For Mother's Day, will you make the mom in your life breakfast in bed? Or will you make brunch reservations at a fancy restaurant? How about the best of both worlds?
We asked Atlanta personal chef Mark Alba to come up with Mother's Day breakfast recipes that would match the wow factor of a fine dining brunch menu.
Alba’s resume includes executive chef positions at Spice, Eno and Paces 88. Nowadays, though, he’s doing the cooking in home kitchens all over the metro area. The owner of reMARKable Meals (www.remarkablemeals.com) specializes in customized meal services for busy families, as well as special event cocktail and dinner parties, wine and cheese tastings, and cooking classes.
“I pretty much do anything and everything,” Alba said. “When I submit a menu to someone, it’s always up for revision, according to their likes and dislikes. I want to make the kind of food they want.”
Alba grew up in Louisiana, where food is a way of life, and he often cooks for his family when he’s back home in Baton Rouge.
“My mom is my toughest critic, for sure,” Alba said with a laugh. “The last time I did a dinner party for my family, my mom was looking over my shoulder the whole time.
“As a chef, when you apply for a job at a restaurant, there’s a cooking test and you do a tasting. Being in my mom’s kitchen is a much harder test. But then, when she sits down for dinner with her guests, she loves everything, and she’s very proud of all my accomplishments.”
For a trio of Mother's Day breakfast-meets-brunch recipes, Alba said he tried to break away from the mainstream but still incorporate classic combinations. He also wanted to make sure each dish would be pleasing to the eye.
“The way I cook, things are always composed,” Alba said. “It doesn’t mean everything needs to be stacked, but there’s always a reason behind plating something. There’s an artistic mindset. When I write a menu, I’m considering the presentation.”
In addition to blueberry buttermilk pancakes and a seafood scramble, Alba created a Southern-style take on eggs Benedict, with fried green tomato, pimento cheese, smoked bacon and chive hollandaise, that’s a study in flavors, textures and contemporary presentation.
“All those ingredients go together,” Alba said. “They are part of our heritage, and I thought it would be fun to put them all on the same plate.”
Recipes
We turned to personal chef Mark Alba for a trio of Mother's Day breakfast-meets-brunch recipes with fine dining wow.
Southern Style Eggs Benedict With Fried Green Tomato, Pimento Cheese, Smoked Bacon and Chive Hollandaise
Hands on: 40 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4
A spin on the classic brunch dish, bringing together some of the South’s most popular ingredients on one plate.
8 strips applewood smoked bacon, fried crispy and set aside
For the fried green tomatoes
Canola oil for frying
8 slices green tomato, sliced 1/4-inch thick
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups yellow cornmeal
For the pimento cheese
3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons pimentos, finely diced
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
For the eggs
Water
2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
4 whole eggs
For the hollandaise sauce
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon water
3/4 cup clarified butter, kept warm
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon chives, finely minced
For the fried green tomatoes
In a deep fryer or deep saucepan, preheat the oil to 350 degrees.
Season tomatoes on both sides with salt and pepper. In a shallow dish, add the all-purpose flour. In another dish, add the buttermilk. In another dish, add the cornmeal. Dredge tomatoes through the all-purpose flour, then the buttermilk and then through the cornmeal.
Working in batches, add dredged tomato slices to the fryer a few at a time, so they cook evenly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
For the pimento cheese
Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Add the cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and pimentos and beat until well blended. Season to taste with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.
For the poached eggs
In a 10-inch, nonstick skillet, pour enough water to measure no less than 1 1/2 inches, place over high heat, and bring to 190 degrees. Add the vinegar. Crack each egg into a custard cup and gently lower each egg into the water. Cook for 4 1/2 minutes, adjusting the heat to maintain the temperature. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon, 1 at a time, to a tea towel-lined plate.
For the hollandaise sauce
In a large saucepan, pour 1 inch of water into it and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low.
In a medium-size mixing bowl, add the egg yolks and 1 teaspoon of water and whisk until mixture lightens in color, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
Place the mixing bowl with the egg yolks over the saucepan of simmering water and whisk constantly for 3 to 5 minutes, or until there is a clear line that is drawn in the mixture when you pull your whisk through, or the mixture coats the back of a spoon.
Gradually add the warm clarified butter while whisking vigorously until all of the butter is incorporated. Add the salt, lemon juice, cayenne pepper and chives. Reserve to the side in a warm place.
To serve
On each serving plate, place 2 slices of the fried green tomatoes, topped with 2 slices of the crispy bacon strips, followed by a spoonful of the pimento cheese. Gently place 1 poached egg on top and finish with a spoonful of the chive hollandaise.
