Eggs Benedict Heaven

You know how sometimes when you go to a nice cafe or restaurant and you have something to eat that was so good and you just know you can go home and recreate? Well, that happened to me at a cafe in Nelson.

We called in to Cafe Affair of Nelson for brunch one morning, and I ordered the Eggs Benedict.

The Cafe Affair became our favourite place to go for coffee during our three day stay. The staff are lovely, the atmosphere quiet and sophisticated. I loved all the old photos around the wall of early days in the Nelson area, and I so wish we'd gone back for brunch again.

But I wanted to try the Eggs Benedict for myself at home.

So lunch today saw me cooking it up (took 10 minutes at the most), and the first bite was heavenly. It took me straight back to Nelson.

This is how I did it . . .
I didn't use the traditional muffin for the base, as I'm trying to go easy on wheat intake at the moment. Instead I baked 4 small hash browns, poached two fresh eggs and fried some bacon.

Layer the bacon on top of the hash browns, top with rocket lettuce (this is the secret ingredient to give it a wonderful nutty flavour). Then carefully place the poached eggs and pour drizzle hollandaise sauce over the top. Sprinkle with a little salt if desired.

Here is a photo of my version:

 

This is my favourite store-bought Hollandaise. I'd love to make my own, but sometimes it's just more practical to buy it ready-made. Seriously, I could drink this stuff - it's so good.

I'll be making this for my husband this weekend - he had the French toast at the cafe, so he doesn't know what a treat is in store for him.

Now . . . to go and add more hollandaise now that I've taken the photo! Haha!