Wilmington, North Carolina
Sometimes being a local foodie has its perks.
On a Friday morning I walked into Eternal Sunshine Café right at 8am, and owner Michael Pellegrino greeted me at the door with a line I didn’t expect: “I was just about to text you.” He had a new dish he’d been working on. “If you let me do it, I will cook it for you right now.”
Knowing Michael’s history as a creative and talented chef, I said yes without hesitation.
The Dish
On a long rectangular plate, Michael arranged two things: slices of maple braised pork belly and slices of French toast. What followed was one of the more memorable breakfast plates I’ve had in Wilmington.
The pork belly came in small slices — two or three bites each — glazed with maple that somehow managed to walk the line between sweet and savory without falling to either side. I’m not typically a fan of sweet flavors at breakfast. This glaze changed my mind. The balance was exceptional.
Alongside the pork belly sat a bourbon-poached sliced apple that I initially dismissed as a garnish. That was a mistake. When I sliced into it and ate it with the pork belly, the bourbon offset the apple’s natural sweetness just enough to create a harmony with the glaze that elevated everything on the plate. Absolutely fantastic.
The French toast came in thick slices, roughly pancake-sized, served with a ricotta cheese mixture containing both fresh and dried blueberries. The ricotta added richness without heaviness — it complemented rather than overwhelmed. Scattered around the plate were small smoked gouda frittatas, which were tasty but played more of a supporting role against the bolder flavors of the pork belly and French toast.
The Rest of the Meal
I rounded out the meal with locally sourced sausage and fruit — the fruit especially welcome, since I like plenty of it alongside French toast. A cup of green tea with honey completed things nicely.
Michael came out to check on the experience — and to talk through the pricing, which is the kind of thing a chef-owner does when they’re still workshopping something new. That conversation was half the charm of the morning.
The Verdict
The dish is on the menu now, and it should be. Maple braised pork belly with bourbon-poached apple and ricotta blueberry French toast is the kind of breakfast that rewards you for showing up at 8am. In Wilmington, Eternal Sunshine Café is the kind of place worth showing up for.
The Menu
Eternal Sunshine Café — Wilmington, NC Chef/Owner: Michael Pellegrino Cuisine: Brunch / American Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
