The talented trio behind La Plancha del Mar will show off a whole new side of their culinary creativity starting on Saturday, July 10.
Mike Prout, Jonathan Fritts and Jason Howard have drawn a steadily-growing fan base since opening their doors on the second floor of The Marketplace for lunch and dinner in January 2009.
La Plancha has won a loyal clientelle of customers who can’t get enough of the trio’s signature style showcasing creative takes on classic flavors without taking shortcuts.
During lunch that translates into a roasted garlic caesar salad with crispy fried caper flowers and a steak and swiss wrap with carmelized onions and horseradish creme fraiche. La Plancha’s playfullness pops up on the dinner menu in the form of their deconstructed paella served with a saffron sweet pea risotto cake.
Soon the La Plancha guys will be flexing their considerable culinary muscles on weekend mornings.
Staring this Saturday, July 10, stop by La Plancha between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekends to taste what only Prout, Fritts and Howard could dream up for brunch.
“We make everything from scratch and we try not be run of the mill,” said Fritts. “We try to put our own twist on everything we do.”
The trio have definitely hit that mark with their brunch menu. Instead of the tired eggs benedict offered at most brunch eateries, the La Plancha version comes served atop a house-crafted johnny cake with hickory smoked bacon and red chili hollandaise sauce.
Griddle fans will literally flip for the menu options on that side of the grill. Instead of an over-done soggy French toast dish, Fritts was inspired by his mother’s cinnamon bun recipe to create his bourbon-scented cinnamon bun french toast.
“I use my mom’s cinnamon bun recipe with a slight tweak to it,” said Fritts. “It makes it just a little different.”
Don’t miss the real-deal Belgian waffle served up light and fluffy with fresh whipped cream, macadamia nuts and a bright mixed berry compote.
For egg lovers, the La Plancha men will be whipping up a hefty breakfast burrito with sausage, onions and fresh bell peppers wrapped up with cheddar cheese, sour cream and roasted red pepper salsa.
Carnivors will love La Plancha’s steak and eggs, featuring two eggs served up with a seared churrasco steak and Argentinean-style chimichurri.
Hailing originally from Virginia where breakfast is a big deal, Fritts prides himself on his biscuits and gravy, sure to be a favorite on La Plancha’s brunch special board.
“I’m from the south and breakfast is big back home,” said Fritts. “I stand behind my biscuits and I really stand behind my gravy. That’s something I learned from my grandmother.”
Lunch-style offerings on the menu include a chicken caesar, seared tiger prawns and steak salads, cheeseburger and mahi mahi sandwiches and a breakfast grilled cheese brimming with eggs, brie, tomato and bacon on grilled sourdough.
To wash down all those mouth-watering menu options, be sure to sip on a freshly-crafted bloody mary or mimosa. Or check out a “man-mosa,” making its Love City debut at La Plancha.
“It’s Budweiser and orange juice,” said Fritts. “It has a mimosa feel to it, but it’s better than the mimosa you normally get that’s mixed with the cheapest sparkling wine you can find. It’s really good.”
The trio were inspired to start serving brunch in the first place since they started closing for dinner on the weekends during off-season, explained Fritts.
“We figured brunch was a niche that we could fill,” said the chef, bartender and baker. “Since it’s slowed down a bit during off-season we really only need two of us for service during the week and we stopped serving dinner on the weekends.”
“We have more time and we’re paying rent 24-hours a day, so we might as well make brunch,” said Fritts.
When setting out to design the menu, Fritts was as inspired by his proud southern heritage as he was by his own taste.
“I wanted to have things on the menu that I would like to go out and eat,” said Fritts. “And I wanted the menu to be fun.”
La Plancha has achieved exactly that. Be sure to check out the restaurant on the second floor of The Marketplace for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
La Plancha del Mar also serves lunch, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner, from 5 to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. And don’t miss $5 appetizers and $3 sangrias at happy hour, weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m.
For more information check out La Plancha del Mar on Facebook or call the restaurant at 777-7333.