100 Favorite Dishes: Gold Miner's Breakfast at River and Woods

No. 51: Gold Miner's Breakfast at River and Woods
On an intricate brunch menu full of all sorts of breakfast delicacies, the basic eggs, bacon and toast are often overlooked. Don't let this happen if you're dining at that new Boulder hot spot, River and Woods. The Gold Miner's Breakfast is a hefty plate laden with the usual suspects — but they're unusually good.

To start with, chef and partner Daniel Asher doesn't use regular chicken eggs: He goes for duck eggs from Wisdom Farm, and scrambles them with fresh herbs. The result is a fresh-tasting, rich and filling protein perfect for eating alone or with any of the other items gracing the dish. Thick-cut Tender Belly bacon, for example, the smoke and melting fat reminding you what bacon can and should taste like. Asher has also nailed roasted potatoes, a satisfying starch that's creamy on the inside and wonderfully crispy and salty on the outside. Owner Josh Dinar says that the restaurant has experimented with many kinds of spuds, and on a recent visit we found they were using red potatoes from Albert Bartlett — a winning tater. Then there's grain-filled toast made from a Grateful Bread loaf; it's lovely on its own, even better with a side of local peach-jalapeno jam and marscapone. Swirl the two together on each slice, and then get ready to order another round of bread just so you can finish every last tidbit of the sweet, spicy and creamy concoction.

Pair your Gold Miner's Breakfast with a cup of strong Boulder Organic Coffee or the Macho Gazpacho, a version of the Bloody Mary that utilizes the restaurant's barbato tomato gazpacho. While the weather still holds, you should enjoy this feast at one of the rustic wooden tables outside, among the trees and in the fresh Boulder air — which, as it turns out, is as revitalizing an element of brunch as the breakfast itself.

Hungry for more? All of the dishes in our 2016 countdown are linked below.
No. 100: Masala Beef at Biju's Little Curry Shop
No. 99: Bacon Shrimp and Grits at Bacon Social House
No. 98: Porchetta and Kimchi Sandwich at Brider
No. 97: Squab-and-Sunchoke Tortellini at Abejas
No. 96: Housemade Burrata at Viand
No. 95: Schweinshaxe at Rhein Haus
No. 94 Kimchi Jeon at Seoul BBQ
No. 93: Zuppa Pomodoro at Parisi Italian Market & Deli
No. 92: The Ocean Salad at Sushi-Rama
No. 91: The Signature Bowl from Churn & Burn
No. 90: Green Chorizo at Los Compadres
No. 89: The Diavola Calzone at Pino's Neighborhood Pizzeria
No. 88: Biscuits and Green Chile at the Noshery
No. 87: Chirashi at Izu Sushi
No. 86: Brisket and Ribs at GQue Championship BBQ
No. 85: The Tornado at the Chowder Room
No. 84: Korean Fried Chicken Wings at Yong Gung
No. 83: A Meatball Hero at Lil' Ricci's New York Pizzeria
No. 82: Shakshuka at Stowaway Coffee + Kitchen
No. 81: Late-Night Ramen at Brazen
No. 80: Potato Tacos at El Tejado
No. 79: Corned Beef Heart at theWay Back
No. 78: The Fried Bologna Sandwich at Snarfburger
No. 77: Sweet Corn Mezzaluna at Bar Dough
No. 76: Duck Confit at Table 6
No. 75: Croque Monsieur at Fire
No. 74: Tahini Cookies at the Preservery
No. 73: The Alferd Packer Salad at MAD Greens
No. 72: The Tuna Poke Bowl at Ohana Island Kitchen
No. 71: Mini Chile Rellenos at La Loma
No. 70: The Combination Banh Mi at Vinh Xuong Bakery
No. 69: The Falafel Waffle at Moxie Eatery
No. 68: Korean Fried Duck Wings at Chow Urban Grill
No. 67:  Spaghetti Alla Carbonara at Spatola
No. 66: The Classic Burger from Skirted Heifer
No. 65: The Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado at Poppies
No. 64: Super Pass Key Special at Pass Key
No. 63: How the West Was Won at Dozens Restaurant
No. 62: Manzo With Polenta at Spuntino
No. 61: P & S Snack Mix at the Pig & the Sprout
No. 59-60: Sloppers at Gray's Coors Tavern and Diego's
No. 58: Potstickers at Zoe Ma Ma
No. 57: Griddle Cooked Bullfrog at Yum Yum Spice
No. 56: Macaroni and Cheese at Work & Class
No. 55: Lobster, Egg and Caviar Bruschetta at Bar Fausto
No. 54: Orecchiette at Coperta
No. 53: Cheese Steak at Steuben's Food Service
No. 52: PB&B Acai Bowl at ProsperOats