The day has arrived. Tensions are high. The pressure is mounting. Months of tenting through rain, ice and wind are about to pay off. IT’S GAME TIME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
Photo by Elysia Su
Much like Game Day, brunch is not to be taken lightly. I find it preposterous that brunch is often overlooked by those die-hards who live by the “three meals a day” rule. Who says I can’t have a doughnut AND a BLT together? Why limit myself to one grouping of food at a time? What if I want shrimp with my grits AND avo toast? Well at brunch, you can have your biscuit and eat it too. For the final installment in our first Duke vs. UNC “Battle of the Blues” series, Scratch Baking and 411 West go head-to-head. *Many eggs were harmed in the making of this article*
Round 3: Brunch is Bae
Scratch Baking
Photo by Abigail Gay
I have so much respect for a place that can fit its entire menu on a single chalkboard wall. At Scratch, the menu is handcrafted each week by the owner, Chef Phoebe Lawless. Her famous pastries have been featured on The TODAY Show, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Food and Wine, Saveur and North Carolina’s Our State magazines. Treat yourself to a cappuccino after building your own biscuit sandwich from a wide array of fresh toppings—from bacon jam to pimento cheese. Scratch also has a killer weekly lunch menu if you miss out on their weekend brunch options.
What we munched on:
Start out with a piping hot cup of Intelligentsia coffee, and chow down on a dark chocolate sea salt crostata while you wait for your holy avocado toast topped with a local fried egg.
Address: 111 Orange Street, Durham, NC
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11:30am-3pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-3pm
411 West
Photo by Abigail Gay
I have been to brunch here at least a dozen times, and it has yet to disappoint. Located in a quaint brick building on West Franklin Street, the interior has the feel of a rustic Italian villa. 411 West is the ideal place for anything from a brunch date to a business meeting because, let’s face it, who doesn’t need another excuse to dig into brioche french toast?
What we munched on:
For the main course, you can’t go wrong with the classic Eggs Benedict. Dive into a bowl of cheesy grits that will have you begging for mercy, and wash it all down with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Address: 411 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30am-10:00pm, Friday-Saturday 11:30am-10:30pm, Sunday 10:30am-2pm 5pm-9:30pm
Look out for the next “Battle of the Blues” series leading up to the Duke varsity men’s basketball game at Carolina in March.
Meanwhile, check out what you may have missed:
- Duke vs. UNC Restaurant Face-Off: Burger Joint Battle
- Duke vs. UNC Restaurant Face-off: Hotel Showdown
- Foodball: Cheesy Bacon Shrimp Grits in Honor of the UNC vs. Duke Game
Photo courtesy of The Chronicle