Eats + Drinks

The Sun on a Bun

With the eggy, crispy Egg Bomb breakfast sandwich, eggs are always what’s up at Eggs Up Grill.

Story by Rheya Tanner

The BLT: Bright. Laid-back. Timeless. It’s been considered one of America’s favorite sandwiches for decades, maybe because it’s almost impossible to get wrong. The ingredients are literally right there. Add a little mayo and toast the bread, and voila. Perfection. What could possibly make it better?

Eggs Up Grill asked itself that very question. And the answer is to drop an egg bomb on it.

It’s really a no-brainer when you think about it; bacon and eggs have always been bedfellows on our breakfast plates, so why wouldn’t that magic work here? The gooey yolk acts almost as a condiment, while the egg itself really gives the sandwich that breakfast-y edge you’re looking for in the morning. Paired with two of Eggs Up’s thick-cut bacon strips (not too crisp, not too limp, salty, savory deliciousness), a layer of leaf lettuce, a touch of mayo, and two tomato slices on a toasted bun, the Egg Bomb is a bright, crunchy way to wake up.

The presentation is also quite nice, the top bun sitting slightly off-center to show off those crispy criss-crossed bacon slices and give that sunny, runny yolk a chance to wish you good morning. The Egg Bomb is a great choice for a late breakfast or brunch, especially when complemented with a pretty little bowl of freshcut fruits and a tall glass of orange juice to leave you full, but not stuffed.

Never heard of Eggs Up? You’re not too out-of-theloop; the restaurant just started upping its eggs last month. Its open, ranch house–chic interior lets a lot of light in and creates a friendly atmosphere. Eggs and bacon are far from its only menu items, with a list of burgers, sandwiches, shrimp and grits, and corned beef hash, among other selections that may or may not be accentuated with an egg.

The BLT has officially fallen a slot in the “America’s favorite sandwich” lineup. But it has been replaced by its eggy cousin, the BELT. I very well may have to loosen mine.

We intended to show a picture of Eggs Up's grilled muffin, but our reviewer was too enthusiastic. We'll have to leave it to your imagination.

Side Dish: A Toasty Muffin

For those of us who prefer to start our morning off sweeter, there is a little gem tucked away in the top left corner of the Eggs Up menu: toasted muffins. Choose a blueberry or a banana nut muffin, and have it fresh-baked, then split down the middle and grilled facedown until toasty.

Southern Tier Brewing Co's Blueberry Whirl Milkshake IPA and Lulz Smoothie Hard Seltzer

Photo by Fred Lopez

Fresh Fruits

New beverage concepts add variety to your imbibery.

Story: Tarin Scarbrough

Some of you may not know me (yet), while others have been drinking with me for years. I may not always remember your name, but I can have your favorite cocktail waiting before you sit at the bar. I appreciate people like you, the ones who know just what they like and stick with it.

But on the other side of the bar? I prefer to be more unpredictable.

I’m constantly searching for new and different. My favorite question at the bar is, “What should I get that I haven’t tried yet?” It’s so subjective, yet it leaves space for someone to share their passion and palate—and to broaden mine.

Tarin Scarbrough, sommelier at The Attic Door

Photo by Fred Lopez

My favorite question at the bar is ‘What should I get that I haven’t tried yet?’

My current obsession is beer, especially since it’s come so far from its college-game-day-lager days. IPAs, sours, and seltzers dominate the market and show no sign of slowing. Meaning that for new-seekers like me, it can be hard to know where to start. So how do you choose your sip this season in such a saturated market?

Fruit. Choose fruit.

Fruited beer is changing the game, and not just in a “shandy” kind of way. The addition of large quantities of fresh fruit has created a whole new market, “beyond beer.” Picture a freshly muddled cocktail, but in that nostalgic carbonated format.

One of my favorite things to debut this year is smoothie hard seltzers. I know, it’s hard to imagine the two words together, but trust me … it’s magical. This gluten-free, heavily fruited beverage offers more flavor and body than a traditional seltzer, so it feels like you’re drinking a fresh pressed juice instead of a sparkling water. Lulz and Untitled Arts are two of my favorite brands that are paving the way for this new style, and expect to see more emerge through the rest of the year.

If you are one to appreciate the flavor of beer, Southern Tier is adding a new brew to their Shake Shoppe collection this month called “Blueberry Whirl,” a blueberry milkshake IPA. Combining barley, oats, and milk sugar with fresh blueberries and vanilla, they concoct and perfect the thickest and juiciest IPA. The sweetness offsets the bitterness of the hops and will make you think you’re drinking melted soft serve.

It’s still second summer here in Florida, so why not quench your thirst with new beer that doesn’t make you feel heavy? Or just tell yourself it’s your fruit serving for the day.

About the Author: Tarin Scarbrough is the Sommelier at The Attic Door. If you like what she pens, you’ll love what she pours! Be sure to stop by and let her know what you think or drink.