Sure we love our celebs in this town, but there are several other reasons to dine at Studio City’s Girasol other than catching a glimpse of the 6’ 8” chef, CJ Jacobson, of “Top Chef” fame.  For starters, there are his handmade Pain Au Chocolate Croissants.  Here are five other items you should order from Girasol’s brunch menu.  Yes, yes, we know hotspot, Aroma Coffee & Tea, is around the corner, but do they have Prickly Pear Mint Mimosas?  Nope, didn’t think so. 

1. GRILLED OCTOPUS GAZPACHO

You don’t see gazpacho on every brunch menu, and you certainly don’t see it served with discs of charred octopus and sprigs of edible cilantro blossoms.  Slightly smoky balanced with a bracing tomatillo base; this cooling soup makes you rethink brunch boundaries.

2.     STRAWBERRY RICOTTA CREPES

Crepes are already underrepresented on LA brunch menus, but this ricotta-stuffed rendition is flecked with fresh mint, setting it apart from every other version in the Valley.  Arriving in a vibrant lake of strawberry coulis, the crepes are finished with a medley of fresh strawberries. 

3.     MAINE LOBSTER BENEDICT

There are lobster benedicts, and then there are Jacobson’s lobster benedicts.  You’ll want the latter—thick slabs of toasted bread slathered in lobster butter, topped with runny poached eggs and whooping heaps of Maine lobster meat, doused in lobster hollandaise. 

4.     CHICKEN APPLE SAUSAGE WITH POACHED EGGS

Two words:  house made.  Jacobson’s chicken sausage patties are touched with minced apple and slightly seared, then served over an autumnal array of shell beans. Maybe it’s just us, but there’s something about breaking the egg yolk all over the dish that gets us really excited. 

5.     PRICKLY PEAR FRUIT AND MINT MIMOSA

Let’s start with the bad news.  You’re going to want to drink at least five of these so you might as well figure out which one of your brunch guests is going to be the designated driver.  Got it?  Okay, now start imbibing on this sweet-meets-tart concoction, speckled with vibrant mint. 

Girasol, 11334 Moorpark St  Los Angeles, CA 91604. (818) 924-2323.  Brunch, Sat-Sun 10 am – 2 pm.