The Coronet has a way with combining simple ingredients for something special.
Take chia pudding, for example. In the summer brunch menu’s Chia and Pink Dragonfruit Bowl ($9.5), the soft chia pudding is subtly sweet and creamy yet light with a touch of vanilla. The vibrant magenta dragonfruit puree, fresh berries, and pineapple (the pictured version above has bananas instead) add bursts of sweetness. Sweet almond clusters adds texture with a pleasant nostalgic flavor reminiscent of Honey Bunches of Oats.
Quality produce is also highlighted in the Heavenly Vegetarian Platter ($14), available for brunch and dinner. Pickled Middle Eastern turnips and pita are served with a trio of dips — sweet potato tahini, beet yogurt, and red pepper walnut. The generous portion and drastically different dips make it perfect for sharing.
On the dinner menu, pomegranates, mint, and sweet corn find their way into several dishes.
Pomegranates lend their juicy sweetness by glazing the Lamb Kofta Meatballs ($8) and the duck breast in the Duck Salad ($23). The Meatballs feature a heartier texture with oat bran with the glaze complementing the cumin, cinnamon, and allspice in the kofta spices. The hefty salad highlights the duck breast on top of Southwinds Farm baby greens, jasmine rice, radishes, and citrus segments with herb vinaigrette.
Additionally, pomegranate arils top this summer’s Bruschetta ($9) alongside pistachios, labneh, and mint and za’atar tapenade on Barrio toast. The contrasting crunch, creaminess, herbaceous freshness, and slight sweetness create an addictive balance that will quickly result in an empty plate.
While the mint takes on a more savory role in the Bruschetta, it takes on a more conventionally refreshing role on the other items. The Watermelon & Mint Salad ($6) dresses the two platonically refreshing ingredients with a simple dressing of lime and salt. In the beverage menu, watermelon goes solo for the Watermelon Juice ($4.5) while mint teams up with hibiscus leaves for the sweeter Jamaica with Mint ($4.5).
Sweet corn is the star in the Sweet Corn and Red Pepper Salad ($5) with zucchini, scallions and honey citrus vinaigrette. The salad also comes as a side with the Summer Dragoon Session Sausage ($19) with purple cabbage slaw and sprout kraut.
The Coronet Burger ($14) features sweet corn mayo, roasted poblano peppers and mushrooms, and melty queso Oaxaca on top of a sous vide-then-grilled prime Angus beef patty with a side of seasoned steak fries. Although the sous vide technique is often reserved for pricier cuts like steaks, it also creates one of the juiciest burgers possible.
Although the summer cocktails feature whimsical names, they’re no less tantalizing. The lorem ipsum ($9, and yes, it’s called the lorem ipsum) is essentially a gin mule, utilizing Broker’s Gin and St. Germain with the refreshing combo of Fever-Tree ginger beer and mint.
For a bolder cocktail, order The Demons Out! Whiskey In! ($11). Four Roses Bourbon, Cynar, Ancho Reyes, Angostura bitters create a bittersweet and piquant complexity with artichokes and ancho chile flavor.
Le Pew ($12) features one of the more refreshing and harder-to-find liqueurs, Chareau California Aloe Liqueur, with Champagne. While the Chareau obviously features aloe, notes of cucumber, lemon peel, eau de vie, muskmelon, and spearmint create a fascinating sip.
Lastly, the Coronet currently features an Iron John’s Brewing Company collaboration every Thursday. Each event will include a new Iron John brew and dinner special that complements the beer. Brewer John Adkisson will be on site as well to answer questions and demonstrate pouring etiquette.
The Coronet is located at 402 E. 9th St. and can be reached at (520) 222-9889. For more information, visit cafecoronet.com.
