Nothing’s too good for mother, right? That includes where you take her for brunch on Mother’s Day, which falls on Sunday, May 8, this year. The travel experts at The GO Group, the world’s largest airport ground transportation company, offer the following suggestions for lavish, extraordinary brunches at popular travel destinations.
Chicago
For $120 per adult ($35 for children five to 12) The Four Seasons offers 100 selections of spring-inspired dishes such as leg of lamb with mint pesto, braised veal cheeks with gnocchi and fiddlehead ferns with morel mushrooms as well as traditional brunch favorites. The bountiful Mother’s Day offerings also includes seafood, sushi, Midwest and Asian food stations topped off by a dessert station featuring chocolate lava cake, orange rose flan and pistachio créme brulee. Seatings are from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hawaii
If Hawaii is on your Mother’s Day itinerary, you’ll want to brunch at the Prince Court in the Prince Hotel in Honolulu, overlooking Waikiki Harbor. With a decided Asian influence, the buffet includes Keng Phet and Dim Sum stations as well as a roast pig and Kahlua pig station plus your more standard waffle and omelet stations. Entrées include steamed crab legs, Hoison leg of lamb, grilled snapper, braised veal shank and bow tie pasta with sun dried tomato, grilled vegetables and pesto cream. The price is $51 per person ($25.50 for children six to 10), and seatings are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Las Vegas
Napa Valley chef Thomas Keller, of French Laundry fame, opened his Las Vegas Bouchon at the Venetian Hotel in 2004 and has been winning high praise from critics and diners ever since. The strictly ala carte Sunday brunch features many of his signature dishes, including bread pudding style French toast with warm layers of brioche, custard and apple ($12); a Croque Madame with the usual toasted ham & cheese on brioche plus a fried egg and mornay sauce; and sourdough waffles with bananas, toasted walnuts, maple syrup and Tahitian vanilla bean butter. Brunch is served from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Miami Beach
The Biltmore Coral Gables offers one of the most celebrated and lavish champagne brunches in the area. Served in the Fontana courtyard, the extravagant buffet features numerous delicacies, such as caviar, smoked salmon, shellfish, carved meats, made-to-order omelet’s, pastas, sushi and more. Brunch culminates with a wall of deserts prepared by Executive Pasty Chef Olivier Rodriguez. For Mother’s Day, live Flamenco music will be featured. Served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the buffet is priced at $75 ($37.50 for children five to 11).
New Orleans
A culinary phenomenon since 1946, Brennan’s in New Orleans’ French Quarter is known for its imaginative dishes, and the brunch menu is no exception. For $43, try the sautéed baby veal toped with lump crabmeat and Hollandaise sauce or the $35 fresh sautéed trout topped with pecans and pecan butter. Both are on the ala carte menu. The prix fixe menu, at $36, allows you to select one appetizer, one entrée and one dessert from a variety of selections. Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
New York
Treat mom to spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline as you brunch aboard the Bateaux, one of New York’s most luxurious cruise ships. Board at 12:30 p.m. for a 1 to 3:30 p.m. cruise around the harbor. Brunch, which features live piano music, includes a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert as well as a glass of champagne. $69 per person.
San Francisco
In a city where restaurants are taken very seriously, Foreign Cinema located in the Mission District, is one of its most renowned brunch spots. Chef/Owners Gayle Pirie and John Clark are offering a market fresh three-course Mother’s Day menu with a selection of options for each course priced at $45 per person ($15 for children). While the menu has not been set, typical Foreign Cinema offerings include Angelica-orange scented grilled chicken, basmati rice, mint pistachios and broccoli rabe with curry vinaigrette as well as slow-cooked scrambled eggs, asparagus, arugula, prosciutto, breadcrumbs and Reggiano cheese. Seatings are from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.