There are diner people, and people that aren’t all that comfortable in a diner. With the introduction of the nearly ubiquitous brunch, breakfast can be had in both kinds of places.
My wife is definitely in the latter category, and breakfast isn’t really her thing anyway. But sometimes it really hits the spot for her, but only in a classy place. That’s how brunch at Oxlot 9 in her “adorable downtown Covington” has become nearly as predictable as me singing at Mass each Sunday.
Yesterday we met a couple who have had enormous impact on our lives. Dan Scott and his wife Kathy are delightful fun, but it was Dan who first approached us nearly twenty years ago with the idea of cruising with the radio show listeners. We didn’t get it right at first. Dan thought, “gourmet”, and went very upscale - maybe even Seabourn. It’s a good thing that didn’t sell because MA doesn’t have the clothes for Seabourn.
A year or two later, he came back with the inaugural cruise on the Carnival Conquest from New Orleans, and a beautiful new era in the Fitzmorris family began. MA is definitely not a cruise person, but our family has now done 30, our children have seen the world, and we have met countless wonderful people, many of whom are now personal friends. That chapter has closed as well, but the Scotts remain one of our favorite take-aways from this marvelous era. And we will forever be grateful to them for their fantastic idea.
They are no longer in the travel business, but still travel. Mostly to France. Mary Ann never tires of traveling, or talking about it, so she couldn’t wait to hear about their latest excursion over there. The Scotts Airbnb it at the very highest end of the spectrum, actually experiencing what it’s like to live as a rich person in Europe. At night they are bohemes, hanging in this or that Quarter in the clubs with the locals till all hours. Mary Ann relishes every word of their account. For me, they are just kicks.
We have eaten our way around this menu more than a few times, so MA has settled in on a basic breakfast, cobbled together of sides. She counts this biscuit a favorite anywhere. As a cut biscuit person, she loves the height of it and the texture inside, as well as the crusty hardness of the outside. With one sunny yard egg and a small pile of bacon, she was most satisfied.
The fried Brussels sprouts here are served with crispy fried oysters, and garnished with pickled purple onions. Someone always gets this very ample bowl of food, and they too, are most satisfied. Dan wanted the crab cake Benedict, but it is now a fried green tomato Benedict until crabmeat leaves the Stratosphere. He went for it anyway and also liked it. I got the New Potato Hash with corned beef and two poached eggs topped with Hollandaise. We have had nothing here we didn’t love.
And as always, we started with beignets, finishing the leftovers as dessert. Mary Ann got green tea, Kathy a mimosa, and Dan and I shared a large pot of French press coffee. I am not a fan of this type of coffee, but in the smaller pots here I have almost enjoyed it. Not so much this time.
What remains consistently delightful here is the old-timey washboard band, complete with costumes. MA finds this annoying, always opting for good conversation instead. A background trio, no matter how subtle, makes this harder.
Oxlot 9 at the Southern Hotel
428 E Boston St Covington
985-400-5663
Tu-Sat 5-10
Sunday 10-2
oxlot9.com
