by Jeanni Ritchie
I waited until noon before arriving at the Christmas Eve brunch prepared by Chef Matt and hosted by the Bentley. I needed to be sufficiently starving for the spread they’d laid out, knowing I’d leave no dish untouched.
With my plate piled high (I should’ve walked three more miles at the gym this morning, I thought ruefully) I remembered my 2024 mantra: try new things! I’d selected some of my favorites (crawfish etouffee, Gouda grits, beignets) and some I’d never tried (prime rib with horseradish, southern hash with bacon and pepper). By the time I reached the omelette and waffle stations, my plate was too full for more.
While I’d added the sausage gravy to my biscuit, that homemade biscuit in itself could be a whole meal. It was heavenly.
There was an entire display of fruit at the end of the buffet table and I plucked two strawberries from their resting place, convincing myself the two red spots on my plate counted as eating healthy.
Christmas Eve Brunch at the Bentley was about more than just food, though. It was for the community and the families and friends gathered around tables in the dining room made the air festive.
I visited with Sandra Smith, owner of the Cenla mainstay Herbie K’s, as she dined with her family. I’d grown up in the neighborhood near her restaurant and shared the story of my 12th birthday scavenger hunt where one of our items was a menu from Herbie K’s. Knowing she, along with my parents, had prearranged the hunt and the menu loan made me remember once again why I’m so proud to call Alexandria home.
I couldn’t finish my plate- it was more food than I could eat- but I did go back for dessert, two choices I’d normally walk past. But it’s the holidays and I’d just read Blake Shelton’s number one holiday rule: don’t say no to any food set in front of you. So I adopted the mantra and got a small bite of both the blackberry cobbler bread pudding and blueberry yum-yum. The latter was bright and zesty, the former warm with the freshness of the sauce a fellow diner said I could not pass up. He was right! That sauce had notes that reminded me of my mom’s famous lemon icebox pie!
If you missed the Bentley Christmas Eve brunch this year, mark your calendars for next December 24. This is one meal you don’t want to miss!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
