Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you’ve enjoyed my last couple of posts about our adventures in wedding planning. Now that Tania and I have our venue locked down, there are just a few hundred more things we have to do before the big day arrives. Some of those tasks – like finalizing budgets or booking hotel room blocks – aren’t particularly exciting, while others – like asking your loved ones to join your wedding party – are absolutely thrilling! A couple of months ago, I “proposed” to my four dearest girlfriends with these adorable bridesmaid candles I found on Etsy, and lucky me… they all said yes! By the way, I can’t say enough good things about White Dahlia Candle Co: the candles shipped super fast, the labels are gorgeous, and the scents are heavenly (Coffee Caramel is my favourite.)
My friend Sandra moved to the UK this past summer, so I “proposed” to her – along with my friend Victoria (my maid of honour) – when she came back to Toronto for a visit in November. The three of us have been friends since high school!
After that, it was time to pop the question to my friends Bethany and Katie. We all live pretty far apart – one in Orillia, one in Peterborough, and one (me) in Burlington – so when I suggested getting together before the holidays, we tried to find a place that was roughly the same distance between us all. I was excited when we landed on Whitby, because there’s a cute restaurant there that I’d been eager to check out for a while: Brunch & Co.
I first came across Brunch & Co. while scrolling Instagram one day, and it immediately caught my eye. The restaurant is relatively new to the Whitby food scene: it was founded in 2021 by owner Sarah Pascoal, a former server who’d worked in the restaurant industry for ten years before taking the leap and opening her own. The pandemic hit while she was working at Baton Rouge, but she saw an opportunity amidst the chaos, and asked the owners if she could start renting out their kitchen in the mornings. There, she created to-go brunch boxes featuring pancakes, bacon and other breakfast staples. As her catering business took off, Sarah realized this was something she wanted to do on a larger scale. So she purchased a beautiful historic building in downtown Whitby, and remodeled both its exterior and interior. Sarah’s late father, Carlos, was a huge inspiration to her: they’d always loved going for brunch together, and he was the one who encouraged her to open her own restaurant. Carlos passed away in 2019, but two years later, Sarah found the courage to move forward and open Brunch & Co. in his honour. His portrait and hat are displayed on a wall in the restaurant, and there’s even a dish on the menu named after him: the Carlos Special.
Brunch & Co. is a popular weekend spot, so they don’t take reservations on Saturdays or Sundays. When we showed up around 11am, we were put on a waitlist, but only waited about 20-30 minutes: not bad at all! While we were waiting, we wandered around downtown Whitby and checked out some of their cute vintage clothing shops, and before we knew it, I received a text that our table was ready.
With its white stucco exterior and minimalist yet eye-catching branding, Brunch & Co. is a beautiful addition to Brock Street – and wait until you see its interior! Sarah has decorated it in a beachy, coastal-chic style: a white and blond wood palette, boho-chic rattan pendants, an Insta-worthy neon sign, and vibrant pops of greenery. I almost felt like I was in California (until I stepped back into the winter chill!) They also have a back patio that looks like it’d be especially lovely in the summer.
The menu includes all of your classic breakfast staples – bacon and eggs, pancakes, avocado toast, eggs benedict – along with some more unique options, like croque madames and chicken and waffles. I tend to lean sweet over savoury when it comes to brunch (hey, it’s the only time when it’s perfectly acceptable to order a dessert as a main course!) so I was drawn to the menu’s extensive “Sweet” section, which includes everything from lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes to Lotus Biscoff French toast. You can even order a “pancake charcuterie board”, which serves 2-3 people and contains pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, home fries, fruit and every accompaniment imaginable.
In typical Steph fashion, I’d already done my research ahead of time and knew exactly what I’d be ordering: the Purple Hills Pancakes, one of their most popular dishes (at least according to Instagram!) I’d already had about three coffees that morning, so to avoid turning into a total jitterbug, I made the responsible choice and ordered a hot cocoa, which came topped with mini marshmallows and whipped cream. Who says hot cocoa’s just for kids!?
When our meals arrived, it was love at first sight. My pancakes came served in a mini skillet, topped with heaps of blueberry compote, strips of bacon (yes, you read that right!) and a generous scoop of house-made brown sugar butter. To top it off, the four giant pancakes are dusted with powdered sugar and accompanied by sides of maple syrup and whipped cream. Every bite was delicious, and I love that they don’t skimp on the toppings. Even though I love my sweets, I’m also a big fan of a sweet-savoury combo (it’s why I can’t keep chocolate-covered pretzels in the house!) The bacon’s smoky flavour and crispy texture provided the perfect contrast to the pancakes’ sweetness. It’s worth noting that the portions here are very generous. I’m not normally one to leave much food on my plate at a restaurant (not sure if that’s something to brag about, but I digress) and even I had to take about half of this dish home with me, which I enjoyed that same night. Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner!?
My friend Bethany got the chicken and waffles: buttermilk panko-breaded fried chicken served atop four waffle triangles, drizzled with hot honey and accompanied by a side of fruit. Katie got the Carlos Special: three eggs served with toast, homefries and your choice of bacon or sausage. The food was a hit all around!
Then it was time to reveal my ulterior motive and pop the bridesmaid question… and lucky me, they both said YES! Y’all, those candles really work!
Brunch & Co. is open Wednesday-Friday from 9am-2pm and Saturday-Sunday from 8am-2pm. As I mentioned earlier, they don’t take reservations on weekends, but you can email them to book a table on a weekday. Keep an eye on their Instagram page to stay up to date on limited-time menu specials and fun events. They’ve hosted everything from paint nights and trivia competitions to cake decorating classes and themed afternoon teas. Their next one is the Valentine’s Afternoon Tea, taking place this Sunday February 11, but sadly it’s already sold out! I’ll just have to eagerly anticipate the next one.
By the way… if you’re looking for a fun indoor activity to enjoy after brunch, may I suggest mini golf?? After we ate, we headed to Putting Edge – located in Whitby Entertainment Centrum – for an afternoon of arcade games and glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. Just like you’re never too old for hot cocoa, I don’t think anyone’s ever too old for a game of neon-lit mini-putt!
Do you know any great brunch restaurants in the GTA that I should check out? Please let me know in the comments or send me an email – I’d love to hear your recommendations!
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