Nina Manchev is at it again. The chef and owner at Forte, one of the city’s most innovative restaurants, recently rolled out a new breakfast menu. Similar to the schizophrenic evening offerings, the morning menu begins with a quartet of world-traversing breakfast plates: meat-centric Spanish ($12.50); Israeli egg-based shakshuka ($10.50); a traditional British breakfast ($12); and the smoked fish-charged Russian option ($20) which includes a $30 caviar add-on for ballers.
But you don’t have to be geographically limited—you can order à la carte and sample greatness from throughout Europe. Being of Hungarian descent, I was particularly interested in the trio of Magyar dishes, including the palachinka ($6), a breakfast favorite of my late grandmother. Manchev serves a paper-thin crepe swimming in honey and studded with walnuts, not the way Grandma made them but still deliciously comforting. If only all bacon was as good as the thick-cut, smoky Hungarian rendition ($4.50). Best of all is lángos ($8), fried dough reminiscent of funnel cake. The Hungarians got it right when they topped theirs with cheese, a savory riff on the fairground favorite.
On the lighter side, Manchev channels her Bulgarian roots with banitsa ($8), filo dough layered with egg and mild feta. No matter where your “travels” take you, Forte is a most delicious breakfast destination.
Forte Tapas Bar & Bistro 4180 S. Rainbow Blvd., 702-220-3876. Breakfast served Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
