Knife optional.
I first became acquainted with the Fremont Diner’s smoked black pepper brisket when I ordered their breakfast hash a few weeks ago. That particular plate of hash was just heavenly and it’s definitely in the running for the best breakfast in the Napa Valley, although I’m not ready to bestow any lofty titles just yet. I have many more breakfasts to consider in the meantime, and I’ll delve into the specific greatness of the Fremont Diner’s brisket hash when the time is right. For now, I submit the lunch version of their smoked black pepper brisket, which is pictured above with a bowl of cheese grits and a bullet of shaved and pickled fennel. The brisket is fork tender, pungently smokey, and peppery enough to live up to its name. To my tastes, this lunch plate doesn’t have the star power of the breakfast hash, however, but it’s still worth considering, especially if you’ve slept through the 11am cut-off for the breakfast menu.
