The Brunch Baron is Back!

Hello Fellow Brunch-o-philes,
The Baron is back from his hiatus up north. Appropriately, it was a movie entitled "Sunny Side Up." Unfortunately, no brunches were served in the making of this film.
For my first brunch back in Astoria, we decided to go to Pommes Cafe (http://www.pommecafeny.com/Pomme_Cafe/About.html) on the corner of Broadway and 38th St. It is a French/New Orleans style cafe.

Joining the crew for this outing were The Red Queen, El Generalissimo, The Kiwi, Dr. Colonel Sanders, The Neighbors (who have earned their own nicknames: Mayor McCheese and Susie Q), The Lady of the Book, and finally my best friend from elementary school, the Lighting Lord and his girlfriend, The Seamstress.
It was a beautiful fall day when we showed up and the manager was really nice about putting together a table large enough to accommodate our frigate.

When we first sat down, we were greeted with free baskets of gigantic, warm croissants and little cups of nutella to spread on top. This proved to be dangerous as we all gorged ourselves enough on the croissants that I don't think a single one of us managed to finish our meals.

Well, maybe the Kiwi. For such a small man, he can pack it away.

The Pommes Cafe brunch special consists of coffee or tea (free refills), a free drink (bloody mary, bellini, mimosa or pommes mimosa which is made with apple juice), and a breakfast dish for $14. Everyone took advantage of this deal except for Lighting Lord, who decided to go for a grilled cheese which wasn't part of the special.

The Red Queen and El Generalissimo had spent the previous week at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, which LL and the Seamstress also attended. They are from DC, so it was a little easier for them to go. Hence, most of the table conversation revolved around us pestering them with questions. Best signs they saw: "I have a sign" and "This sign contains proper grammar and spelling." Apparently, it was a very pleasant and reasonable event, and I'm sorry I had to work during it.

Despite a rather extensive menu, most of us ordered either the zucchini and gruyere omelet or eggs benedict. I thought my omelet was a little bland, but some salt and pepper helped a great deal. Even though it was a light, fresh tasting dish, I couldn't finish it due to my earlier croissant splurging. It comes with a side of home fries made with brussels sprouts, or rather a singular brussels sprout. I'm not a huge fan of the sprout, so it didn't bother me that there wasn't much sprout in the dish. I have to say, mixed with the spicy home fries, it may have been the best part of the meal.

Especially when you consider the beignets I ordered were dry. Then again, the only other time I had them was in New Orleans, so is that a fair comparison?

Those who ordered the eggs benedict raved about the hollandaise sauce, while the Kiwi, who ordered the french toast thought it could use more syrup. He said it was solid, but not spectacular.

Mayor McCheese ordered the hangover mix, which he said was essentially two meals in one, especially because "there's a block of cheese grated over the top."

Finally, LL ordered the grilled cheese, which was a nice mix of cheeses and very brie-heavy.

As with all meals there were highlights and lowlights. The main problem with this meal was with the communication between the servers and the kitchen. The grilled cheese and french toast were somehow left off the order (due to a computer error), so they arrived after everyone else had dug into their meals. I fully understand a computer error, but when we informed the servers that we were missing two dishes, there didn't seem to be any rush to rectify the situation. Many other tables were served before LL and the Kiwi got their dishes. To be fair, the servers were kind and considerate, but a little hustle on their or the kitchen's part would have been appreciated.

The highlight of the meal, though, was the bloody mary. It was chunky and veggie filled with the perfect amount of horseradish. Just like I want it - enough veggies to fool yourself into thinking it is good for you and enough alcohol to make sure it isn't. It might be the best one I've had at a brunch in Astoria (or at least close to the Sparrow's smoked bloody mary).

All things considered, it was a pretty average brunch, and I'm not sure the free croissants and bloody mary make it worth another visit.

Until next time, Happy Brunching!

The Baron

Brunch Baron in.... Boston?

