Monday, October 6, 2014

Pass The Thyme Cafe

Where did summer go? It's hard to believe that fall flavors are in full swing. The Capital Region is blessed with an abundance of pick-your-own orchards with a variety of apples and even better, cider doughnuts and fresh-pressed cider. One of our favorite orchards is Samascott Orchards in Kinderhook, NY. Now that  autumn apples are calling our names, a hearty brunch is a must before doing some picking. We've driven by Pass The Thyme Cafe numerous times on our way down for PYO summer blueberries and just recently stopped by for a fantastic meal. You'll find this sweet charming spot less than a mile down the road from Samascott Orchards serving a classic variety of breakfast fare and lunch items. 


Omelette of the Day: J went with the special of the day, an omelette with spinach, avocado, tomatoes, bacon and cheddar with a smashed potato cake, toast, and fresh fruit. For $10, this was a huge breakfast! Eggs were fluffy and generously filled with fresh vegetables. The most interesting element of this feast was the potato cake, a unique hybrid of creamy mashed potatoes sprinkled with scallions  and encrusted with a thin, golden crunchy layer of cheese on the bottom. The cheddary tuille of sorts was one of the best, memorable bites. 

We also shared a side of hash. I was perplexed by the dish of thinly sliced potatoes but somehow it worked. It wasn't potato chip thin but had just enough toothy bite yet satisfying crisp. 



Breakfast QuinoaI've always considered quinoa as a side dish but loved this unique take as a breakfast item. This ancient grain might be trendy at the moment but has a starring role here with no frills. A generous portion of fluffy quinoa is covered with a rich hollandaise that is light enough to let the fresh tomatoes, sauteed, spinach, and sauteed mushrooms shine. A burst of velvety egg yolk from the poached eggs completed this very satisfying dish along with a dunk of buttered, marbled rye. I might very well steal this idea for my own weekend brunch at home. 



Always end your meal with something sweet, especially when a "1st Place Winner Columbia County Fair Cupcake Wars" trophy is starring at you. They ran out of the prize-winning Reeses Peanut Butter Cup but we happily settled for a strawberry ice homemade cupcake to fuel our apple picking trip to Samascott's. 

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