On a recent TV segment on KPRC with anchor Courtney Zavala, I featured some of Houston’s best brunch bets. I say some … there are plenty of awesome choices. One of my favorite brunch spots is Backstreet Café and their Braised Short Rib with Butternut Squash Hash is one of the dishes I took on the show. I have the recipe on Goodtaste.tv. Also shared on the broadcast was one of my all time favorite recipes for French toast – a staple on most brunch menus.
This particular version, a buttery delight filled with orange cream, comes from a charming bed and breakfast in the rolling Sonoma Hills called the Inn at Occidental. Since posting their recipe on my website, I’ve heard from so many of you who agree – it’s your favorite French toast recipe too.
All wonderful dishes start with great ingredients, and this one is no different. There’s a secret ingredient in my version that really gives this creamy, citrusy dish an added zest. I use Tony Masraff’s homemade orange marmalade as the base of the sauce. Masraff’s restaurant on Post Oak Boulevard sells the jars of jam to customers in the know. Plus, the profits from the tangy delight go to prostate cancer research. Next time you’re there, ask your server.
If you’re really lucky, you’ll get to meet Tony Masraff. He’s one of the most charming, delightful and fascinating men I know … the white-haired fox is a real character! In the short time I’ve known him, he’s spent weeks in Zambia and earlier this year he was exploring India … those are just the trips I’ve heard about. I’m sure there are more. Check out the photo I saw on the wall at Royers Café in Round Top … this guy gets around!
In addition to being an excellent cook (his baklava rocks!), he’s also a survivor of prostate cancer and aggressively raises money to find a cure for the disease. His annual Swing with the Legends Charity Golf Series at the Redstone Golf Club is April 23. More on that in a minute.
At one of Masraff’s wine dinners Tony shared his personal story … his encounter with the disease, his decision to go against his doctor’s advice and not have surgery. He also told me how he strategically insured that the monies he raises go to research and not some line item on some hospital’s balance sheet. I was impressed.
If you or someone you know is a golfer, rest assured your good time at the tourney will raise money for a very good cause. The statistics below are sobering. For more information about Tony’s Prostate Cancer Research as well as the Swing With the Legends Charity Golf Series please visit tprc.org. I hope to see you there!
A bit more about the prostate cancer:
- It’s the leading cause of death in men, but only five percent of federal research dollars are allocated to it.
- One out of every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime.
- There are over 250,000 new cases estimated each year.
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