Yes, it is sad but true my friends.  I will be up in Boston working on a film for the month of October.  That means i won't be able to post blogs about Astoria brunches.  Sigh.  Until I get back, Ran will be posting the oldie put goodies on the main page.  So fear not, I will return.  And when I do, I'll be hungry for brunch.
Happy Brunching!
The Baron

El Fatty's Fabuloso

Hello Readers!
Yup, definitely more than one reader now that I'm on Why Leave Astoria dot com.  I'd like to thank Ran for inviting me and Jena the beer wench and Brooke for recommending that I join the website.  And if you happen to read my post about St. Dymphna's, you know that my answer to the question is don't ever leave Astoria. 
So after last week's marathon brunch and drinking session for the Red Queen's birthday (Sweet Afton, Hellgate Social, Beer Garden, and Vesta) we decided to tone it down a bit.  A work friend recommended Fatty's brunch, so I decided to take them up on it.  I had been to Fatty's before for dinner (mostly unsuccessful dates, though that wasn't Fatty's fault).  Also, the Beer Wench and I had filmed a music video across the street (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIQOdxlgbYU), so it has a special place in my heart.  To top it off, with the exception of the Sparrow, it is the closest brunch place to my apartment.  Perfect for a quiet morning.
While the Lady was off at rehearsal again, The Red Queen, El Generalissimo, Dr. Colonel Sanders, Kung-fu Master and the Wife joined us, as well as one of the Boys (the Kiwi).  I also had two co-workers from my past life at the Huntington Theatre in Boston join us.  One lives in Astoria, and the other was in for a visit from LA. 
I was a little concerned when I got a call from RQ asking how many of us there would be as there might have been seating issues, but by the time I showed up, everything had been resolved amicably.  This is what we get for doing brunch at 11:30, not our usual 11.  I'd blame EG adn RQ, but since they were involved in the Race for the Cure and showed up in their running clothes, it was clear they were making an effort.
Despite being called "Fatty's Cafe," there is a decidedly Latin flair to the restaurant; colorful walls and a recipe with such items as tostones, maduros, cubano sandwich, and ensalata especial.  Thankfully, though, Sunday morning wasn't merengue time as there was some nice jazz playing softly in the background.  The restaurant filled up as we ate, but never felt overcrowded. 
The coffee is your choice of cafe con leche or americano.  Perhaps because of the quality of these drinks, they don't offer free refills, which can be problematic for heavy duty brunching, but the one cafe con leche we each allotted ourselves was delicioso.  The base price of the brunch is $12.99 and it did include a choice of bloody mary, mimosa, or limeade.  Although the limeade looked intriguing as it was freshly made, there was no alcohol in it - sigh.  I could've ordered a shot of vodka to go with it, but once I learned you could order the mimosa with OJ, pineapple or mango juice, I knew where I was headed - mango mimosa mansion.  I was a little worried as mango juice can be sickeningly sweet and thick, but this juice mixed with the sparkling wine was nicely balanced.  My friend from LA ordered the bloody mary.  His immediate reaction was that it was nice and spicy.  RQ found a nice chunk of horseradish in her straw and it was clear we were in a place that took bloody marys seriously. 
In a bit of a side note, my friend from LA noted the article that recently stated that there were tons of tiny shrimp in NYC's tap water and how difficult that would make life for all the Chasids in Brooklyn.  This lead him to conclude that a bloody mary is really an alcoholic shrimp cocktail without the shrimp.  Pretty astute if you ask me, but then he lost us by suggesting we put shrimp in our bloody marys.  I'm sure someone will now come up with a brita-type filter that will eliminate shrimp.  That's why I stopped keeping kosher.  It's kind of a racket - especially when rabbis charge $30K to kasher your place of business.
OK, I'm down off the soapbox and back to Fatty's.  Going through the menu, we discovered some impediments to those of us with food peculiarities.  They do not allow substitutions.  So since I don't dig on swine and RQ didn't want meat, neither of us could order the mofongo because they wouldn't make it without pancetta.  My LA friends also noted that it would be pretty difficult to bring a vegan there, but I feel that's true of any restaurant, especially brunch places.  Down to choice number 3, I ended up with La Pistola - two fried eggs, rice, beans and a tortilla. 

