Atlantic City Weekly

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For thousands of men and women in America, including myself, Sunday is football day. We, the wage earners, relax and watch grown men chase a ball up and down a field all day while knocking the living crap out of each other. God bless America.

Those who watch the game know that football and food go hand-in-hand, so allow me to suggest a local pre-game option that doesn't include a chili-soaked hot dog being passed down five sets of grubby hands before you eat it at a tailgate party.

Try the Sunday Brunch at the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield (10am-2pm; for reservations call 236-4465). For $24.95 you can enjoy a breakfast buffet and no matter how many times McNabb gets sacked, the brunch offers everyone (even Eagles fans) a win-win situation.

The Atlantic City Country Club is about a 20-minute drive from Atlantic City. Aside from golf, of course, the club offers a breathtaking landscape and elegant and spacious dinning rooms designed for both beauty and comfort. As I walked in recently, I kept waiting for Robin Leach's annoying voice to chime in and tell me I couldn't afford it. The décor and splendor of the place is enchanting.

Food-wise, the country club chefs and staff prepare a Sunday brunch buffet that is sure to provide something that your taste buds will thank you for. There is everything from omelets (or any kind of eggs made to order), sausage, bacon, fried potatoes and big Belgian waffles to fresh fruit, bagels, house smoked salmon cereal and a carving station.

What makes brunch at The Atlantic City Country Club a championship trifecta is the unique music offered.

Alyce Parker, the public relations director at Harrah's Atlantic City (which owns the Atlantic City Country Club), made the call to bring young, talented and ready-for-brunch-time musicians to the club on Sundays. "I saw the brunch as a great way to bring in high school and college musicians," said Parker.

During my recent visit, a trio of musicians from the Charter Tech High in Somers Point performed under the direction of musician and instructor Lew London. London played guitar, Justin Hoffman (17) played piano and Sandy Eldred (17) played the upright bass. The music added a flavor to the brunch that had me grinning from ear to ear. There were also two vocalists from Charter Tech that day, both of whom are students of vocal teacher Terri Showers. Hallie Moyer (17) showed off her singing talents, delivering a stirring set of standards including "At Last" and (one of my favorites from Lena Horne) "Stormy Weather." Bringing a Nat King Cole smooth vocal style to the day was Kerry Showers Jr. (16). All of the students brought their musical A-game to the country club and earned MVP status for complementing a great brunch experience.

I give Alyce Parker and Harrah's credit for this opportunity for hard-working and music loving students in the area. If you have a musical group at your high school or college that can play upbeat but stylish music, call Parker at 343-2738 about playing at an upcoming brunch.

I highly recommend this Sunday Brunch at the Atlantic City Country Club for anyone who wants to enjoy great food, atmosphere and music. You will like the brunch even if you don't normally watch sports on Sunday. However, as I pulled out of the club's driveway onto Shore Road, well fed and musically pleased, I started singing to myself: "Now who's ready for some football?!"

Raymond Tyler hosts Let's Talk About It on Fridays from 7-8pm on WOND 1400AM and Alternative Soul Fridays from 10am-noon on WLFR 91.7FM.