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Multicultural brunch delights at The Londoner
By Douglas Habecker
Translated by Angel Pu
143, HuaMei West St, Sec. 1, West District
A glance at the breakfast shops scattered throughout most Taichung neighborhoods today is ample reminder that the locals have embraced Western-style breakfasts with a vengeance. That warms the hearts of The Londoner owners Morne' Birch and Lily Li, who have just taken the city's breakfast/brunch market to a whole new international level with their new weekend brunches, launched this month.
As a long-standing sports bar and restaurant, The Londoner carved out a niche for itself among expatriates and Taiwanese ages ago. However, the owners are now covering fresh territory with some truly unique brunch options that go far beyond the usual breakfast fare and will satisfy and intrigue Western and non-Western patrons alike. Available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Londoner brunch is divided into several categories, starting with eight Traditional Breakfast options. Of these, the first thing to catch my eyes was the "Dubble-Up Breakfast"--two pork bangers (sausages), two eggs, two rashers of bacon, two hash browns, two pieces of toast and one coffee or juice--a filling option that only goes for NT$179.
Under the truly exotic category, particularly for non-South Africans, is the sinfully-tasty Vetkoek (pronounced FET-cook), a traditional Afrikaner deep-fried dough pastry filled with jam, syrup, honey, cheese, chicken a la king, curry, or chili cheese. Next is the Crepe "Pannekoek", basically Dutch-style crepes usually served with sugar and cinnamon, although Londoner also offers them with curry, chili cheese and other non-sweet toppings.
With a name like Londoner, it's only natural that brunch includes some good British-style comfort food, including Bangers and Mash meals (NT$249 with drink) with nine sausage options, like English breakfast sausage, Sicilian sausage, foot-long Taiwanese sausage, and South African Boerewors. There are also nine flavors for the NT$199 "Mama's Pies" meals, like shepherds pie, chicken curry pie, and veggie pie.
Also promoting culinary multiculturalism, from India and Italy to America and Russia, are six "home-cooked meals" options, including Irish Stew, Beef Stroganoff, Macaroni and Cheese, and the more exotic Babotie--minced meat and other spices baked with an egg-based topping, associated with South Africa's Cape Malay community and Dutch/Javanese influences stretching back centuries. And, finally, for those who want a DIY option, there are the "Grill Your Own Meat" specials: Londoner provides top-grade steaks, ribs, kebabs and other meats for you to grill on the spot and enjoy with a provided draft beer or "bottomless" soda, salads, bread, dessert, and fries or baked potato. That way, according to Morne', no one can ever complain that their brunch wasn't made the way they wanted it.
 
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March 2011 
