There's Indonesian Food in Sapphire's Mother's Day Brunch Menu!

Okay someone at Sapphire in Laguna Beach is definitely trying to get my attention.  How else to explain the fact that for a recent press release that I'm sure a lot of food journalists (and accidental ones like me) got, there is Indonesian food on the menu!

At first, as I was scrolling through the list, I stifled a yawn.  Eggs benedict for a Mother's Day brunch?  Ho-hum.  

Sure, they called it "A Study of Eggs Benedict" -- a seemingly knowing nod that they understand it's as overplayed as chocolate in heart-shaped boxes for Valentines -- but that still doesn't make it not boring.

Then, reading further, I encountered it, the last item: Indonesian Beef Sate, served with Nasi Goreng, Fried Egg and Peanut Sauce!!

If I didn't already adore Sapphire for being one of the most innovative and truly market-inspired restaurants in O.C., I'm now in awe of them.  Of all the foods from all the cultures in the world they could've chosen to add to their brunch, they chose Indonesian -- a cuisine represented here by only one other restaurant (Warung Pojok).

Now, I'm not going to get all nitpicky, because this is the kind of thing I'd like to encourage.  But as an Indonesian, I do need point out something to those who might opt for the dish.

Sate (which I give Sapphire props for spelling correctly) is usually just served with white rice or compressed rice cakes with peanut sauce.  It's marinated beef skewers (yep, pronounced like Thai satay) and you won't usually see nasi goreng with it, which is just a general Indonesian term for "fried rice".  Nasi goreng is dish all to itself, usually with the lacy, oil-fried, sunny-side up egg.  So having the the two items together is the equivalent of serving hamburgers with pizza as one dish.

But then, come to think of it, why not?  You get TWO Indonesian dishes in one order!

For more details on the $55 per person, 3-course brunch menu, click below:

Mother's Day Brunch at Sapphire Laguna

Sunday, May 10, 2009, 10am-3:30pm

 

Three-Course Prix Fixe Menu

$55 per adult, $25 for children from 5 to 12 (exclusive of beverages, tax and gratuity).

Special menu for kids under 5.

 

For reservations, please call 949-715-9888

 

To Start...

Tian of Heirloom Tomatoes and Manchego

Shaved Jamon Serrano, Olive Tapenade, Fennel, Romesco Sauce

 

***

Choice of:

A Study of Eggs Benedict:

Traditional on Toasted English Muffin, Canadian Bacon with Hollandaise

Salmon Nicoise Hash with Basil Hollandaise

or

"PB&J" Pancakes

 Fresh Strawberries, Honey-Roasted Peanuts, Maple Chantilly

or

Louie's Crab Cake Salad

Organic Baby Field Greens, Bacon, Grated Eggs, Avocado, Sunflower Seeds

Creamy Thousand Island

or

Herb Baked Chicken Breast and Goat Cheese Ravioli

Olive Oil Poached Tomato, English Peas, Spring Onion Jus

or

Alaskan Halibut Piccata

 Potato Gnocchi with Portobello, Fava Beans, Lemon-Caper Butter

or

Indonesian Beef Sate

 Nasi Goreng, Fried Egg, Peanut Sauce

 

****

Choice of:

"Banana Foster" Ice Cream Sundae

Salted Caramel, Chopped Pecans

or

Chocolate Lamingtons

Decadent Coconut, Vanilla Gelato

or

Australian Pavlova Trifle

 Passion Fruit Curd, Seasonal Fresh Berries, Mango Coulis