Nothing amazing, but the eggs were perfectly cooked.  You can tell that they are good if they look like they do in Sunday morning cartoons.  And the beans... Everyone who got beans with their dish raved about them.  They were amazingly spiced.  Not too much, but subtle and strong enough to make a difference.  Just delightful. 
The Kiwi and my Astoria friend (let's call him the Jolly Gay Giant for now) both ordered the Cubano.  And they were not disappointed.  I couldn't try it, but they described it as saying that all the flavors combined perfectly and no part of it was overwhelming.  The chipotle mayo on it was a big hit, and they felt the portion of meat on the sandwich and the portion in general was perfect. 

The Red Queen and Dr. Colonel both ordered the polenta cakes with provolone.  They enjoyed how it was a savory style pancake, but they recommended eating them quickly.  Once they begin to cool down, the polenta dries out and the provolone congeals.

The Kung-fu Master and El Generalissimo ordered tostones and I ordered maduros.  I preferred the maduros, but I do have a sweet-tooth.  Both were excellent versions of plantain dishes and should definitely ordered as a side.

The Wife ordered a bad-ass omelette with super crispy bacon on top, but honestly, I forgot to ask her how it was.  Such is life in the brunch world.  

All in all, it was a good, low key meal.  A nice respite in Astoria for a low-key Sunday.

Of course, I finally gain fame and (no) fortune on Why Leave Astoria, and now I have to take a week off.  Unfortunately, no brunch for me on Sunday.  I will be attending a 3D camera workshop; the Baron has to keep up with the technology so he can get work.  But rest assured, I will be back the week after.  Any recommendations of places to visit would be welcome.

Until next time, Happy Brunching!

The Baron

Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe

After last weeks Dymphna's debacle, it was comforting to come back to Astoria, and one of my favorite brunch spots.  The Brunch Crew returned from their far-flung adventures (Scandanavia, theaters, other brunches...), and we had a full complement.  Amazing, you say?  Well, this is what you get when your fearless leader turns #$ (actual age censored for her comfort).  Yup, the Red Queen began her birthday by having (what else?) brunch.  For this brunch, the ship pulled into the comforting harbors of Sweet Afton.
Many people know Sweet Afton as a happening night time artist bar.  What they don't know is that it is one of the best brunch spots in Astoria.
Being an absolutely gorgeous day, one of the few we've had this summer, the Brunch Bunch decided to eat out back in a cozy little garden section of the restaurant.  We showed up at around 11 and the full complement of us was easily able to find seating, even in the small back garden.  Obviously the Red Queen and El Generalissimo were there, as were the Kung Fu Master and his Wife, Dr. Colonel Sanders, The Neighbors (who want new nicknames - we'll see how it goes), The Lady and myself.   The Boys couldn't make it as they were dealing with absurd apartment issues (apparently their broker tried to get them into an illegal apartment - don't worry, as of today they are happily installed in a new, cozy domicile).  We did have another addition, as our new roommate joined us for brunch.  As a newbie, she has yet to receive a nickname, but it could just be me being lazy.

