Eggs Benedict: What do the Birthers Believe?

I stand corrected.
I have always believed Eggs Benedict, America's ubiquitous brunch dish, was invented at Brennan's, the famous New Orleans restaurant. I ate the best Eggs Benedict of my life there--two poached eggs as spherical as globes, the lava of its yellow yolks popping out and running thickly down the mountain sides, captured by the craters of its muffin base.
The meal was a beautiful, three-course breakfast accompanied by champagne, lots of champagne. Indeed, the best breakfast of my life.
The question of the dish's invention came up while G and I were scarfing yet another variation of standard Bennies at our local deli--salmon instead of Canadian Bacon and inventively, a potato pancake instead of the muffin. I stood by my belief in Brennan's but G was sure the dish was invented right here in New York.
Word around the internet is, that Eggs Benedict was birthed either at Delmonico's in New York's Financial District or the Waldorf-Astoria uptown. Delmonico's claim of credit for the invention of many dishes raises my suspicion (the hamburger? really?).
Even Brennan's own website does not take credit for the Sunday brunch staple. Their menu calls Eggs Benedict a"traditional dish", but does take credit for Eggs Hussarde.
The description from Brennan's online menu:

EGGS HUSSARDE
(A Brennan's Original)
One of the dishes that put
"Breakfast at Brennan's" on
the map. Poached eggs atop
Holland rusks, Canadian bacon
and Marchand de Vin sauce.
Topped with Hollandaise sauce.
Suggested Wine - Sauvignon Blanc

Surfing around Brennan's website, I realize what I really ate that day was their Eggs Ellen, a bennie variation with salmon.

Carmel Valley Ranch

When researching hotels, restaurants and vacation activities, sometimes I imagine the places all wrong. That’s what happened when I booked Carmel Valley Ranch.

According to “36 Hours in Carmel-by-the-Sea,” Carmel Valley Ranch is home to one of the most outstanding restaurants in the area, Citronelle. The lure of an exquisite, romantic meal enticed me to look into staying at the 400-acre Carmel Valley Ranch. Their 650-square-foot suite and two heated swimming pools for $138 sealed the deal.

I did not comprehend how far Citronelle and CVR are from the town of Carmel. If I had known, I might have opted to stay in town to visit the shops and Clint Eastwood’s Hog’s Breath Inn.

Never assume, as I did, a restaurant will be open on Monday nights. I call Citronelle belatedly to make a reservation and got the bad news. I also assumed a 400-acre ranch would have at least one more restaurant. Strike two.

As a New Yorker who cannot visualize 400 acres, I did not consider I might have to drive to either pool or the fitness center or the lounge that serves a limited, casual version of the fine-dining experience we hoped to have. A non-New Yorker may not understand our aversion to non-essential driving.

These conditions also make driving into the real Carmel for dinner an unviable option. So we will not do Carmel on this trip. Santa Cruz and Monterey were merely pit stops because I envisioned dropping our bags at our lodging and then checking out Carmel before the loveliest dinner of our trip. Realizing all this upon checking in, surrounded by the beautiful Carmel Valley, I feel bummed out.

But traveling is about adjusting itineraries and ratcheting expectations up or down. Traveling is about making lemonade when necessary. I ponder all this as I slump in a chair on our balcony that overlooks lush green hills.

I always have wanted a balcony in New York and tonight I have one. Here’s our lemonade.

The Palm's Carrot Cake, A Love Triangle

I live by my diet rules--rules give me willpower.
One year, I made a No Chocolate rule. No chocolate means that my favorite desserts: carrot cake, cheesecake and Key Lime Pie, ducked the ban. 2008, a more stringent rule-year, saw the ban of all desserts. Only a few exceptions were made:

• My birthday (Cheesecake Factory cheesecake)
  
• G's birthday (Magnolia Bakery Red Velvet cake)
  
• Thanksgiving (Doug Jahnke pumpkin pie)
  
• G and my tenth wedding anniversary last night (The Palm carrot cake)
  

Sticklers might say last night fell in 2009. Yes, but G and I begin our new year every year on the Monday after January 1. This calendar adjustment allows us a no-guilt anniversary celebration.
During the 2007 holiday season, a group of co-workers celebrated at the midtown Palm Steakhouse. After we couldn't eat another bite, the waiter lowered an eight-or-so-layer, eight-or-so inch high wedge of carrot cake onto the table. I swear the cake was as wide as it was tall. Some magical extra room for dessert appeared as soon as the cake hit the table.
During this year of No Sweets, I thought about The Palm's carrot cake. I described it to strangers every now and then.
Last night, G and I celebrated our anniversary at The Palm's new location in Tribeca. After lobster bisque, crab cocktail, a 14-0z filet mignon (G) and Alaskan King Crab legs (me), I found room for the carrot cake. (I knew I would.)
As reviewers traditionally say, it did not disappoint. Massive, with cream cheese icing marbling every bite, the cake arrived with a steak knife jammed in the center. Probably representing the time it will take off our lives.
Ahh, but it was sweet. Now 2009 may begin.

Red Velvet Recipes

Cupcakes are hot and so is Miami.

I topped off a dinner of conch, truffled polenta and Florida Pompano at Michy's restaurant with their Red Velvet Cupcake.

The cream cheese frosting under red sugar sprinkles sat high on the little cake. The tiny glass of milk served with the cupcake, intended to inject the experience with down-home irony, was unnecessary.

Michy's is on Biscayne Boulevard, next to a creepy motel. Don't park there.

You're not venturing down to Miami soon? You shy away from Bates-like motels? But you love red velvet you say? Then click here for a full-size version of the recipe at the left. Don't forget the cream cheese frosting. And the red sugar sprinkles.