Per serving, entire recipe: 1,343 calories (percent of calories from fat, 80), 33 grams protein, 33 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 122 grams fat (50 grams saturated), 574 milligrams cholesterol, 1,167 milligrams sodium.
Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes With Granola and Maple Syrup
Hands on: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Serves: 4
This pancake recipe has great textural variation between the fluffy airiness of the pancakes and the crispy crunch of the homemade granola. The kids are sure to love them. The granola can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container to save time. You'll have plenty of leftovers for more breakfast treats.
For the granola
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup cashews, lightly crushed
3/4 cup shaved coconut, unsweetened
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup tupelo honey
1/8 cup vegetable oil
1 cup raisins
1 cup dried cranberries
For the pancakes
2 whole eggs, separated
2 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons butter, melted
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
“Quick release” canned pan spray
2 cups blueberries
For the whipped cream
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons powdered 10x sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Maple syrup
For the granola
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut and brown sugar.
In a separate bowl, combine honey and oil. Combine both mixtures and pour onto two sheet pans. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes until granola is a light golden brown.
Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. While still warm, add raisins and cranberries and mix thoroughly.
For the pancakes
Heat an electric griddle or frying pan to 350 degrees.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg whites and the buttermilk. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the melted butter.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg white mixture with the egg yolk mixture and whisk together until thoroughly combined.
In a large mixing bowl, combine and mix thoroughly the flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar and salt. Pour the liquid ingredients on top of the dry pancake mix. Using a whisk, mix the batter just enough to bring it together. Don't try to work all the lumps out.
Check to see that the griddle is hot by placing a few drops of water onto the griddle. The griddle is ready if the water dances across the surface.
Lightly spray the griddle with “quick release” pan coating. Gently ladle the pancake batter onto the griddle and sprinkle on blueberries. When bubbles begin to set around the edges of the pancake and the griddle side of the cake is golden, gently flip the pancakes. Continue to cook 2 to 3 minutes or until the pancake is set.
Remove to a towel-lined baking sheet and cover with a towel. Hold in a warm place.
For the whipped cream
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream. When it starts to thicken, add the sugar and vanilla. Continue to whip until it forms stiff peaks.
To serve
On each serving plate, place 3 pancakes in the center. Top with a dollop of whipped cream. Sprinkle granola on top and finish with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Per serving, entire recipe (using 1 tablespoon granola per serving): 1,191 calories (percent of calories from fat, 31), 29 grams protein, 176 grams carbohydrates, 8 grams fiber, 41 grams fat (23 grams saturated), 223 milligrams cholesterol, 1,620 milligrams sodium.
Smoked Salmon and Crab Scramble With Crispy Potato Cake, Pico de Gallo and Dill Crème Fraiche
Hands on: 40 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4
Basic scrambled eggs are set off by seafood on a warm, shredded potato cake. The pico de gallo adds crisp, clean acidity finished with a tangy and velvety smooth cream sauce.
For the pico de gallo
1 1/2 cups tomatoes, seeded and finely diced
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
2 limes, juiced
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1/2 firm avocado, peeled, seeded and diced
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
For the potato cakes
2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 whole eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and shredded or julienned
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
For the crème fraiche
1/2 cup crème fraiche
1/2 bunch fresh dill, coarsely chopped
For the eggs
8 whole eggs, beaten
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 pound smoked salmon, thinly sliced and coarsely chopped
1/4 pound fresh jumbo lump crabmeat
For the pico de gallo
In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, red onion, jalapenos, limes, cilantro and avocado. Season to taste with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.
For the potato cakes
In a large bowl, add chives, salt, pepper, eggs and flour and mix thoroughly. Fold the potato into the egg mixture until fully incorporated.
In a small nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of butter and oil over medium heat until foam subsides. Add a small pile of the potato mixture to the skillet. Flatten only very slightly to give base for scrambled eggs to sit upon. Cook the potato cake over moderate heat, turning once. Cook until golden and crisp, about 7 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel.
For the dill crème fraiche
In a medium-size mixing bowl, mix the crème fraiche and dill until thoroughly combined.
For the scrambled eggs
In a medium-size mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and cream. Add the parsley and season eggs with salt and pepper.
Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the oil, followed by the eggs. Scramble eggs with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Do not cook eggs dry. When the eggs have come together but remain wet, stir in the chopped salmon and crabmeat and remove from heat.
To serve
On each plate, place a potato cake in the center. Top with a portion of scrambled eggs. Place the pico de gallo around the eggs and finish with the crème fraiche.
Per serving, entire recipe: 673 calories (percent of calories from fat, 60), 32 grams protein, 36 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 45 grams fat (17 grams saturated), 614 milligrams cholesterol, 989 milligrams sodium.
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