Brunch Days (Yes, plural)

VEGAN WARNING: This post contains reviews and images of food before the full switch to a plant-based diet.

FOODIE WARNING: This post contains reviews and images of food that will make you want brunch food ASAP.

There's nothing San Diego does better than craft beer and brunch (a winning combo, if you ask me). By the time Friday night rolls around, Joe and I have consumed all the meals prepped. Joe deserves most of the credit here because usually on Friday I send him a text saying "Eat all the foodz," and sure enough he accomplishes this task. So, this means, we are often foodless by Saturday or Sunday morning. Rather than grocery shop hungry, which always results in a cart full of processed food we never eat, we opt for brunch. Sometimes this brunch is a boozy brunch with friends on a Saturday; other times it's a (less boozy) pregame for grocery shop and meal prep day. More often than not, it's both.

I will be talking you through two of our favorite brunch spots: Café Gratitude San Diego in Little Italy and Brooklyn Girl Eatery in Mission Hills.

Café Gratitude is where one would go after a night, or week, of binging. It's where you go when you want to feel healthy, earthy, and trendy.

There are a few things I love about Café Gratitude: 1) Pet Friendly outdoor seating! 2) Creative and fun perspective to ordering food. 3) Deliciously plant-based.

I have eaten here twice so far and it has quickly become a go-to spot for a healthy and filling brunch. The inside is beautifully decorated, and, as usual, the outdoor seating is full of dog people. I would love to sit indoors, but they will provide you with an umbrella and water for your pup outside. Dog friendly rating: 3/5 paws. The only reason it doesn't get a higher rating for pet friendliness is due to the minimal outdoor seating that almost makes one feel forgotten. I like being a part of the food scene because I believe one pays for ambience as well as food/drink. Sitting outside isn't a problem for me, but decorate it up a bit so it's not such a drastic comparison to the beautiful and thematic indoors. (Just saying)

Personally, I have perused their lunch/dinner menu and nothing stands out to me quite like their brunch menu, which is full of options like a chickpea frittata burrito and vegan chilaquiles (major YUM). This brings me to point number 2: creative and fun perspective to ordering food. When I first came here, I stared at the menu confusedly. Why does my food have two titles? Is my "Breakfast Toast" indeed Peaceful? The waitress quickly cleared up my apprehension by telling me to say "I am" before ordering. The concept is that you should order what you are feeling. By saying "I am [fill in the blank]" you are ordering food that nourishes your body and soul. For example, the first time I went there I said to my self "I am [Festive]" and ordered the Festive / Chilaquiles. (Was I festive? I was probably wearing less black than usual and felt festive) I have never had vegan chilaquiles before and am now, thankfully, able to consume my favorite breakfast food without the dairy and eggs that I am trying to avoid. Foodie Rating: 5/5 forks; Price Rating: $$$ (you're paying anywhere from $11 (breakfast toast with topping) to $16 (breakfast sandwich or burrito) for a brunch item; sometimes it's a ton of food (ie: breakfast burrito) other times not so much (Bonito taco plate).

I highly suggest Café Gratitude (at least for brunch). Make sure to order the Immortal Ayurvedic Latté (iced) or the Vibrant Matcha Latté (iced) if available! I have yet to try their baked goods because they always sell out ($3.50-$5.00), but this is THE place to go if you are vegan, gluten free, have any food allergies, or just want to replenish your body with some delicious health food. At the beginning of your meal, they will provide you with a book which explains all of the ingredients used in their dishes and will sort out the ones you cannot eat if you have a food allergy. It's incredibly detailed and completely worth the look especially if you have a bad allergy like Joe has with gluten.

Cafe Gratitude

Cafe Gratitude2

Now, if you're more of a "I want nice food but I'm also a drown-my-Friday-night-decisions-in-mimosas kind of person," Brooklyn Girl Eatery is the place for you.

It is not the most plant-based, vegan, food-allergy friendly place, but damn is it delicious. We frequented Brooklyn Girl Eatery often before Joe became a born-again vegan because they have an amazing Carnitas Fried Rice brunch item, which he would always order two of. My man can EAT.

I love Brooklyn Girl for three major reasons: 1) Like Café Gratitude, it is pet friendly. 2) The food selection is as wide and flavorful as their drink selection. 3) You get some major bang for your buck.

Very similarly to Café Gratitude, I would give Brooklyn Girl a 3.5/4 paws for their pet friendliness. The outdoor seating is comparable, but Brooklyn Girl gets a slightly higher rating because on multiple occasions, they bring Ellie bacon and spend extra time serving us just to love up on Ellie. Ellie loves it too.

Despite their less-than-café-gratitude approach to plant-based food, they do have many vegetarian option and there are dishes that could very easily become vegan. In the past, I have enjoyed the Avocado Egg Toast (because I'm basic, and a white millennial) and the soy chorizo eggs Benedict with chipotle hollandaise. The soy chorizo Benedict was a speciality item that is normally served with real chorizo, but the soy chorizo was deliciously flavorful and spicy. (Remember people, these items were before we became more strict with our diet.) The fact that Brooklyn Girl even offered soy chorizo does two things for me: 1) suggests they are open to and interested in more plant-based options and 2) willing and able to accommodate dietary restrictions. We have yet to eat brunch there because Joe would go through the many stages of grief when he realizes he can't order his favorite dish, BUT it will happen and I will review whether or not they are able to make those accommodations for us.

Now, for the DRANKS. My favorite is Aperol's Breakfast, which is like an herby mimosa. It makes me feel slightly healthy (herbs, even when soaked in alcohol are good for you right??) and is strong enough that you don't end up chugging 5+ mimosas like one (me) would at a bottomless (read: cheap sparkling wine) mimosa brunch. Joe (when he was drinking) always opted for the Hot Toddy (hotty toddy, as he calls it). Neither of us have tried the other brunch drink specials but they range from a traditional Bloody Mary to a breakfast-inspired cocktail called the Cereal Milk (bourbon, espresso-infused vermouth, creme de cacoa, milk, and Cocoa Krispies). Based on the delicious flavors, portion sizes, and drink selection, Brooklyn Girl gets a Foodie Rating: 5/5; Price Rating: $$$. You will be paying anywhere from $10 (pancakes) to $19 (crab cake Benedict), but the portions are bigger and more consistent than Café Gratitude.

Brooklyn Girl Eatery

Brooklyn Girl Eatery 2

Whether you choose to be hippy dippy and indulge in the absolute goodness that is Café Gratitude or you choose to adhere to the stereotype of a boozy brunch at Brooklyn Girl Eatery, you will walk away ready to face the rest of what remains of your weekend. Since this post is coming early, you could speculate that I'm already making my weekend brunch plans. And to that I say, meet me there! I'll be the one with the puppy and the glass always half full.