Red Queen, Mrs. Neighbor, Dr. Col Sanders, The Lady, Mr. Neighbor and New Roomie

Walking into Sweet Afton you get the sense of a dark, wooded, local haunt that belies its name.  The tables are wood and the napkins are slightly frayed hand towels, that speak to conservation and comfort.  The back garden, on the other hand is bright and on such a beautiful day, it was like sitting in some small Sevillan courtyard covered in bi-color ivy.  Aside from the weather, I knew it was going to be a perfect brunch as the speakers played indie rock as if they had plugged my iPod into the sound system.  Comforting music and comforting food is a great way to start your Sunday.
As we were seated, Rory, our fantastic waiter with a delightful Irish brogue felt like joining us at the free seat to discuss our drink options.  Let me tell you, brunch drinks at Sweet Afton are something special.  El Generalissimo ordered his regular, a "blueberry muddle."  It is a gin based drink with muddled blueberries and mint.  Surprisingly, it is not cloyingly sweet as one might suspect.  It is a small, refreshing beverage that EG just can't seem to get enough of.  His term for it was "crack-esque."
A bunch of us started with the "Witte Screwdriver."  It is a take off on the normally too-sweet vodka screwdriver.  It has citrus vodka, OJ, ginger syrup, but a good deal of Witte wheat beer to help cut the sweetness.  It is almost bubbly like a mimosa.

Witte Screwdriver, Oatmeal Martini, Blueberry Muddle

Dr. Colonel Sanders got the "oatmeal martini," which really tastes like oatmeal with raisins and maple syrup (and a little coffee note in there).   It was a little sweet for our tastes and we agreed it was the only drink where you needed to stop at one.  Thankfully for the 3 hour brunch, the other drinks were easily consumed in multiples.

Elderflower

The new roomie got a bloody mary which she enjoyed, and I ended my brunch with an Elderflower: gin, St. Germain, champagne, cucumber, and lemon juice.  It was perfectly balanced with a hint of bitterness.  I think it'll end up being my new standby.  Oh, and the best part about Sweet Afton's cocktails?  None are more than $6!  Yup, $6!

 Unlike the drinks, there isn't a lot of choice when it comes to the food at Sweet Afton.  There are 5 choices of dishes, but they are all made well, and the kitchen staff is flexible enough to handle variations on a theme.  I went ahead and shocked the crowd by ordering a breakfast burger.  Normally, I don't eat meat, but since Sweet Afton has locally sourced, grass fed beef, I couldn't resist.  Boy, did I choose right.  Topped with a perfectly fried egg, my first thought was "how do I get this in my mouth."  I soon gave up on etiquette and chowed down.  The bright yellow center of the egg bled out onto the plate mixing with the juices from the burger.  Although this dish requires some oral dexterity and a lot of mouth wiping, it is well worth it.

 Another big hit was the grilled cheese with spicy pickles and mustard that Mr. Neighbor got.  He said all the elements balanced out well.  A bunch of our crew got the organic scrambled eggs and you only need to take a look at how they were presented (in a cast iron skillet) to know that the chef meant business.  I also had a side of the beer battered pickles, which were a little disappointing as they were a little too doughy for my tastes.  That being said, the "smokey sauce" they were served with was delectable.  The only other complaint about the whole meal came from The Lady who ordered the blueberry pancakes, which while good, were a little dry.

Perfectly fed, liquored and caffeinated (the coffee is plentiful and delicious), the conversation meandered around.  One of my favorite discoveries was that you need a visa to visit Russia even for an hour.  Fear not, travelers.  As long as you book a hotel in advance, they will take care of it for you.  The Red Queen likened it to needing an invitation to visit Russia (you have to be proven worthy to visit the country).  Another revelation was prompted by the Lady of the Book.  Always one with a way for words, she perfectly encapsulated what Astoria means to us.  It is an artsy neighborhood like Williamsburg, but people will still actually wear clothes from the Gap.  Finally, I would be remiss to not mention that as most conversations go when there is alcohol and good humor, the topic of sex was broached.  Mostly it involved when our parents decided to give us "the sex talk."  Man, I did not know how messed up peoples parents are.  The ages we received the talk ran the gamut from toddler to teen to 21 to "never."  According to the women at the table, thank god for Judy Blume and her book "Forever."  Never having read it myself, apparently it stacks up there with all the stupid "So You're Becoming a Man" books I got as a kid, but with an actual narrative.  We also managed to discuss our "first times," but I won't reveal any names.  There were some interesting stories, though, involving a 17 year old Finn in a dorm in Prague, a somewhat famous person in literary circles, and a menage-a-trois.  Oh, the lives of artists.
By the time brunch ended, we were full, buzzed and happy.  All you want from a brunch experience.  So go to Sweet Afton, just don't tell your friends.

