Feeding the Body and Soul With Eggs Benedict

Butter me up with decadence, because this week I’m celebrating America’s love affair with none other than eggs Benedict. Because seriously, Ono readers, what’s not to love about the classic, killer combination of an English muffin, paired with a carnivore’s meaty delicacies (yes, I consider bacon to be a delicacy), and poached eggs dripping with hollandaise sauce? Now that’s pure and idealistic luxury for the palate, if I must say so myself! Eggs for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner? You betcha!

I hope you’re hungry! You’re coming along with me to the following Ono, You Know establishments for a quick fix of Benedicts! Whether we’re talking eggs Benedicts made from a classic recipe or one of myriad variations, one thing’s for sure, you’ll experience this culinary creation in all its glory like you’ve never before. When it comes to this particular object of affection, it has to be done right! Decadence, decadence, decadence!

Il Lupino Trattoria & Wine Bar

Flavors of Italy dance on the tip of your taste buds at Il Lupino Trattoria & Wine Bar at Royal Hawaiian Center in the heart of Waikiki. Dine amid an exquisite garden setting or take your dining experience indoors and be enthralled by pizzas, pastas and freshly carved cured meats along with Italian cheeses that have withstood the test of time.

And since it’s always fun to splurge on eggs Benedict, why not start at 7 a.m. when the restaurant begins serving its morning fare? The early bird gets the Benedict here at Il Lupino.

“We have a lot of tourists and locals who come through the restaurant every day,” says restaurant manager Heela Mottus. “People like to start their day early, which is why we’ve decided to open earlier.”

Il Lupino’s Bacon & Eggs Benedict ($16) and Salmon Benedict ($18) guarantee a perfect start to your day, so be ready to dive into some fabulous fare.

According to Mottus, both of the aforementioned breakfast options easily wow diners, yet she admits that Bacon & Eggs Benedict is a classic that remains at the top of the list. Maybe it’s the warm English crum-pets beckoning diners with flaky and soft morsels. Or, how about the strips of pure crispy bacon paired with grilled tomatoes and poached eggs drizzled with hollandaise sauce, which is made from scratch and garnished with freshly ground chili powder? Whatever it is, this Benedict is a piece of perfection.

And there’s just something about smoked salmon that reels you in — its smooth texture and smoky aroma are hard to resist. The establishment’s Smoked Salmon Benedict presents you

with two toasted crumpets topped with tomatoes, poached eggs and laced with a rich hollandaise sauce. These integral ingredients are divine, but all hail the salmon, which exudes a wonderful wood-smoked essence.

Yukon Gold potatoes roasted in butter and seasoned with salt and pepper are a nice accompaniment to both eggs Benedicts as well.

“The taste of our Benedicts is superb,” Mottus says. “Everyone should come and try them!”

A breakfast of eggs Benedicts is a beautiful thing!

Il Lupino Trattoria & Wine Bar
Royal Hawaiian Center, Bldg. B, Level 1
2233 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 110, Honolulu
922-3400

Restaurant Epic

Restaurant Epic’s Southern-Style Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict ($10)

A twist on traditional comfort food is what Restaurant Epic is all about. Eclectic in nature and inviting in ambiance, this Nuuanu eatery has been satisfying downtown diners since its inception in 2007, and co-owner and chef Brian Chan kills it with his Southern-Style Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict ($10). A breakfast favorite, this Benedict fit for the heartiest of appetites is available Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Customers can order this dish starting next Saturday when our weekend brunch picks up again,” Chan says.

This Benedict exudes Southern flavors, as the usual English muffins are replaced with homemade buttermilk biscuits and topped with savory morsels of melt-in-your-mouth pulled-pork marinated for a day in Chan’s special blend of seasonings and spices, and smoked for a total of eight hours before it finally becomes a full-blown eggs Benedict with two fried eggs.

“Our hollandaise sauce really stands out. We take your usual hollandaise sauce and infuse it with jalapeno,” Chan explains, adding that it’s the sauce along with the combination of the smoky pulled pork that takes this breakfast entree to a whole new level. A taste of Spain plays into the Benedict perfectly, as a side of patatas bravas completes your dining journey. These Spanish potatoes, fried and roasted with tomato aioli and garnished with Italian parsley, will send you over the moon.

Restaurant Epic
1131 Nuuanu Ave.
587-7877

Big City Diner

For a taste of good old-fashioned diner classics and onolicious local fare, head to Big City Diner and dig right in to its award-winning selections. Breakfast is a big draw here and, if anything, take note of BCD’s fantastic trio of eggs Benedicts, including Wild Sockeye Salmon Benedict with fresh spinach ($12.99), Classic Eggs Benedict with Canadian Bacon ($11.99) and the newest on the scene is Fire-Roasted Portobello Mushroom and Avocado Benedict with grilled tomato and fresh spinach ($12.99).

“At our Pearlridge location, we also offer a Kalua Pig Benedict with lomi lomi salmon,” says senior executive chef Dennis Franks, who has years of experience making magic in the kitchen. “They all (eggs Benedicts) seem to sell evenly.”

All a matter of preference, each eggs Benedict is fortified with flavor and made with love, as they’re served on a toasted English muffin topped with poached eggs and oozes with hollandaise sauce. An array of fresh fruit and a choice of golden hash browns or BCD’s homemade paniolo potatoes also are included.

With a well-balanced breakfast such as eggs Benedict, you’ll be ready to take on the day ahead. BCD’s Benedicts are decadent, so spoil yourself silly, and revel in rich and utter delight.

Big City Diner Pearlridge (and various locations)
98-211 Pali Momi St.
487-8188

See more articles from: Big City Diner, Il Lupino, Restaurant Epic