Brunchin' around the Magic City is a mid-morning adventure
It's the weekend and sleeping in is a given. Problem is that depending on the time, sometimes it's tough to decide whether to wake up and have breakfast or lunch. That dilemma is easily solved with that tastiest of inventions that covers both--Sunday brunch.Luckily, Miami's a place where there are great places for brunch in just about any part of town and they're serving it up right, with their own take on the classics as well as incorporating their own twists on some of the offerings.Morgan's Restaurant (28 NE 29 Street; P. (305) 573-9678), which bills itself as "modern homestyle comfort food," fits that bill, especially for brunch. With its New England feel and outdoor seating on the wrap-around porch, Morgan's is the perfect place to enjoy Miami's gorgeous fall weather.The list of offerings is extensive, to say the least, but here are the highlights:Creamy, rich and buttery eggs benedict cooked to perfection served traditional with Canadian bacon, florentine with spinach or with smoked salmon. A side of home fries--with a crispy crunch--is the perfect accompaniment.The chorizo and sofrito frittata is filled with smoky flavors and is an homage to Miami's predominant Latino population.And for a perfect pairing try the pillow light brioche French toast (yes that's how it's described and it's perfect) served with strawberries and cinnamon butter with a side of maple basted bacon.Should the weather warm up, which is always likely in these parts, an iced coffee does the trick.Brunch at Morgan's is served from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.View, view, view and a variety of international flavors are what the Biltmore Hotel (1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables P. (305) 445-1926) offers their brunchers. They've been doing brunch here to perfection for years and they have many die-hard fans. And why not? Brunch here is served up in the Biltmore's elegant courtyard, with a fountain as the centerpiece and table settings that are as fancy as the menu.The Biltmore's Sunday Champagne Brunch is elegance to the max and a feast for the eyes, both because of the menu and the overall ambiance. A great way to start off is with either fresh squeezed orange juice or even better, a mimosa. The fresh fruit is a light way to go--but then again, the selection of seafood including salmon, shrimp, and oysters, as well as pastas, salads, freshly prepared omelettes, sushi, and a variety of meats, is impossible to resist. (They've even got caviar.)And the "wall of desserts" is carefully prepared by one of the best: executive pastry chef Olivier Rodriguez. This incredible selection even has a flowing chocolate fountain, perfect for dipping in strawberries and other types of fruit.Brunch is served 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where the Biltmore is all classic and traditional, The Setai (2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach P. (305) 520-6000) is modern and zen-like. There's nothing Art Deco about this place and the food is Asian inspired, with a few traditional breakfast items as well.Sure it's easy to start off with fresh juices, cold cereals, cheeses, and an assortment of pastries but hey, this is brunch so it's all about hot food too, and they've got it here. Their various sausages are a great accompaniment to the omelettes and the potatoes with rosemary make a nice unique side, much better than your average home fries.Fresh seafood is a given at most buffet tables and it's impossible to leave it out of brunch which is why oysters, crab, and shrimp are also offered. But there really is something for everyone at the Setai--Rotisserie roast beef and honey roasted ham are available at carving stations, as well as pizzas and flatbreads. There's also plenty of exotic Asian fare here, including Malaysian noodles and Thai and Indian curries.The Jazz brunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.And finally, over in the Design District there's more than just an arts scene happening, Michael's Genuine (130 NE 40th Street, Miami, P. (305) 573-5550) is always a great spot for lunch, dinner, or brunch. Celebs are spotted here regularly so there's definitely something good going on. The brunch menu is inventive, extensive, and oh so good.Chef Michael Schwartz's creativity shines morning to midday--he prepares favorites with a twist and cocktails galore. Try his reuben omelette with homemade pastrami, thousand island dressing, and red cabbage slaw; or duck confit hash with creamy parsley sauce and poached pris farm egg; then there's homemade doughnuts filled with local guava; or perhaps a fried egg sandwich on homemade thyme crumpet with cheddar and choice of bacon or sausage.Wash it all down with a killer bloody mary or a Dominican with rum, fresh grapefruit juice, muddled sage, basil, soda water and a splash of Fee Brothers bitters (say that fast three times).And so there you have it, a selection with some classic selections and others with a slight twist. Either way though, that's four Sundays covered, try one or try them all: they're all doing it well.