Taking Sarabeth’s Brunch Secrets Into Your Own Hands

When she’s not on the job as opinions editor of The Bucknellian or campus correspondent at Her Campus, Elizabeth Bacharach is back in the New York-New Jersey area sating her need for a Manhattan brunch favorite. But until Sarabeth’s opens a branch at Bucknell University, it’s time to improvise.

In simplest terms and convenient definitions I am a brunch junkie; I live for the perfect balance of ketchup and eggs, jam and muffins, syrup and toasted confections. And as I was born and raised in northern New Jersey, with easy access to every nook and cranny of New York City, nothing is more enticing than a quick slip down the West Side Highway for a meal at Sarabeth’s.

Chef and owner Sarabeth Levine is an acclaimed culinary icon but even more so, she is the ultimate brunch mastermind—and she’s divulged many of her secrets in her new cookbook, Sarabeth’s Bakery: From My Hands to Yours. I couldn’t help but buy this brunch bible when I saw it on the shelves of my local Barnes and Noble.

Too often I’m stymied by the extensive lines in front of Sarabeth’s yellow awning: living so close, I can’t fathom waiting so long for an omelet I can easily make at home. However, what really seals my decision is if I can imagine brunch without a perfectly golden Sarabeth’s corn muffin. It doesn’t matter if there isn’t a crisp chill in the air, tumbling red and yellow leaves, or an anxious feeling that summer is rapidly escaping us; this muffin is flawless in or out of its seasonal stereotype.

Thanks to Ms. Levine’s newest publication, brunch enthusiasts like myself can savor Sarabeth’s impeccable inventions in their own kitchen—at home, the only wait is in the cook time. So this Sunday morning, instead of revving up my engine at a godforsaken hour to attempt to beat the crowd, I decided to concoct a Sarabeth’s-worthy brunch with my own two hands—and a little help from Ms. Levine herself on the muffins.

For me, nothing defines the breakfast portion of brunch quite like a mastered piece of French toast. I will once again admit that not many can make it like Sarabeth; however, I tried to challenge her, attempting a Bacharach take on this morning delicacy. What makes the difference in my toast is the employment of challah—but not just any challah, a Zomick’s challah, found at most grocery stores (particularly kosher ones) near you.

Whoever Zomick is or was did a great job when he whipped together his signature bread: clearly buttered when cooling, the outside of this bread is sticky and soft—even a young crust hater would savor these brown edges—and the inside is eggy and fresh, perfect for absorbing a simple yet foolproof French toast mixture of vanilla, eggs, and milk (I prefer skim).

The lunch half of my brunch must-have list is fluffy omelet stuffed with eggs, spinach, and goat cheese. Though I’m not sure what Sarabeth does to make hers so magical, after my creation, I do believe she has a bit of competition. A little TLC in each step is all it takes:

Cook the spinach in a little olive oil over low heat for a few minutes, then drain the excess oil and stir in some goat cheese. The remaining warmth helps soften the goat cheese, so the spinach and cheese can slide out of their skillet together and into the eggs. Try not to add too much salt while cooking, because the goat cheese has plenty. And don’t forget to coat the omelet pan: a little butter or olive oil really helps keep the eggs fluffy and stick-proof.

For those city-goers and tri-state area residents, as tempting as Sunday brunch at Sarabeth’s sounds, avoid the extensive wait or the early morning rush and try this balanced spread instead—all you need are a few basic ingredients, a little coaxing, and help from the mastermind herself. Before you know it, your house will have a little yellow awning outside and tourists clawing to get in.