Marathons and Marché

This past weekend was the annual Country Music Marathon here in Nashville. It was also one of the rainiest days since the May Flood of 2010, or at least it seemed that way to those of us trying to run, walk, or wade through the flash flood waters on Saturday. I did not run the race because I was too busy snuggling under a blanket on my couch, watching it rain and feeling miserable. (I can only imagine the misery of those who did run--congrats to all of you on your determination and endurance!)

I had friends in town who had braved the elements to complete the half-marathon on Saturday. To celebrate their accomplishments and help them explore the city, we decided to brunch on Sunday before they left town. As I have mentioned at least five times before in this space, I love brunch. It's easily my favorite meal of the day.

For this brunching occasion, we ventured outside my usual repertoire and visited Marché in the Five Points area of East Nashville. Although we arrived at 10:30, which I would consider on the earlier side of the brunch hour, we had to wait for nearly 45 minutes to be seated. This proved to not be that problematic, as the staff at Marché allows you to purchase a bottle of bubbly to sip on while you wait! Forget diluting the sparkling wine with OJ for a mimosa, we went straight for the Prosecco. The runners deserved it, and I just needed to support them, right?

Brunch at Marche: Strata, Salad, & Potatoes

Waiting also gave us the opportunity to watch and smell every delectable dish that was brought out of the kitchen. Between the French pastries and the locally sourced bacon and eggs, it was going to be hard to make a decision!

When we sat down at the cozy table, we were ready to make our decisions. Although the five of us crowded around the small table was a little tight, we were just relieved to be sitting. We were able to bring our opened bottle of bubbly to the table with us. Our waiter was great--he had such a fun personality, which is sometimes rare when a restaurant is busy.

To start, we shared a Strawberry and Marscapone Tartine, which was a thick slice of crusty French bread, generously spread with marscapone cheese and topped with fresh berries drizzled in balsamic vinegar. Delicious! (And easily duplicated in your own kitchen.)

Brûléed Grapefruit

I opted for a strata of andouille sausage, onions, peppers, and cheddar cheese. The strata was denser than I expected and the meat and veggies were chopped finely, in order to taste all of it in every bite. I ordered a side of roasted red potatoes to supplement the strata and the side of greens served with each entree, making for a colorful and wonderful meal.

The jewel of everyone else's meal was the brûléed grapefruit. Not being a grapefruit fan, I didn't order any, but I have to admit that the caramelized, sugary coating did make for a beautiful and enticing piece of fruit.

Though the wait was long, it was worth it. The food was fresh, locally sourced, and quite good. Don't try to brunch at Marché  if you are in a rush or need to catch an airplane. But if you have time to slow down, sit, and savor your food, set your sights on Marché. And if the wait gets too long, you can always go to the counter and buy a croissant and a bottle of champagne to tide you over. Talk about an affordable luxury! You'll feel like a little piece of a French bistro has fallen right into the middle of East Nashville.