Marchand's Bar & Grill Brunch at Vinoy Renaissance St Pete

This Sunday, I had the opportunity to visit Vinoy Renaissance St Pete and check out the brunch at Marchand's Bar & Grill. Marchand's recently took their award winning brunch buffet and turned it into an amazing menu, where you can order A Lá Carte or pick 3 items For $32 (two entrees and one dessert). Amazing food, live music and a perfect atmosphere, you cannot ask for more - Marchand's is a must visit for brunch in the bay area.

Marchand's offers a 'Build your perfect' Bloody Mary bar for $9, a bottomless mimosa bar for $7 or a bottomless bellini bar for $8. The bloody mary bar was unlike any I have ever seen, offering homemade spicy and regular mixers and a topping bar that would make any southern girl squeal: Pickled Green Beans, Pickled asparagus, Pickled Okra, Onion, Salami, Giardiniera, Green Tomato, Horseradish, Goat Cheese Stuffed Olives, Feta Stuffed Peppadew, House cured Beef Jerky, Shrimp, Peppered Smoked Bacon, Provolone, Mozzarella, Assorted Spices & Hot Sauce. WOW.

I made what was one of the best bloody mary's I have ever had. With this amount of toppings, how could one go wrong!

After we had our libations in hand, we were presented a tray of pastrys. I am generally not a pastry lover but good lord, this was good stuff. A jumbo pecan sticky bun and Monkey Bread were both presented in a staub skillet (that presentation always makes me very happy). We also had coffee cake and warm cinnamon donuts. This non-pastry person will go out on a limb and say I will order the Monkey Bread or Jumbo Sticky Bun on my next trip. You made a pastry believer out of me.

Now it's time for the courses. Two days later I am still in a food coma and you are about to see why.

Starting off with my favorite dish of the day, the EGGS IN A JAR - Anson Mills Lil Moo Cheese Grits, Poached Eggs Corn Meal Fried Rock Shrimp, Roasted Chili Hollandaise. Every bite of this dish was perfect. Since it was served in a jar, you were able to get the right amount of egg, yolk, shrimp, grits and cheese.

Do not adjust your monitor, those are Purple Grits you see. CRISPY MAPLE CURED PORK BELLY with Parmesan Fried Egg and Roasted Corn Grits. These grits had such a great texture combined with the corn. The maple cured pork belly is something I could eat everyday and that egg was so creative. I loved this dish.

After seeing Marchand's new menu, one item stood out to me above all else. HOUSE BRINED CORNED BEEF HASH topped with Fried Duck Eggs & Heirloom Potatoes. Corned beef is my ultimate weakness when it comes to breakfast. I generally make up my own meal if it is on the menu. I create my own eggs benedict with a side of corned beef, topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise. Bring a duck egg into the mix and you have my attention! This corned beef was off the charts incredible and I am hoping Marchand's has a St. Patricks Day dinner next Spring - if so, I will be front and center.

Speaking of eggs benedict, another dish that grabbed my attention from the start was RED WINE POACHED EGG, La Quercia Prosciutto, Sourdough, Béarnaise Sauce. There were so many great things going on with this dish, from the perfect poached purple egg to the prosciutto.

Another hit at the table was the QUICHE, made with Lump Crab, Roasted Pepper sauce, Charred Leek, Lil Moo Cheese. This quiche was full of flavor, the lump crab was the perfect amount. It was like a lump crab cake and a quiche had a baby.

And finally, as Gabe would say, you cannot have brunch without French Toast. RHUBARB FRENCH TOAST, Oranges, Candied Almonds, Mascarpone, Bacon. This particular dish was a little too sweet for me but if Gabe was with me, I know he would devour it.

At this point, I was considering how one would expect me to stand up and leave the restaurant. I needed a wheelbarrow. And then the desserts came out. Up first was a Lemonade Cake with Candied Lemon and blueberries. This was my type of dessert - not too sweet and light, perfectly delicious.

The Smore’s Cheesecake was one item I couldn't leave without trying, a Milk Chocolate Cheesecake, Graham Cracker Crust and roasted marshmallows.

We received another item served in a jar! Blackberry Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

That my friends was a very delicious brunch and I cannot wait to return. I know one thing is certain, I will be dining at Marchand's Bar and Grill following the Womens Half Marathon Series in St. Pete on November 24. That will be my special treat for running one full marathon and two half marathons during the month of Nov!