Bouchees dropped from the sky and landed in a strip mall with the best burgers I have ever had in Long Beach—former victor was MVP and I will happily examine further contenders suggested—and so the announcement that Bouchees would be gently extending into weekly breakfast service gave me surprise reason to wake up certain mornings. New 10-to-2 Sunday brunch applies Bouchees’ generous philosophy—food 10 times as good as what you usually eat for about a dollar more than what you usually pay—to an intimidating local chow bracket dominated by nearby champions like Two Umbrellas’ stuffed French toast and Omelette Inn’s Cajun omelet, and while Two Umbrellas’ Elvis will be king forever of my sluggishly pumping heart, Bouchees’ brunch delivers early results at the very top side of respectable and promises plenty at every return visit. Signature baby burgers get refitted for breakfast—a plate of three mini-turkeys with roasted tomato and mozzarella with a tarragon sauce, mini-ahi burgers with avocado plus a new mini-French dip—but the morning exclusives include three different omelets (crab and shiitake, zucchini and goat cheese, and a Mediterranean mix) plus pancakes-and-strawberries and nice fat French toast under rum sauce, and of course simple (applewood) bacon and eggs, so pure and light (even with cheese I added smothered/covered style) they almost glowed. Regular traffic could make this a local institution—another link in California’s best breakfast circuit.

BOUCHEES BISTRO 515 LONG BEACH BLVD | LONG BEACH 90802 | 562.951.8222 | BOUCHEES.COM | BRUNCH 10AM-2PM ON SUNDAYS

Tags: bouchees bistro, breakfast, Food, Long Beach, SIDES