Ramos House, for me, defines whimsical, cozy charm. I love it so much that if Reggie and I could have gotten married there, I would have. My family did have my bridal shower there, which was definitely a highlight of the wedding events.

Built in 1881, Ramos House is located in the Los Rios Historical District of San Juan Capistrano on the oldest residential street in California. The owner lives in the house (which also houses a commerical kitchen) and his constant presence is part of its charm. My initial impression of him is that of a no-nonsense foodie who cares about the details–the things that make people happy. You are always greeted like an old friend. Plush blankets are available to keep you warm on chilly days. During my bridal shower, he opened the windows to the residential part of the house and played my favorite type of music. Did I mention that the food is exquisite? Because it is, truly.

It also happens to be located right next to a train station…I know, I am in love too.

Checking out the menu, which changes seasonally. Really simple concept-you choose two courses and a beverage. More on that later…

Complimentary amuse bouche-I believe it was toasted pound cake with homemade cinnamon hazelnut butter and fresh banana.

The heart next to the amuse was quite serendipitous—and describes my feeling perfectly when it comes to this tasty bite.

An array of brunch beverages. The white mug on the left is an Adult Coffee (Espresso, Baileys, Homemade Whip Cream). A pomegranate mimosa sits on the right and up front is a Grapefruit Fizz ( a sassy grapefruit mimosa with huckleberries and grapefruit sorbet). Get the Fizz, trust me.

Cinnamon-Apple Beignets. Not a traditional beignet but these are INCREDIBLE. They are surprisingly light with the perfect amount of doughiness.

Since I ordered the beignets, Reggie ordered the Strawberry Pound Cake. It was buttery and, for lack of a better word, moist. (Side note: I really hate the word moist.) But it really was. The strawberries were in a light vanilla cream sauce that added the perfect amount of sweetness. Come to think of it, we pretty much had dessert before our meals. I heart brunch!

My family and I each ordered an entree that we all wanted to try so we could try several different dishes. The menu had changed since the last time we visited and we are a sharing family, what can I say?

Corn Bread Pain Perdu with Huckleberry Sauce, Homemade Lemon Curd, and Fresh Whipped Cream. Rich and delicious.

Spring Vegetable Scramble with Mushroom Risotto Cakes. This dish was probably my favorite entree. The asparagus was so fresh and the eggs were cooked perfectly with a hint of creaminess (marscapone?!) that set it over the top.

Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Vegetables. In addition to the flavorful vegetables, there was some definite truffle butter action here and I was loving every minute of it. Keep in mind that I am a child that spent the majority of her youth eating nothing but macaroni and cheese (I was an incredibly picky eater as a child) and now spends the majority of her adult life eating the same, slightly fancier version (I just really like mac and cheese, okay?). This just might be my favorite.

Almost every dish is served with a homemade buttermilk biscuit and cinnamon apple butter. The biscuit was perfectly flakey and rich without being too dense. I wish I could eat one of these every morning. Who is with me?

My father provided the entertainment. Love this shot of him mid-story.

And just because he is so cute, I had to include a picture of my husband. ❤

It was the perfect Sunday brunch with my family, minus my beautiful sister Molli who goes to college in Colorado. I can’t wait to take her when she returns home for a leisurely Sunday Brunch at my favorite spot.

Have a beautiful day everyone!

xo,

Jenna

“One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.”

-Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story