Bacon and Pumpkin Bread Pudding French Toast Brunch at Orlean Market
I still have yet to find a place that does soup or a BLT as amazing as chef Nick Forlano at Forlano’s Market. The restaurant closed, so when I got word that Chef Forlano was cooking for Orlean Market in kind of a middle-of-nowhere-Virginia it was worth an outing.
I couldn’t get free in time for his dinner specials, but some friends and I headed out there for a Sunday brunch.  The menu sounded fantastic, if a little expensive. For $45 per person you got your choice of craft beverage, yummy starter, entree, and dessert. I saw bacon, soup, and other tasty options and was in.
I wound up ordering the mimosa, though I was intrigued by the IPAÂ based bloody mary. The basket of breakfast breads was kind of fun, berry scones and a variety of different flavored muffins. I think mine was jalepeno cheese.
I’m always tempted by housemade charcuterie, but lucked out with my choice. The curried apple & butternut squash bisque was the standout. Chef Forlano knows how to make amazing soups!
We split the Pumpkin Bread Pudding French Toast and the Andouille sausage hash. I love pumpkin bread but not a huge fan of french toast, this hit the right balance erring on the side of bread pudding consistency and with only a touch of sweetness. Plus, anytime you add bacon…
The Andouille sausage with poached eggs was good, but not amazing. But as one of my friends put it, it’s hard to glamorize traditional brunch fare.
The dessert of poached figs and fresh ricotta was good, but strange. There were a lot of figs (yay!) but the texture with the ricotta was odd and the olive oil drizzled on top worked well but still made for an unusual flavor.
The restaurant itself has a fun ambience with dining tables in multiple rooms and an old fashioned decor that works. The service was a little slow, as if they’re still working out some issues.
The food was good, but not worth a trek just for brunch unless you’re in the area. I’d definitely go back to try dinner though.
Looks tasty viewing the pictures. I wonder what there dinner set would be. Thanks for sharing.