Israeli Breakfast

On my last full day in New York, we ate breakfast at Miriam, an Israeli restaurant on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn's Park Slope. I'd eaten at Miriam a year and a half ago and was excited to eat there again. Although my breakfast was pretty good, the quality wasn't up to par--the result, we think, of Miriam becoming so trendy it can't keep up with the masses who now go there for Sunday breakfast. We managed to slip in just before the long lines formed.

Tom ordered the least Israeli breakfast of the three of us: a breakfast croissant with egg and (I think) bacon. He ate a lot of the potatoes, but didn't touch the salad (perhaps due to the lack of croutons, eh, Tom?).

Andre ordered a dish that is one of their favorites: the Mediterranean Crispy Dough with scrambled eggs, harissa, diced tomatoes, and pickles. Andre isn't a fan of the spicy harissa, but he seemed to enjoy everything else, down to the last pickle.

Going against the advice of Andre and Tom, I ordered the Israeli Breakfast with fried eggs, labneh cheese, Israeli Salad, and french fries. Although Tom and Andre warned me that when they had tried this dish, it (especially the cheese) was too salty, I quite liked the cheese and the Israeli salad. They agreed that the cheese was much better this time. We also shared a side of chunky hummous. If only there had been less oil, it would have been a perfect breakfast.

I hope that Miriam will recover the quality they once had. I like the food, but would look elsewhere for a breakfast that doesn't resemble an oil slick. After breakfast, Tom and I shopped on 5th Avenue in the rain. Although restaurants inhabit the majority of buildings, a couple of small shops offer interesting and charming objects. I found a great t-shirt for Johnnie at Brooklyn Industries . It was a limited edition design in honor of Earth Day. The fabric was made of corn and could be composted if he ever decides to get rid of it. I also enjoyed Brooklyn Frameworks with its display of space inspired advertising from the 1950's. One poster portrayed a rocket with oranges as its exhaust. I ended up buying two matted crate labels for oranges, one from France and one from Strathmore, CA. Once they are framed, I'll hang them in my kitchen.