Tasty Tuesday: Brunching at Canvas Restaurant & Market

I don’t think it’s a surprise that I love brunch. I basically count down the days until I’m able to relax with a bubbly mimosa and stuff my face with a delicious eggs benedict. Just for reference, an eggs benedict is generally my choice for brunch. It’s usually the item I use to judge a restaurant’s breakfast/brunch. But honestly, I don’t discriminate when it comes to brunch 😉

It’s also no surprise that I love Orlando and all the fabulous restaurants we have in the area. I have my tried and true favorites but with Orlando constantly expanding and growing Steven and I like to venture out. We’re always game for trying something new.

LAKE NONA; Orlando, Florida

We recently made the trip to Lake Nona to visit Canvas Restaurant and Market. Neither one of us had been to Canvas nor even the Lake Nona area. There’s a lot of buzz about Lake Nona as it’s considered to be an “up and coming area”. But with it being around 35-40 minutes away from us, we’ve never made it over.

I will say the area is MUCH different than the part of town I’m from. While there were larger buildings and a few buildings in construction, the area feels very much isolated from other Orlando areas. We were basically in the middle of farm land which I can’t complain!

This made for a very picturesque setting for Canvas. There’s a strong feeling of being removed from the hustle and bustle of Orlando. So if you’re visiting, I say it’s worth the trip to see a different side of Orlando.

It’s a growing area with the UCF Medical Campus, the Orlando City Soccer Training Facility and other assorted businesses.

CANVAS RESTAURANT AND MARKET

 

Situated on the water, Canvas is a little oasis far from the city. While the view is beautiful the food here is even better. Described as serving Latin-inspired Southern cuisine, Canvas offers a familiar yet slightly different dining experience. So what does that mean?

Canvas Benedict

I went there for brunch and found myself ordering their eggs benedict. A classic brunch staple but the Canvas version is a notch up from what comes to mind when thinking of a benedict. Their version is bursting with different flavors and textures, all of which balance beautifully. Take out the traditional English muffin and add their enikorn biscuit for a completely different experience.

The hollandaise sauce  is the real star of the show with jalapeño kicking it up a notch. The texture and flavor from the oven dried tomato really seals the deal on this perfectly crafted dish.

 

Kimchi Pancakes

Steven opted for something completely different, their Kimchi pancakes and it was a treat. Kimchi is made in house and had a great flavor. Both Steven and I are huge Korean cuisine fans, Korean without a doubt being one of my favorite cuisines so we were excited to see this fusion on their menu.

I will say we both wished it had a tad bit more acidity to it, as Korean dishes have a great balance of flavors but overall we really enjoyed the dish. Major props though for having something unique on their brunch menu.

One of the biggest surprises for me were their drinks. Brunch just isn’t complete in my mind with a good alcoholic beverage. I mean mimosas and brunch go hand and hand, am I right? Canvas does offer a bottomless mimosa option which is great for all  my mimosa lovers. However, with a delicious sounding drink menu we opted for something different.

Summer Vacation

If you know me you’ll know I’m a sucker for anything with passion fruit in it. It’s almost immediately I’ll gravitate towards anything with passion fruit in it. So when I saw the “summer vacation” I jumped on it. The drink came in glass bottle which the server informed us that they make the drink made in house and then bottled.

The passion fruit is the main star of the drink with subtle hints of pineapple, citrus notes and rum. If you like your drinks STRONG then this isn’t the drink for you. If you’re a wimp like me and like something fruity and sweet then this is the drink for you.

 

Irish Eye-Opener

Steven went with the Irish Eye-Opener and loved it. Of course I had to try it out and I was digging it too. I’m not the biggest fan of coffee drinks (besides actual coffee) but the drink was fantastic. It would be something I order myself. It was rich and sweet, the perfect companion to a delicious brunch.

 

Warm Einkorn Biscuit

Steven and I decided to get a side of their einkorn biscuits, the same biscuit that the benedict uses, and we gobbled that up. The peach jalapeno jam brings a great depth of flavor to the side. The biscuit itself is deliciously buttery.

Final thoughts

Clearly I was a fan of their brunch but on top of that service was stellar. Our server was attentive and took the time to answer any questions we had regarding the menu. She was clearly knowledgeable about their menu. Executive Chef Bryan Thoman came to the tables, ours included, asking how our meals were. Chef Bryan told us that our picks were his favorites from the menu. Steven asked about his dish, which Chef Bryan took the time to explain the components of this dish. It’s clear to see that he has a passion for what he does and his talent and love shines through the incredible dishes served up at Canvas.

If you haven’t been to Canvas, I say it’s worth the trip to try them out. If you’re visiting the area take a drive over and explore a different side of Orlando, you won’t regret it.

Are you a brunch lover like me? What’s your go-to brunch dish? What’s something that makes brunch complete for you? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time,