and varied brunch menu.

Go soon and often.

Care to share your favourite Ottawa brunch spot? Send us a note and tell us about it!

Battle of the Ottawa brunch spots: part II

Photo credit: http://www.pubwells.com

Alex Hosselet likes to keep it real.  He also can’t stop thinking about waffles and eggs Benedict. Thanks for sharing your two cents in the battle of the Ottawa brunch spots, Alex!

I could have overlooked Pubwells as any other pub if it weren’t for the fact that it is down my street (Spruce) on Preston. Luckily, many others (beyond Pubwells’ usual classy clientele) don’t seem to know it, as breakfast and brunch times don’t get too crowded.

Pubwells does great waffles, with a wide selection of toppings including maple syrup, chocolate syrup, hot caramel, yogurt, fresh fruit (with a more exotic blend than you’d expect!), whipped cream and English cream. They make a killer eggs benedict with ham, spinach or salmon. All of the staples like homefries, sausage and bacon are great, and they offer a good number of combination plates in case you can’t choose between fresh waffles and eggs benedict with spinach.

Brunch of the Gods!

If you live anywhere near Preston or Somerset (Pubwells is one block north), you have no excuse not to try this spot. The prices are good, the service is friendly, and the whole place is warm and cozy.

Care to share your favourite Ottawa brunch spot? Send us a note and tell us about it!

Ottawa’s top 10 most scrumtrulescent brunch destinations

Photo courtesy of Margaux Carson: http://www.kitchengraffiti.com

Josh McJannett is a local public affairs professional who took Ottawa to brunch after an 80s night eight years ago; they’ve been in a committed relationship ever since.

I love brunch. I don’t care if that makes me indecisive (Lunch? Breakfast? That’s a false choice peddled by the forces of evil as far as I’m concerned,) or if Stuff White People Like is to be believed, just plain predictable.

For me, there’s nothing like sitting unshaven (a weekend luxury) around a table of good friends over a refilled cup of coffee and a plate of egg soaked, bacon infused, pan-fried potatoes to make you appreciate how good life truly is.

Fortunately for Ottawans, this city is teeming with unstoppably delicious places to tame your pork and maple flavour fever.

For my $10 with tip (or so), this list represents the best of what I think Ottawa has to offer.

For more great LTOttawa coverage on brunch spots, click here.

Lieutenant’s Pump

For years this place has been my mainstay. Ottawa has no shortage of pub breakfasts on offer. Friendly service and reliably good fare put the Pump head and shoulders above the rest. After a big night out there’s nothing like the refuge of one of the Pump’s darkened back room leather booths. A great destination for bigger groups. Order the breakfast special with a side scone, you won’t be sorry.

Carmen’s Veranda

Funky retro seating and a streetside window in the heart of Old Ottawa South make this place something different. A great starting point for exploring an often overlooked neighbourhood with lots to offer.

Jak’s Kitchen

It’s the little things about this tiny neighbourhood restobar that earn it a spot on the list. Breakfast macs (named after the cooks who created them (Serge is my favourite), the jar of homemade jam on every table and the spicy Diablo sauces on offer are all things I’ve come to love. Be prepared to wait if you join the rush at 10am on Sunday.

Stone Face Dolly’s

Come hungry. The people behind this Preston Street mainstay don’t mess around with small servings—everything about this brunch is supersized—from the thick cut, homemade molasses loaf toast to the colourful personality of the guy who negotiates your seating during the inevitable rush at 10:30am. Highly recommend the lemon curd blueberry pancakes.

Heart & Soul Café

If you’re looking for something different, this place is worth the drive. Located just west of Kanata in the village of Dunrobin, H&S serves healthy servings of what can best be described as comfort food. Hearty potatoes, delicious pancakes and piping hot coffee go down just that much better on the veranda overlooking the countryside. A great spot.

Bank Street Diner

A reliable and simple spot in the heart of Centretown. This place doesn’t look like much from the street, but fast service, comfortable booth seating in a bright diner-styled room get it off to a good start. The fact that they soft poach my eggs to perfection and eschew frozen potatoes for the fresh,  pan fried, basil topped variety and the fact that I got out of there for $7 carried it over the finish line. I’ll go back for their ‘Breakfast & Beer’ special served after 11am!

Jean Albert’s

Saturday morning at this place is what happens when southern U.S.-style soul food makes a passionate love baby with brunch. Try the breakfast pizza and you can’t go wrong. Constructed with a hash brown crust, held together with egg and cheese and topped with pretty much anything you can imagine (the southern fried chicken is a particularly delicious option)—it’s an understatement to say you won’t be hungry until dinner.

Scone Witch

Beyond the scones, which are fantastic (for reals, get the vanilla cream), the devon cream imported from the UK and the top notch jam selection, this place also puts on a killer egg breakfast. You have to be willing to brave a wait for a seat in this small, humid restaurant (they make everything on site and the ovens keep the place nice and warm), but it’s worth it. The scrambled eggs are always cooked to perfection (not overdone like most places) and served with greens, fruit and your choice of scone. An Ottawa institution.

Morala Specialty Coffee

Earlier this year our neighbours at Apt 613 polled to find the best pancakes in Ottawa. I’ll leave the flapjack verdict to the masses, but I humbly put to you that Morala takes the title for the capital’s best waffle. This small café has a range of homemade baked goods and excellent coffee. More significantly for brunch lovers, this place is the opportunity to be treated to a feat often attempted and rarely achieved; the perfect waffle. Like any good thing, it’s available in limited supply; served Saturdays and Sundays before 11:30am. Made to order and topped with a generous serving of banana and strawberries with a side of real maple syrup and topped with whipped cream, these waffles are a decadent, delicious treat. The perfect place to grab some newspaper and a window seat with a friend and just catch up.

Urban Pear

Nestled in the heart of the Glebe and decidedly upscale (and reliably more than the $10 max you’d expect at most of the places on this list), this place is like an amusement park for your taste buds. If I concentrate I can still taste the stacked apple, cheddar and bacon French toast I ordered two years ago.

Is there a great Ottawa brunch destination that Josh left off his master list? Send us a note and tell us about it!