By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Sep 23, 2015 at 11:04 AM

Welcome to OnMeowaukee Cat Week, a meowsome bunch of articles, photos, videos and an Instagram contest celebrating all aspects of Milwaukee cats. Sponsored by Bark N' Scratch Outpost, these seven days are dedicated to those creatures with nine lives who make our lives more paw-sitive.

If you ask me, there are very few things more purr-fect than a lazy weekend brunch. After all, what's better than stretching out with a cup of coffee and a bloody Mary and enjoying a couple of hours of rest, respite and some of the best breakfast foods in town?

Here are six pawsome brunch dishes to try next time you're in the mood for brunch.

1. Engine Company No. 3 Turtle French Toast

I’m meowstly a savory gal. But, when I’m craving something sweet, it’s time to head over to Engine Company No. 3. Make every mewment of brunch sweet as can be with the Turtle French Toast. This clawsome dish features chocolate battered brioche with nuts, caramel and chocolate.

Photo: Joe Laedtke

Turtle French Toast ($9): Cocoa battered Troubadour brioche, spiced nuts, caramel,  chocolate and Wisconsin maple syrup.

2. Goodkind Breakfast Poutine

If you’re feline like poutine for brunch, Goodkind has the best around. There’s plenty of sausage gravy, along with goat cheese curds and a runny fried egg. I loved this one so much, I made my own copycat dish at home – imitation being the sincerest form of cattery.

Photo: Goodkind

Breakfast poutine ($13): pork sausage gravy, goat cheese curds, arugula, French fries and fried egg.

3. Story Hill BKC Crepes

I’m not kitten when I say you can never go wrong with the ham and cheese-ridden Crêpe Monsieur. The mustardy dijonnaise is a divine touch and the chopped pickles perk everything up and add just the right pop. Mew-sic to your taste buds.

Photo: Story Hill BKC/Facebook

Crêpe Monsieur ($11): Hickory smoked ham, Saxony Alpine cheese, house-made pickles, dijonnaise and poached eggs.

4. Bass Bay Brewhouse Chicken and Egg

This purr-fect dish starts with a tender buttermilk biscuit that’s been grilled until crisp on one side. Then you add a crispy hand-breaded and fried chicken breast, a layer of sausage gravy and a fried egg. Add a serving of some of pawsitively the best cheesy hash brown casserole you’ve ever had, and it’s really all you need on a Sunday morning, except maybe a nice cup of coffee and a lake view.

Chicken and ggg ($11): Hand-breaded chicken breast, fried egg, buttermilk biscuit, sausage gravy and cheesy hash brown casserole.

5. Wolf Peach brunch pizza

You really knead to try pizza for brunch sometime. And look no further than Wolf Peach for some of the best The crust on this amazing wood-fired pizza – alone – is enough to make you want to get up in the morning. But, when you add a runny poached egg, you’ll have me purring in your lap.

Photo: Wolf Peach

Slow poached egg pizza ($13): Poached egg, seasonal vegetable, guanciale, parmesan, basil and garlic.

6. Blue’s Egg Dubliner Benedict

I’ve always been a fan of classic eggs benedict. But, when you take meowt to Blue’s Egg, I’m inclined to get my Irish on with the Dubliner – which is chock-full of pulled corned beef, sweet creamy leeks and a meow-tastic paprika aïoli. Add that runny poached egg, and it’s the perfect dish for a lazy Caturday.
Photo: Blue's Egg

Dubliner Benedict ($11.95): Poached eggs, corned beef, creamy leeks, rye toast and paprika aïoli.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.