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 Quinoa: I'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.