Our Brunch In New York City & A Delicious Recipe

Weekend brunch is my favorite meal and dining out splurge. It’s not always easy, though, to find a place that is as family-friendly and the fare is delicious. It’s nice, every now and then, to dress up and take the girls for a “fancier” meal. A few weeks ago, we had the chance to have brunch at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel New York.  It’s the perfect place for brunching out with the kids. The hotel is beautiful & overlooks Central Park. We had a wonderful meal and it was a very memorable family outing.

Our server at The Garden could not have been more friendly and accommodating to children. As the father of a toddler himself, he entertained the girls by singing some of their favorite songs; he had them laughing the whole time.

Maggie & Alex tried a sampling from the children’s menu, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the two of them eat so much. Maggie was delighted to use her very own silverware with animals on it. Both girls were thrilled when chocolate marshmallow lollipops came out for a surprise dessert!

We tried many delicious dishes off the brunch menu, but our family favorite was the Lemon Ricotta Hot Cakes. Even after all the girls had eaten off their own plates, they managed to find room in their little bellies for some of Mom’s pancakes.

I’m so excited to share this wonderful recipe. If you’re looking for a last minute Easter brunch recipe, these would be perfect!

Lemon Ricotta Hot Cakes, Four Seasons Hotel New York

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

6 eggs

1½ cups (325 ml) ricotta cheese

½ cup (125 ml) melted butter, cooled

½ cup (125 ml) all-purpose flour

¼ cup (60 ml) sugar

½ tsp (2 ml) salt

2 tbsp (30 ml) grated lemon zest

Butter, for griddle or pan

Garnish:

Powdered sugar

Fresh blackberries

Method:

1. Separate the egg whites from the yolks.

2. In a large bowl, combine the egg yolks, ricotta cheese and melted butter.

3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest. Slowly add to the ricotta mixture.

4. In another bowl, whip the egg whites until they form firm peaks. Fold the egg whites gently into the batter, until just combined.

5. Over medium heat, lightly butter a griddle or non-stick pan. Ladle in a spoonful of batter to form small hot cakes and cook until golden brown on both sides.

To Serve:

Top with powdered sugar and blackberries… enjoy!

You can read about our experience at the Four Seasons New York over on their blog too: Have Family Will Travel. Their blog has wonderful information about traveling with children!

I was not compensated for this post. Our brunch at the Four Seasons New York was covered in exchange for this review. As always, all opinions are my own.