El Generalissimo and the Kung-fu Master fighting over the last blueberry muddle.

Until next time, Happy Brunching!
The Baron

St. D('oh)mphnas

Our second installment takes us out of the wilds of Astoria and into the jungle of Manhattan. Once again, most of the normal crew was unavailable so we had to bring in a bunch of scabs.  Signorina Anne's talented troupe of troubadours was in town finishing up their show at the fringe festival.  We had to make plans in Manhattan as many of them were catching the bus back to Boston, plus they were staying in (gasp) Brooklyn.  Unfortunately, Signorina Anne couldn't make it, but we had The Lady of the Book, plus some troubadours.  We were also joined by someone who may become a brunch regular.  A friend of many of ours from back when he was a dramaturgy student at the ART (with Signorina Anne, the Red Queen and the Lady of the Book): Dr. Colonel Sanders.  The good doctor has taken a turn away from the arts and just started his first year at med school here in good 'ole NYC.  DCS is a slim, red-haired man who is a walking contraction.  An erudite, sensitive artist from the deep woods of Georgia who has decided to go into medicine.  He is a quick-witted, fascinating character, and a great addition to our brunch.

The Doctor, Lady, and four Troubadors

St. Dymphna's seemed like a good, central brunching location in the East Village.  I had been there before for a quick nosh and some delicious beer.  St. Dymphnas' good beer selection and its casual decor really speak to the diner in me that likes to be comfortable.  It had also got decent brunch reviews so I decided it was worth a shot. 
The Lady of the Book and I worked our way down to St. Dymphna's for an 11am brunch, where we found the Doctor already waiting.  We had been warned by the Troubadours that they may be running late as they all had to pack up.  When we arrived, the place was empty and the waitress was just putting the billboard up out front.  It seemed like an ominous sign that we had to ask if it was ok to enter. 
While waiting a considerable time for the troupe (artistes are never on time), the waitress served us some decidedly mediocre coffee.  When we asked about the drinks, she recommended the bloody mary, which she had "made last night."  Never one to ignore the suggestions of an attractive woman, I took her up on the offer.  Like most of my dealings with the female of the species, disappointment reigned.  There was nothing special about it, and I even needed to ask for additional horseradish - a sure sign of a mediocre drink. 
Things got worse as the troupe showed up and the conversation improved.  St. Dymphna's menu isn't extensive and it made it even more difficult for about half of our crew as they were "out of french toast."  To me, this is totally unacceptable for a brunch place - especially when as we noticed from the rest of the menu, that they had eggs and bread - the two main ingredients for french toast.  St. Dymphna's is an Irish bar, so maybe this was a delayed reaction to Thierry Henry's handball. 

Huevos

The Full Irish

I ended up with the huevos rancheros, while others chose the croque monseiur and the full Irish breakfast.  The huevos were decent, the most interesting thing being that instead of tortilla, they used roti.  It added a certain sweetness and thickness that tortilla's don't provide, and while I was enamored of the meal, it was a fun, new touch.  As for the croque monseiur, once again, don't trust the Irish with French cuisine.  According to the two troubadours that got it, a croque monseiur is supposed to be open-faced.  This one was most certainly not.  Another complaint by the guests was that the chef put salt and oil on the greens, kind of killing their freshness and flavor.  The final straw came when we asked for some extra milk for our coffees and got something that resembled cottage cheese.  Considering we were the first people in the restuarant, you'd figure the first milk served that day would be fresh.  Alas, it was not. 
The highlight of the meal (other than the group decision that boobs and brunch are a great combination) was the Pimm's Cup cocktail order by the Doctor.  Pimm's has always been one of my favorite liquors since being introduced to "Pimm's and lemonade" in New Zealand.  It was refreshing and not too sweet. 
Although, the conversation was thrilling, I did feel like I let down my Boston visitors by taking them to such a middling place.  I guess this is what I get for going outside the border of Astoria.
Until next time, Happy Brunching!
The Baron

