Oscar Day Delight

Thanks to everyone that joined us for this month's brunch. You have now been canonized as an early adopter. As was everyone at the last brunch. From here on out if you come, you are a second place finisher.

The conversation about politics was very short, because everyone didn't care who won so long as it wasn't McCain, Fuckabee, or Shrub. Which is surprisingly because the Bloody Marys were very strong and spicy. I was sure that everyone would have imbibed enough from that one drink to really lay into McCain. I guess Ben did, but it wasn't the focus of the brunch. Instead the Oscars was topic of speculation, which probably should shed some sociological light on the status of politics in America or NYC.

For those that missed the event, shame on you, you really missed out on the Arrepas con Benedictos. I'm a fan and fanatic of Eggs Benedict and these were awesome. The corn meal under the poached eggs with the pungent smoked ham was very, very good. Everyone went from being very talky to being very quiet and moaning once the food came.

The service wasn't the best, there was a bit of discontent about not seating us and the use of an orange handled carafe to dispense regular coffee, but the food was very good. The Bloody Marys and the Arrepas con Benedictos were a great match. I'd go there again. But this time I'm going to schedule a little bit of nap time in my day.

Afterwards, everyone went to Trader Joe's and I bought way too much stuff, but lucked in with the salted brownies, which if you read my Parenting Blog, you'd know how much I love TJ's,

Food and Photos

Today's brunch was a success! Yuca Bar was 100% empty when we got there, which was both relieving and silly. I was relieved to see all those empty tables because no place in New York seems to take brunch reservations, and getting a table for a large group is the biggest logistical challenge to brunch-a-month. It became silly when, as the only people in the entire restaurant, the hostess refused to seat us as an incomplete party in case someone else needed the table. To her credit, the place really did fill up by the time we left, but it was a laughable that she made us stand around in the empty restaurant waiting for more people to show.

The food was great (thanks to Jen and Krysta for the recommendation!). I had the Arepas Benedictos with smoked salmon and a really, really good bloody mary. Rena brought her new fancy camera to breakfast, so you can see my meal below. She also got a few good pics of the restaurant from the outside, including one with Ben (hiding), Lorraina, Todd, and me.

See the rest of you next month at the third installment!

Politics over coffee

So as we settle down into our meal, would you think it rude if I did a little political speculation and polling around the table? I really would like to know what you all think of Hill vs. Barak? And who do you think they'd choose, if they won the nomination, for VP?

Is there anyone coming that is a Republican? I'm curious to know what Republicans think of Obama. My father said that he liked Obama better than McCain. And he's a die-hard R!

Talk to you on Sunday!

Yuca Bar's brunch menu

BRUNCH MENU

Served weekends 11:00am-5pm

Prix fixe10.95 Served with a choice of Bloody marry, mimosa, screw-driver
or fresh squeezed orange juice & hot Coffee or Tea

All eggs served with choice of home fries or rice & beans (except for Yuca Benedictos & Huevos Rancheros)

Huevos Rancheros
Eggs any style over a black bean quesadilla w/white cheese and guacamole

Three Eggs any style
Three eggs cooked any style served with chorizo & toast

Yuca Benedictos
Poached eggs w/shrimp and avocado on yuca hash browns topped w/cilantro
hollandaise

Crab cake Benedictos
With poached eggs, guacamole and chipotle hollandaise

Arepas Benedictos
Poached eggs on white corn cakes topped w/hollandaise sauce & with smoked
salmon or Serrano ham

Spanish Omlete (choice of two fillings)
Goat cheese/swiss/jalapeno jack/chorizo onions/peppers/mushroom/tomatoes

Scrambled Eggs Burrito
With chorizo, jalapeno jack cheese Tomato and onions

Churrasco & Eggs
Grilled steak w/three eggs any style topped with garlic & parsley chimichurri

Tostada Colada
French toast w/tropical seasonal fruits served with rum maple syrup

Pancake or Waffle Latino
Served w/tropical seasonal fruits and rum maple syrup

A LA CARTE

Soup special P/A
Ask your server about the special soup of the day

Latin Salad 7
Mixed greens w/avocado, corn, onions & tomato tossed in citrus vinaigrette

Tropical Salad 8
Chopped shrimp, hearts of palm & avocado in coconut lime ginger vinaigrette

Blue Cheese Salad 7
mixed greens & pear w/blue cheese, walnuts & chive vinaigrette

Veggie sandwich 7
Grilled eggplant, tomato, peppers & onions w/goat cheese and bean spread
served w/yuca fries

Cubano sandwich 8
Pulled pork, swiss cheese, honey ham & pickles and grilled Swiss cheese
served w/yuca fries

Latin Burger 7
Half pound grinded steak seasoned w/garlic oregano served w/ yuca or papa
fritas

Marisco Burger 8
a mix of seasoned seafood w/caper mayonnaise

Veggie bean Burger 8
Seasoned w/ cumin & guacamole spread

Burger toppings: Swiss/jalapeno jack,/Spanish blue/manchego cheese/smoked
($1 P/I) bacon/sauteed wild mushrooms/avocado/sauteed onions

TAPAS & CEVICHES

Guacamole 5
Hand hacked w/ pico de gallo & new world chips

Calamare frito 7
Crispy Calamari w/ two dipping sauces

Camaroncoco 9
Coconut crusted baby shrimp w/ passion fruit chipotle aioli

Shrimp Ceviche 7
Sauteed shrimp in red pepper marinade

Salmon Cevice 8
Chino latino w/ soy ginger citrus marinade

SIDE DISHES 3

Rice/ beans/ tostones/ yuca or papa fritas/ sweet plantain

Yuca Bar

Happy Super-dooper Tsunami Tuesday, everyone! Hats off to all of you who went out and voted today--way to do your civic duty. I'm a woman possessed with this election, so even though this blog is all about brunch, I can't avoid making this post about the primaries.

To that end, we want to celebrate all of New York's Hispanic voters with a brunch at Yuca Bar, a Latin American eatery Jen recommended. I think their latin take on eggs benedict over corn arepas should be very interesting. I know that that's what Todd will be getting. Neither of us have been there, but in the spirit of adventure we want to try it for the first time with all of you.

Next Brunch-A-Month will be February 24th, and we hope you come to it. Be prepared to answer this question: who did you vote for, and why?

Peace in East,
- Todd and Tori