Which came first, the chicken or the egg dish? Few foods have more versatility than eggs. We enjoy them fried, boiled, baked, whipped, coddled, scrambled, poached and basted. When it comes to eating, the egg possibilities are endless.
Edina restaurants know how to make eggs shine in dishes any time of day. Whether you like your eggs more traditional or a little edgy, you’ll find them cooked to your taste.
Eggs can be a celebration in and among themselves. What would Easter be without a rainbow of dyed Easter eggs? This year Easter Sunday falls on April 20, but here in Edina, egg dishes are enjoyed all year-round.
EGG SALAD SANDWICH
Convention Grill
For a real four-egg wonder, head to the Convention Grill; skip the burgers and go for an egg salad sandwich instead. A generously thick layer of finely chopped hard-boiled eggs melded together with dill-speckled mayonnaise is almost more than you can bite into. Neat triangular wedges of earthy wheat bread surround the perfectly formed white-yellow egg filling. A frilly layer of leaf lettuce provides a wave of springy green with a nice crunch. A plain and simple, down-home delight, this comfort food is light enough to leave enough room for one of those famous built-for-two Convention Grill malts ($4.95–$5.95). Sit down and settle into the deco-style diner with checked floors and table cloths for a nostalgic all-American meal. $6.95. 3912 Sunnyside Road; 952.920.6881.
HARMONIZED EGGS WITH HAM AND HOLLANDAISE
Eden Avenue Grill
Scrambled eggs are a reliable breakfast favorite that start the day for many a hungry eater. So how can an old breakfast standby transform into a new taste experience? The harmonized eggs with ham and Hollandaise “are a unique twist on breakfast,” says co-owner Brett Johnson. Plain scrambled eggs turn dressy with the addition of meat, cheese and sauce in perfect harmony at the Eden Avenue Grill. A bit of cream cheese makes a dairy-rich, home-style three-egg scramble. Chunks of salty diced ham and flecks of zesty green onion add the right savory accents. A drape of creamy-tart lemon-infused Hollandaise sauce goes over it all. Traditional sides like home fries and a homemade muffin, English muffin, bagel or toast make a hearty breakfast meal. $10.50. 5101 Arcadia Ave.; 952.925.5628.
TOAD IN THE HOLE
Edina Grill
The toad in the hole proves breakfast can be fun, flavorful and festive. The Edina Grill’s take on the classic English breakfast dish is built on a base of flaky sheets of puff pastry filled with an American-style updated mix of creamy-sharp Parmesan cheese, crispy bacon, roasted tomatoes and fried egg—no Yorkshire pudding batter or onion gravy here. An arugula salad fluffs the top, hides the egg mix and forms a toad in the hole. A side of hash browns adds heft with a crispy-fried potato crunch. “Our philosophy is to make something classic and amp it up, make it more sophisticated and add more flavors.” says manager Liz Bergquist. The toad in the hole breakfast does just that and it’s served all day. $12. 5028 France Ave. S.; 952.927.7933.
APPLE PANCAKE
The Original Pancake House
At the Original Pancake House, egg dishes come in all shapes and sizes. Savory or sweet? Take your pick. In the apple pancake, an omelet meets a pancake and bakes into an apple pie; the super-eggy housemade batter makes the pancake puff up like a soufflé, while a tried-and-true recipe that goes heavy on the cream and light on the flour sets into a light pudding. Topping is everything, and plenty of it is to be had on the apple pancake. Tart Granny Smith apples and syrupy Sinkiang cinnamon glaze are encased with brown sugar, while baking caramelizes the apples to a deep browned crisp, for a dessert-like breakfast. $10.50. Add vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for $1.25. 3501 W. 70th St.; 952.920.4444.
QUICHE
Patisserie Margo
Housemade savory quiche bakes into a dessert-like creamy custard that’s worthy of a celebration. The quiches are ready to serve and easy to transport, making them ideal for family gatherings, seasonal parties and catered events. With 30 years of experience as a baker and caterer, owner Margo Bredeson has perfected the recipe; the result is a French-inspired, open-faced pie so rich it almost melts in your mouth. Made from scratch daily, this quiche has an unusually deep layer of velvety filling enriched by sour cream, heavy cream and fresh eggs. A mock puff pastry forms a buttery, flaky crust. A traditional quiche Lorraine with bacon, spinach and Gruyère cheese, and a quiche with roasted red pepper and caramelized onions are signature items that are always available; special quiches like smoked salmon are sometimes featured. Call ahead for availability. $6 per slice, $30 for a whole 10-inch quiche. 5133 Gus Young Lane; 952.926.0548.
BREAKFAST BURRITO
Peoples Organic
At Peoples Organic, eggs take on a healthy tone, with a bit of heat in the breakfast burrito. An earthy wrap of a 100 percent sprouted organic tortilla has a Latin-style filling of two organic eggs, white Fischer Family Farm cheddar cheese, organic brown rice and vegan black bean chili. A coating of thick housemade salsa spices everything up without being overpowering. Sour cream and finely chopped fresh scallions form the crowning finish. Extra heartiness comes from a side of organic fried red-skinned potatoes seasoned with rosemary and thyme. This is pure breakfast comfort, available all day. $9. 3545 Galleria; 952.426.1856.
SUNNYSIDE PIZZA
Pizzeria Lola
Try a little bacon and eggs on your next pizza. Better yet, have the pizza served sunny-side up. With all the comforts of a homey bacon and eggs breakfast, the sunny side pizza wins people over with an unusual but agreeable blend of flavors. Strips of La Quercia guanciale (gourmet bacon), thinly sliced leeks, shredded pecorino (a hard Italian cheese made from sheep’s milk) and a splash of heavy cream are topped with freshly ground black pepper. The 12-inch pizza bakes for just less than a minute to set, then capped with two farm-fresh eggs and returned to finish cooking: Out comes the pizza with perfectly cooked two-minute eggs, while a quick run of a pizza cutter bursts open the yolks with a stream of yellow yum. The yolks cover the pizza with a thick egg sauce perfect for crust dipping. Pure pizza drama that will enchant even the most reluctant of egg eaters. $15. 5557 Xerxes Ave. S.; 612.424.8338.
CAJUN BREAKFAST
50th Street Café
A hearty breakfast can be a miracle cure. Enter the indulgent, flavor-rich Cajun breakfast, a dish that says “Laissez les bons temps rouler” to your taste buds. The Cajun breakfast makes a full meal anytime. “It’s substantial. People have trouble finishing it all,” says general manager Phil Pearson. A peppering of carnival parade red-orange Cajun spices puts a bit of the bayou on a Minnesota plate. Housemade Idaho russet hash browns are browned into the perfect crunch and bejeweled with a sprinkling of fresh mushrooms, onions and green peppers. The vegetable base gets a heft of rich creaminess from two eggs cooked to order with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese, and the whole thing is enrobed with a thick blanket of hollandaise sauce. Soak up every last drop with fresh-made buttered toast. The truly daring can add more zesty protein with a topper of Cajun andouille sausage. $9.50, additional $3.50 for andouille. 3808 W. 50th St., Minneapolis; 612.927.4464.