Vindi, Vendi, Vesta

Hello my dear reader(s?),
Of course, after setting up the Brunch Experience with all these interesting characters, my first two entries won't actually include most of them.
You see, El Generalissimo and The Red Queen were off in Scandanavia for the past two Sundays.  The Kung-fu Master and Wife were also unavailable.  The Boys had a show and the Lady of the Book was in rehearsal. 
But fear not, for Father and Mother Baron were in town for a visit.  I suggested we meet up at Vesta for Sunday brunch.  I had eaten there for dinner once, on the recommendation of EG and RQ.  It was a delightful dinner and I was really looking forward to the brunch.  Vesta's an "Italian trattoria & wine bar," but what really interests me is their devotion to the slow-food and locavore movements.  For the uninitiated, what this basically entails is trying to get all their products from local, organic, sustainable farms.  Vesta gets all their produce from local farmers, but their meat, bread, and alcohol can come from a bit further afield. 
FB, MB, and I were joined by two lovely ladies.  The first is Cousin E, my younger cousin who also happens to live in NY.  Although she's a Manhattanite, we don't hold it against her.  A recent college grad, she is trying to find her way in the world, which basically consists of doing good.  The second, we'll call Signorina Anna, although that's not her name and she's not Italian.  She is, however, a theatre producer/director and came down to NYC from Boston to prepare for her theatre company's Fringe show. 
We arrived at 11am, just as Vesta's was opening.  Because it was hot and Mother Baron didn't feel like walking a ways to get there from Chez BB, we took their car... and amazingly found parking right in front.  It was a good thing, too.  Apparently, the secret that was Vesta has got out because within a half an hour the entire place, including bar stools, was full.
The decor is simple, but I believe features work of local artists, so probably changes frequently.  The one piece that did catch my eye was of a tuxedo cat.  It looked an awful lot like "Bizarro Botwin," a stray who looks almost exactly like my cat (Botwin) who comes up to the window at night and tries to start shit.  The waitress informed me that the painting was by one of the owners and definitely was not a local neighborhood stray.  So my ongoing quest to get rid of my late night pest will continue.
Our waitress was pleasant and immediately put on a pot of the coffee we were so desperately needing.  Being brunch, I ordered a cocktail, a "Citrus Mint Tea."  The waitress informed me that the mint hadn't arrived yet, but would be there in two minutes.  Sure enough, four minutes later (2 to make the drink), and refreshing cocktail sat before me.  Aside from the citrus and mint, there was some celery and maybe one for type of green in it.  The effect was a fresh, clean cocktail that was in no way sweet.  Kind of the perfect thing for a hot summer day. 
Coffee and cocktail in hand, I was ready for food.  The menu looked great, with plenty of interesting sweet or savory options to explore.  http://www.vestavino.com/index.php?id=104
Thankfully, my fellow diners helped out by getting a wide range of dishes.  Well, except for Signorina Anna, who had the poor taste to choose exactly what I picked.  The two of us noshed on the "Warm Bankie:" fried eggs with polenta, asparagus, mushrooms and truffle oil.  Everything was cooked perfectly, except somehow the seasoning was off - more salt, more pepper?  Maybe the texture of a deliciously gooey egg and a soft but gritty polenta just didn't agree with me.  I think the earthy flavors of the mushrooms, truffle, and asparagus also helped drag the dish down to levels that were a bit too earthy for me.  Maybe some bright, hard cheese would have helped.  Cousin E got a very simple veggie omelet.  She has specific tastes, and though I did not try her dish, she seemed to enjoy it. 
Now my progenitors had tastes more akin to my own.  No surprise as I did spring forth from their loins.  Mother Baron went sweet with delicious pancakes with ricotta, walnuts, and whipped cream.  I enjoyed her dish, but like my own, was not in love with it.  Again, the proportions seemed a bit off, and the pancake tasted a little dry when paired with the ricotta.  Still, it was a worthy effort, and for a woman who is 5 ft and under 100lb, she did an admirable job finishing it all off. 
The star of the show was definitely the Brioche Burger Father Baron ordered.  The waitress warned us that it would take longer than the other dishes to prepare, but boy was it worth the wait.  Actually, the kitchen and waitstaff timed everything perfectly, so we all received are dishes at the same time.  The brioche was warm and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside with just the right hint of sweetness.  It was a perfect complement to a well-seasoned, juicy, grass-fed burger.  The aged cheddar added just the right amount of saltiness, and if we weren't in public, there was a strong chance I would have stolen more than a bite from my father's dish. 
All in all, it was an above average brunch, but honestly, could not hold a candle to their dinners... or to some of the other brunch places I visit.  Will I go back?  Absolutely.
Until next entry:  Happy Brunching!
The Baron

