The catch of the day: Catch31

By Judy Cowling

Restaurant critic

Breakfast is my favorite meal. Breakfast with company and in a restaurant is a treat. But the breakfast buffet at Catch 31 at The Hilton in Virginia Beach qualifies as a minivacation destination that doesn't require airfare or packing.

From the moment we entered the revolving front door, we were transported to a swanky resort and the world was our oyster, even though we were just going to breakfast. We sauntered up to the reservation desk and said that we would like the buffet and to dine on the veranda thankyouverymuch.

Since it was a gorgeous Sunday morning, the outside was busy and we had to wait for a table. In the meantime, the very amiable hotel service manager stepped behind the bar and whipped up two of the best Bloody Marys ever ($8). Short glasses, filled with vodka and spicy tomato juice, were rimmed with lemon pepper and a wedge of lemon. After just a sip, we were led out through two giant glass doors onto the covered porch decorated with potted palms and plants. There are a few well-placed heaters meant for stretching the outdoor dining season as long as possible.

We were seated side by side and could enjoy the Boardwalk's ever-changing scenery of joggers and strollers, bikers and dog walkers. Since we were both getting the buffet ($13.95), we were told we could start whenever we were ready. Since we were in vacation mode, we were in no hurry.

The restaurant serves Starbucks coffee and they brought a thermal carafe to the table along with my personal pitcher of cream and various sugars. My friend's cappuccino ($3.95) arrived frothy, hot and aromatic.

Finally we meandered up to the buffet and were very pleased at the wide variety of offerings and delicious smells. You can start wherever you like, the beginning, the middle or the end; there's no cattle line to move through.

I started with the homemade buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy for dipping. Then I went for the tender smoked salmon served with diced tomatoes, cottage cheese, sliced onions and chopped eggs. I slid a few slices of gourmet cheese on my plate - they offer a very attractive display of sliced gouda, cheddar, blue and brie along with these amazing lavash crackers. Lavash is a type of bread of Armenian origin that resembles a large soft tortilla that hardens quickly and becomes brittle like a cracker.

I spooned a heaping helping of fluffy scrambled eggs, a few pieces of bacon, a link of sausage, and some savory breakfast potatoes onto my plate. At this point, my plate was full and hey... you can go back as much as you wish.

After tasting a little of everything - delish - I went back to sample the rest. The grits were nothing special. The oatmeal and the house-made almond granola were served with various toppings like blueberries, golden raisins, dried cherries, and rhubarb sauce. A three- tiered serving tray displayed ripe slices of pineapple, honeydew melon and cantaloupe and assorted pastries, bagels and toast.

The carrot ginger muffins satisfied my sweet tooth as the dessert finish to a memorable meal.

We enjoyed another cup of coffee, paid our bill and decided we weren't ready for the vacation to be over. So we walked outside and rocked our cares away in the oceanfront rocking chairs available to guests of the hotel.

Judy Cowling, flavor@pilotonline.com