the best brunch

I've mused before about my undying love for that perfect meal mashup of breakfast and lunch. Whether it's hungover laughing with friends in a cafe over copious coffees and shakes and juice, or whether it's at home cooking perfect scrambled eggs for someone you quite fancy, followed by some sweet music and plunger coffee in the sun on the couch, I just really really love brunch.

In Wellington last weekend, me and my friend, seedier than I was, went on a brunch excursion. I wanted something totally delicious, and having had my fair share of under poached eggs and packet hash browns, I knew exactly the place: Cafe Polo in Miramar.

Out there we trekked, and after a very well executed flat white we made the wise move to a more open table given the neighbouring unruly children's squawking was worsening my friend's hangover by the second. Just as we re-settled in, two plates of glory arrived: friend's vege feast with no artichokes and avocado instead, as well as creamy mushrooms, and spinach, and mine probably the best brunch ever. Homemade sourdough, two perfectly poached eggs, certainly the best cafe hash browns I've ever had, ripe avocado and Polo smoked salmon.

I was inappropriately groaning with delight at every mouthful, and my friend was too overwhelmed to speak, such was the hangover-curing qualities of what was on the plate. We let it settle with more good coffee and left extremely satisfied indeed.

Cafe Polo, which I've had dinner, and lunch at before.


82-84 Rotherham Terrace, Miramar, Wellington. Phone (04) 380 7273. An important word of warning: they are not open Sundays!