The Crew of the SS Brunch

I realized on my first post that I mentioned a bunch of us go out to brunch together regularly.  Since these cohorts of mine will feature in my columns, I figured I should introduce them to you.  All names have been changed to protect the guilty... and because it is more fun that way.
First, there are the originators of our weekly brunch extravaganza, two of my closest friends.  Let's call them El Generalissimo and The Red Queen.  Why?  Because I feel like it, damn it.
I first met The Red Queen in Boston in a former incarnation.  She was a dramaturgy MFA student at the American Repretory Theatre.  We became fast friends and have remained as such even when we ended up being flatmates for the first two years I spent in NY.  She's a tall redhead with an uncanny resemblence to "Six" from the Battlestar Galactica series.  I rely on her for much of my food info.  She always seems to find new and interesting places to eat, and we have a similar sensibility about eating sustainably and ethically.
Her consort (read: fiancee) is El Generalissimo.  Tall, dark, and not swarthy.  EG is a fighting master.  He choreographs stage combat, performs stunts for films, and is a Wing-Tsun instructor.  For those who don't know, Wing-Tsun is a bad ass kung-fu, whose basic principal seems to be: "Fuck up your enemy as quick as possible before they can mess with you."  It was originally a "woman's martial art," and somehow I find this totally appropriate.  Now, the funny thing is that he is probably the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet in a dark alley.  Like a big stack of pancakes smothered in syrup, he is unbelievably sweet, but can kill you.  Although, I still find it laughable to imagine he could destroy me in under a minute.  Needless to say, we all try to stay on his good side... and it's not that hard.
Our third most consistent brunchateer is another dramaturg, my current roommate.  Let's call her the Lady of the Book, because if she's not at brunch, it usually means she's off watching rehearsal or researching some obscure, but deathly important fact for her director.
Then there is The Kung-fu Master and his Wife.  They are bosom chums of El Generalissimo, and the Kung-fu master is actually El Generalissimo's teacher.  KFM looks even more unassuming than EG, yet could probably kill you in half the time.  And unlike EG, he doesn't play fight.  No siree, this man is all business.  He is also chock full of fun and bizarre stories of the kung-fu world and its crazy inhabitants.
The Boys round out our usual crew.  They are a couple, one of which is my best friend from New Zealand.  We'll call him The Kiwi, appropriately enough.  He moved to the States right when I was moving to NYC, so he, The Red Queen and I all lived together for a year, until he met the love of his life, LeCoque, who promptly stole him away from us.  LeCoque and the Kiwi are also in the theatre world and run their own company.  LC is the more extroverted of the two, but together they are like a perfectly mixed cocktail.  All the elements adding up to a delicious whole.
Occasionally, there will be additional folks joining us, such as The Neighbors (EG and RQ's) neighbors, or more friends from the kung-fu school or other places in our lives.
So hopefully, this has given a little snapshot of the crew of the SS Brunch.  Now, I can finally get to writing about the places we actually go.
Happy Brunching.
Brunch Baron