Stepping into the sunny second-floor dining room of Pursuit’s Brazen restaurant, you know you’re in for a great experience. Designed with a brilliant mix of rustic and elegant, the attention to every detail foreshadows the meal: it’s the little things that take food (and most things in life for that matter) from good to great.
The new brunch menu is fulsome and has something for every mood from comfort food to fresh and adventurous. We began with a Brazen’s Shaft cocktail featuring Amaretto, Frangelico, Peyto Espresso and maple cream. Part cocktail, part specialty coffee and completely delicious, this is a delightful way to begin brunch.
It was difficult to choose the main courses as everything looked delicious (peanut butter and chocolate French Toast?!?) but in the end opted for something rich and hearty and something light and fresh.
The Salmon Brie Toast is a gorgeous dish with vibrant smoked salmon laid atop bright arugula on a chewy sourdough spread with caper dill cream cheese. With a departure from the traditional cream-cheese-and-lox approach, Brazen adds brie under the salmon to make the creamy factor next level in this dish. The richness, though, is well balanced with zippy pickled red onions, lemon zest, and of course that slightly bitter crunch of arugula that makes it our favourite leafy green. The dish is accompanied by Brazen’s delicious house potatoes, which are golden and crispy in all the right places.
Next up was the fabulous Croque Madame, which was a real show-stopper in terms of its presentation and execution. A thick slice of fluffy brioche is fried with applewood-smoked cheddar and topped with Canadian bacon, a creamy, bright hollandaise and, of course, a perfectly done sunnyside-up egg. We couldn’t wait to dive in and it did not disappoint.
If you’re really hungry, you can’t go wrong with the steak and potatoes featuring a certified angus beef hanger steak. Those looking for something sweet and light will love the parfait with lemon curd, Greek yogurt, and house-made toasted granola and preserves. And, if breakfast isn’t your jam (so to speak), the Mount Royale with Cheese burger comes highly recommended and features a full eight ounces of Kobe beef.
Whatever you decide on, fresh, seasonal ingredients, exceptional creativity and a dedication to craft will make your Brazen brunch a memorable one.
For hours and reservations, visit brazenbanff.com.
