I am an unapologetic brunch fan, even though it is a near-disaster of a meal to go out for in Boston – in the winter time, you have to leave the luscious cocoon of goose-down warmth to brave the elements, wait 45 minutes to be seated nose-to-elbow with the table next to you, and pay an enormous mark-up for what is essentially fancy eggs or bread.

It should be the most reviled of all meals for its expense and aggravation, but it does have its positive attributes, namely that it has made public dining before bathing and pre-noon cocktails not only socially acceptable, but essentially requisite. Not only that, but only at brunch would battered and pan-fried toast slathered with Nutella and dotted with candied pecans be considered a meal and not dessert. It’s brilliant.

Culinary prowess aside, Iceland is a pretty spectacular country to visit.

I’ve been doing a bit of globe-trotting recently and thought that I would mention a few of the culinary highlights and lowlights here on Besotted.

I recently went to Iceland for a long weekend, and, while my expectations for the trip itself were high, my expectations for the cuisine were fairly moderate. Imagine my surprise to find that Reykjavik’s tiny town-center boasts a string of noteworthy restaurants that masterfully capitalize on the local fare.

I am forever preaching the importance of eating locally, seasonally, and according to a region’s or restaurant’s best ability – it is probably the most no-fail prescription for good eating. However, this directive is a bit more difficult to oblige when you find yourself in a strange land and facing the choice of eating an American hamburger (at a restaurant called American Style, no less) or deciphering a menu filled with local flavors and questionable translations, as I did in Iceland.

It’s a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself.

Lester Burnham said this in American Beauty with a boyish grin on his face, and the reason for his revelry is that we are so rarely surprised. Pleased? Yes. Delighted? Sometimes. But, surprised? It’s a rare treasure.

Now, it’s not going to come as a surprise that these ruminations will somehow find themselves related to gastronomy. However, what may surprise you, dear reader, and certainly surprised me, is that this post – on being surprised and delighted by a new culinary find – has its source in a dinner dining experience that cost a total of $17 for two people (including tax and tip)!