Dear Shaun's,
I owe you an apology. We use to have you on our regular brunch rotation. But, somehow, you fell off. This is partly because we haven't been going out for brunch quite as much as we used to, and partly beacuse you're off our beaten path. You're clear on the other side of town and we just sort of....forgot. (ok, there was also a calorie-intake issue, but that's my problem, not yours!) I'm sorry. Believe me, I'm sorry becuase it was clearly our mistake. I now kneel down before you and beg your forgiveness.
Shaun's is a lovely restaurant in Inman Park. We've gone a few times for dinner, but usually we go for brunch. There's something so casually elegant about this restaurant. The decor manages to evoke Provence and urban chic. The food is both simple and complicated. Shaun Doty manages to make delicious, things I ordinarily steer clear of (chopped liver, anyone?) If the restaurant isn't lovely enough, the patio is even more so. It's so unexpected. It's this little hidden oasis in the back. Tucked away, not visible from the street.
After a long absence, we returned to Shaun's for Sunday brunch recently. As soon as I walked in, I felt at home and I realized "oh, I missed it here!" It's an odd feeling to not know you missed something until it's staring you in the face. How had I forgotten this little gem?
We sat on the patio, a group of 5. L insisted ordering arugula flatbread and chopped liver and egg for appetizers, along with a lovely bottle of pinot rose. Now, I'm not a fan of chopped liver, but Lee insisted I try it, and I have to say: it was delicious. The flatbread, of course, was extraordinary. Just the right amount of sea salt.
For my entree, I ordered the Louisiana grits and crawfish, with creole sauce and a sunny-side up egg on top. (Yeah, I threw the diet out the window that day!) To say it was delicious, doesn't do it justice. It was beyond delicious. It was heaven in my mouth. L had a burger and fries. Legend has it that those fries are cooked in duck fat. I believe that's why they are so darn good. We had a second bottle of rose with our entrees. Everyone was completely satiated by the meal's end (and a little buzzed!) Later that day, L looked at me and said "Can we go to Shauns' for brunch again...right now?"
Well, the good news is we moved and are now closer to Shaun's. Hopefully, this will translate to more frequent meals there. And I'm rooting for dinner. If brunch was this good, how great will dinner be?
