Derrick Deans
My wife who is celiac and I dropped in for breakfast and were charmed. It’s a relatively small, funky place on the main street of Ottawa’s Byward Market. We found it online when we were returning on a Sunday morning from the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield Quebec where we had rocked out the previous evening to the local Bushpilots band. We were seated immediately at a seat by the large window that can be rolled up in Ottawa’s warmer months. The late morning crowd was buzzing – a mixture of couples, foursomes and one large family gathering of 10-12 people with children and grandparents included. Our waiter appeared soon after and knowledgably responded to my wife’s questions about what was safe for her on the menu. From the various options she chose a wild mushroom omelette with goat cheese which came with salad, fruit, and gluten-free bread ($22). Unfortunately the crispy smashed baby potatoes are not available gluten-free. Despite this, she enjoyed enormously the eggs , bread, and very tasty fresh salad. For my part, there were so many interesting concoctions on the menu I was temporarily frozen, but finally decided to indulge my appetite and chose the Hungerman Breakfast ($26). It was a full plate with three fresh easy-over farm eggs, apple wood double smoked bacon, pork sausage, a piece of crab cake, chipotle crema, crispy smashed baby potatoes, mixed greens, fresh fruit, and toast. All of it was a standout. Both the bacon and sausage were delicious, the potatoes were a unique rendering that were crisp on the outside with a melt-in-your-mouth softness inside, while the crab cake was the tender surprise winner with the crema a welcome bonus flavour. This was a hearty meal that was enjoyed slowly with each different mouthful fully appreciated and rounded off with the delicious blend of fruits and vegetables. We’re looking forward to coming back to sample the dinner menu!
