When you think brunch, let’s be honest, eggs are really the stars of the show. In fact, the humble egg is one thing that separates this meal from the others. Potatoes, meats and no eggs? Dinner. Pastries, quick breads and no eggs? Dessert. So when you’re craving a not-so-humble egg may we suggest the Eggs Benedict? Fans of the dish enjoy a good benny any time of day, in fact, lunch and dinner orders nearly quadrupled at breakfast!
Named for Lemuel Benedict, a Wall Street broker, who was suffering from a hangover, or so the story goes. According to ‘What’s Cooking America,’ in the December 19,1942 issue of the weekly New Yorker Magazine’s “Talk of the Town” column, Mr. Benedict ordered “some buttered toast, crisp bacon, two poached eggs, and a hooker of hollandaise sauce” at the Waldorf Hotel in New York. The Waldorf’s legendary chef, Oscar Tschirky, was so impressed that he put the dish on his breakfast and luncheon menus after substituting Canadian bacon for crisp bacon and a toasted English muffin for toasted bread.
Today, the Waldorf’s legendary version remains the most popular, and most reproduced version of eggs benedict, but chefs the world over have put their own spin on the classic recipe. You would be hard-pressed to find one that didn’t tickle your fancy but with all the different variations and options available today, there’s a benny for everybody!
Eggs Benedict day is officially 4/16, here are some of our favorite eggs benedict creations celebrate with:
Irish eggs benedict
Like the classic benny, an Irish eggs benedict is made with an English muffin, a nice runny poached egg, and hollandaise sauce. In this case, corned beef or corned beef and cabbage hash replaces the Canadian bacon.
Crab cake eggs benedict
A decadent take on eggs benedict, like the name suggests, a jumbo lump crab cake replaces the Canadian bacon here, and pairs particularly well with lemony hollandaise sauce.
Smoked salmon eggs benedict
All the brunch goodness of a smoked salmon or lox platter, but in benny form! Sat atop a buttery English muffin and crowned with a sauce.
Avocado eggs benedict
A super fresh take on a classic eggs benny, the addition of avocado makes anything better, eggs benedict included.
