BRUNCH WITH PRIDE!
{ Paul Giorgio }
Welcome to CM Pride’s newest column: Brunch with Pride!
The weekends are a great time for people to relax and enjoy themselves, and what better way than to enjoy brunch. There are quite a few places that offer brunch, some even do all you can eat. We will be highlighting some of the better brunch options in the area.
Today we talk about Worcester’s Altea’s on Park Ave. A friend and I popped into Altea’s on a recent Sunday. The place was filling up fast, but we were able to snag a table near the bar. To some the bar is an important part of the Sunday ritual. We opted not to imbibe and stuck to my stimulant of choice, strong black coffee.
Altea’s menu offers many options for the hungry. They do have a special’s menu which they refer to as their test menu. This is in addition to the extensive regular offerings. Our very energetic waitress furnished us with coffee while we perused the menu. I’m a big Eggs Benedict guy. One of the specials was popcorn chicken benedict. At her urging I did opt for this special, while my dining companion ordered the Eggs Benedict Florentine.
Altea’s replaces the standard English muffin in their benedicts with a biscuit. The plate was overflowing with golden fried chicken nuggets topped with two poached eggs. The eggs were topped with a house made hollandaise sauce to which a mildly spicy chipotle sauce has been added. A hefty portion of lyonnaise potatoes rounded out the plate. I opted to add tobacco sauce to the eggs, which brought up the heat quotient.
The meal was great, although the eggs were cooked a little firmer for my taste. I love the running yoke mixing in with the hollandaise. I also appreciated the biscuit rather than an English muffin. It shows that personal touch.
The chipotle sauce was a nice change from the standard hollandaise. The main ingredient is a smoked jalapeno pepper, which is a mayonnaise and honey-based sauce. The spiciness from the hot pepper gave the sauce a pleasant kick
My friend’s Eggs Benedict Florentine was equally impressive. They upped the ante on this meal too. Two perfectly cooked poached eggs were nestled on a bed of spinach, tomato and goat cheese which was spread on a brioche bun. The whole thing was then topped with hollandaise sauce and accompanied with the same potatoes. The portion was pretty large, so half the meal was brought home.
Altea’s is a cross between a neighborhood place and a hipster hang out. Families intermingled with college students.I was able to look around and see what others had ordered. The people at the table next to us had ordered the chicken and waffles, which was impressive. Altea’s is a warm and inviting space with great food and reasonable prices.
It’s a place to nurse that Saturday night out or a place to enjoy a quiet brunch with friends. You won’t be disappointed no matter what category you find yourself in.