On April 16th, we celebrate National Eggs Benedict Day, a delightful and somewhat obscure holiday that pays homage to the classic American breakfast dish. Eggs Benedict is a savory combination of a toasted English muffin, topped with Canadian bacon or ham, a perfectly poached egg, and a luxurious Hollandaise sauce.
The origins of this holiday are as mysterious as the dish itself. Some say it was created by a hungover Wall Street broker named Lemuel Benedict in 1894 at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City. Others claim it was invented by Chef Charles Ranhofer, who included a recipe for "Eggs à la Benedick" in his 1894 cookbook, "The Epicurean."
To celebrate National Eggs Benedict Day, restaurants across the United States offer special deals and unique variations of the dish. Some create vegetarian-friendly options with spinach or avocado, while others go all out with lobster or crab. Home cooks can also join in the festivities by attempting to create their own Eggs Benedict masterpieces.
The key to a perfect Eggs Benedict lies in the Hollandaise sauce, a delicate emulsion of egg yolks, butter, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper. Mastering this sauce is a rite of passage for any aspiring chef or dedicated home cook.
So, on this April 16th, gather your friends and family, and raise a fork to National Eggs Benedict Day. Enjoy the rich, velvety sauce, the runny yolk of the poached egg, and the satisfying crunch of the English muffin. Just be sure to have a nap scheduled afterward – this indulgent breakfast is known to induce a delightful food coma!
2025-04-16T09:51:32.250Z