{"id":249035,"date":"2015-08-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-14T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/good-morning-north-park\/"},"modified":"2015-08-14T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-08-14T07:00:00","slug":"good-morning-north-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/good-morning-north-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Good morning, North Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

Por Frank Sabatini Jr.<\/p>\n

Close your eyes, spin around three times, and throw an egg into the air. Chances are that it will land on one of the many Uptown kitchens serving breakfast, if not smack on the doorstep of San Diego\u2019s newest hotspot, Rep\u00fablica del desayuno<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Asiago<\/a>
Asiago and fennel sausage\u00a0omelet (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As owner Johan Engman proves with his whimsically appointed restaurant, supply still doesn\u2019t meet the demand for scoring a jumbo omelet on weekend mornings. Just like his competitors within a five-mile radius \u2014 The Mission, Lil B\u2019s Urban Eatery, Parkhouse Eatery, Snooze, Great Maple, Hash House a Go Go, The Big Kitchen and others \u2014 the Republic starts attracting lines as early as 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.<\/p>\n

\"Breakfast<\/a>
Breakfast Republic has taken over the spot once occupied by Western Steakburger. (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The personable Swedish transplant also owns Fig Tree Caf\u00e9 in Hillcrest, Liberty Station and Pacific Beach. His latest venture, however, focuses on jazzed-up morning fare that embraces internationally inspired dishes such as Vietnamese chicken wing bowls, Portuguese sausage omelets and Croque Monsieur eggs Benedict.<\/p>\n

Or for those who come knocking with a taste for the South, the menu obliges with egg-topped jambalaya and shrimp and grits.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a \u201cbreakfast hot dog\u201d served with mashed potatoes, eggs and bacon, should the house-made granola with berry yogurt and peanut butter seem like too tame a choice.<\/p>\n

Yet for such heavier meals, you can wash them down with a stomach-settling, locally brewed kombucha, or a \u201cboochy\u201d as it\u2019s referred to within today\u2019s growing fermentation movement. The effervescent tea is dispensed from a tap and loaded with probiotics. We tried the organic ginger kombucha, which seemingly took the edge out of a hangover from a previous night of imbibing.<\/p>\n

\"Croque<\/a>
Croque Monsieur eggs benedict
(Foto por Frank Sabatini Jr.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Republic\u2019s engaging bill of fare fits the zany design Engman created after taking over the cottage-like structure from Western Steakburger. A series of paintings on an exterior wall show roosters escaping from a henhouse. Oversized whisks are cleverly incorporated into the lighting fixtures. And the restrooms feature piped music with surprise interruptions, as well as mirrors shaped like sunglasses that allow you to decipher a feel-good phrase painted backwards on their opposite walls.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cJurassic<\/a>
\u201cJurassic pork\u201d bacon
(Foto por Frank Sabatini Jr.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are three patios \u2014 front, side and rear \u2014 along with a lush, living wall with the words, \u201cRun Cock Run\u201d embedded into it. Right down to the egg-shaped salt and pepper shakers, the breakfast concept becomes humorously unmistakable.<\/p>\n

Omelets are made with four cage-free eggs sourced from a Ramona farm. We chose the one filled with Asiago-fennel sausage, green bell peppers, jalapenos and jack cheese. Everything jibed. The eggs were cooked to a fluffy, tender finish and the ingredients inside offered bursts of zesty heat.<\/p>\n

From the \u201cbenedicts\u201d category, the Croque Monsieur called. Playing off the famous French sandwich, it\u2019s actually Madame-style since eggs are involved. A couple of English muffins formed the foundation for a rich layering of ham, Gruyere cheese and poached eggs, all crowned judiciously with b\u00e9chamel sauce. Pure decadence.<\/p>\n

Off to the side, we nibbled from an order of \u201cJurassic pork,\u201d which yielded a few slices of thick-cut bacon baked with paprika and brown sugar. Compared to similar preparations I\u2019ve had elsewhere, these flat and orderly strips maintained their savory flavor because they weren\u2019t nearly as cloying.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A flight of pancake
(Foto por Frank Sabatini Jr.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A flight of three airy pancakes became our dessert. The \u201capple 2 ways\u201d with apples inside the hotcake and on top, was satisfying, but not as ravishing as the other two.<\/p>\n

My companion\u2019s favorite was the mint-chocolate chip pancake served with mint butter. We discovered that the teasing essence of the scented herb actually plays well with butter and syrup.<\/p>\n

I pretty much overtook the pineapple upside down pancake topped with pineapple butter. Despite its absence of the prized, caramelized sheath that forms on the namesake dessert, it tasted like the next best thing.<\/p>\n

Other pancake flavors include cinnamon roll, Oreo cookie, churro and bacon. French toast options are no less tantalizing: banana split, s\u2019mores, lemon-coconut and an ultimate version stuffed with peanut butter, bananas and bacon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/a>In addition to kombucha, specialty coffee drinks and antioxidant shots, the beverage menu extends to craft beers on tap and several cocktails made with Champagne and low-alcohol vodka.<\/p>\n

Given Engman\u2019s instant success with Breakfast Republic, he has already signed a \u201cletter of intent\u201d on a property that he hopes will spawn a second location in the next six months.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m all in with this concept,\u201d he says, revealing only that if the deal goes through, it will appear \u201csomewhere coastal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breakfast Republic is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u2014Frank Sabatini Jr. puede ser contactado en fsabatini@san.rr.com.<\/i><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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