Tinto's - Fulham, London

411 Fulham Palace Road
London, SW6 6SX
Website
How to Get There
Nearest Tube: Putney Bridge

So this is a sneaky entry before I leave for my holiday to Austria and South Africa...finally African entries inbound!

Fresh off the boat from South Africa, I landed in Fulham and found myself living there for 6 very happy years with my dear friend Tams. Tams and I have many things in common not least of which is a shared love of coffee and lazy Sunday's at home.

Almost on day one of moving in, I met one of my nicest neighbours...Tinto's.

Tinto's is a tiny, crazy little coffee place owned by a Colombian called Paul. Paul fills Tinto's with amazing Spanish and Colombian Staff who, if like me you are as much of a fixture as the papier mache deer head on the wall, will become firm friends within 3 visits.

Tinto's is to coffee what Cheers was to beer. Everyone in there knows your name and what you want without you even asking. Provided of course you've been there before...they aren't psychic (yet).

The coffee is amazing - let's face it who knows coffee better than Colombians? As by now you might have gathered I have a weird fixation with weak sweet coffee and so I always go for a single shot - two shots is guaranteed to put hair on your chest and quite possibly even your upper lip. They do all the usual great coffee options including iced ones for Summer and as Tinto's is located deep in Nappy Valley they also do BabyChino's to keep the Fulham Yummy Mummies happy.

Food wise, it's more sandwichy than hot plates but they do delicious bagels (my favourite is the egg mayo), toasties, quiche, muffins and bagettes. Iain swears but the Breakie Bagette. All guaranteed to fix hangovers.

So for 6 plus years I was in Tinto's a minimum of 5 times a week. Sometimes in my pajamas to pick up a desperate coffee fixer. Sometimes to meet friends for breakfast or coffee and cake. No matter what time of day It is always warm, friendly and full of happy people, dogs, laptops, kids and laughter.

Dropping in there today was like visiting and old dear friend that I miss loads. Do yourself a favour next time you are near the Thames in Fulham and pop in. Paul might even draw a heart on your cup for you.

...Oh and even after and 8 week absence they still remembered my order :0)

Ticking Tricking and Trucking in Shoreditch

Where we went...
Albion at Boundary
2-4 Boundary Road
Shoreditch
E2 7DD
Albion Website
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Road Website
Sunday Shoots
Sunday Shoots Website
The Hoxton Hotel & Grill
The Hoxton Website
Nearest Tubes: Old Street, Liverpool


 Waking to another amazing London blue sky day, it was time to dig out the passport and head East.

Like the three Mustgetbeers, Melissa joined Barbara Squared in Shoreditch for a day of London Rambling. We kicked off our day at the Albion, one of the restuarants in the Boundary - a converted Victorian Warehouse. It's a really interesting development including several restaurants and bars plus a roof terrace which we will most definitely go back to in Summer.


Truth be told, the breakfast at the Albion was pretty average with a small selection of predictables, although the place itself is a trendy, pretty cozy deli style establishment.

Despite being accused of eating 'either Tick, Trick or Truck' (translation from Austrian - Huey, Lewey or Dewey to you or I) by a horrified Barbara P, I pressed on and tried the only vaguely adventurous thing on the menu - Duck Eggs on Toast. Tasted like plain old chickeny ones to me. But then I am a bit of a gourmet heathen. Melissa tried the breakfast sandwich and Barbara had the poached eggs and bacon. Both pretty standard stuff.

So in general, breakfast available to 12h30 - tick. BUT, No Eggs Benedict - Boo. No chefs specials or anything unusual double boo and a bit over priced to boot so sadly this is the first of my Room 101 flushes.

The rest of the day, however, was far more successful. From the Boundary, we wandered along to the Columbia Road Flower Market. Brilliant! We walked straight into an East End Christmas Tree Trader shitfight. I was offered so many deals I wondered if I had inadvertently stumbled into little Colombia by mistake. If you haven't been, I really recommend a trip on a Sunday. In addition to tons of flowers and plants, the local shops are fab - lots of quirky galleries, hole in the wall bacon butty stalls and fantabulous boutiques.

A word of caution though - at Christmas time it's not for the faint hearted. My quote of the day 'Watch your back love you might end up with a tree up your arse' yelled by a man narrowly missing me as he charged up Columbia Road with a Christmas Tree.

Retrospectively, we should have just had a bacon butty there or stopped at one of the little cafes lining the road or hidden inside the galleries. Ah well you live and learn.

We also discovered a brilliant playroom for the slightly narcissistic. It's the studio of Seamus Ryan, just off Columbia Road. Every Sunday, he invites members of the public to come in and take part in his 'Sunday Shoots' project. After having damn near broken his Slipstream Glamour Photo Booth, complete with wind machine and beauty lighting no less, we braved Seamus and his camera. The Jury's out till tomorrow but at least we didn't break his camera...

Once we'd worn out our welcome taking our own pictures, we headed back to Old Street and as clouds had come over and the temperature suddenly plummeted, we treated ourselves to an open fire, coffee and dessert at the Hoxton Hotel. I had a cheeky peek at the Hoxton Grill's breakfast menu and with things like bolied egg and soldiers, the ubiquitous Monsieur's Benedict, Florentine and Royale, quite honestly you could do worse than to stop off there on your way to Columbia Road...

A Spilloige Breakfast Special

Special Guest Author: Matthew Spiller (Spilloige, Signagezz, Maffew)

So how do I begin to describe Matt? I don't think my writing skills can do justice to one of the funniest, most talented, nicest, grubbiest, most genuine people I know.Oh and did I mention just a little bit mental? During my time on the road with the Red Bull Air Race, Matt was one of the founding fathers with me of the now infamous FOH team and on those ridiculous days when all else was failing, his sense of humour and ridiculous grin never did. He can also proudly claim evicting a chicken from site (amongst other stellar achievements).

Maffew's Top Tips

Ok Bazza, here goes....the magical morning grub up a la Spilloige would go a little something like this...

Home
On a warm weekend morning it would be two pieces of toasted sourdough, vegemite/marmite spread finly on the toast, half avocado mushed and spread, sliced cherry tomatoes, rock salt and a touch of lemon juice...yummo

Cooking for Friends
This was a favourite at the caff, named the Bristolian* it had a loyal following...

Toasted buttered bagel, two poached eggs, wilted spinach, roasted tomatoes and artichokes. Mushrooms baked with garlic and thyme. Home made hollandaise sauce tops it off, nice.

Out (Sydney and Wellington) 
Fundamental Fresh Food 266 Darling Street, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia

How To Get There
Cafe Berlin
249 Darling St, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia
How To Get There

The Little Marionette
1A Booth Street, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia
How To Get There
Fuel Espresso
Locations and Website

Living in Sydney you can get a little spoilt, so I will give you the regulars, Cafe Fundamental on Darling Street for the big brekkie, $16 include freshly squeezed juice and coffee, or Cafe Berlin for their Bacon and Egg baguette, classic, again on Darling Street in Balmain. Beverage

Coffee, coffee, coffee, recent favourite is Fuel in Wellington, tis a chain but they seem to have got it right with their little hole in the wall outlets, always good.

Sydney - The little marionette makes a nice strong brew,again in Balmain. Anywhere you see Campos coffee you should be ok. Little tip would be at the QVB where the buses leave from in the city you can pick up a pretty good flat white for $2.50 from one of the funny little kiosks.

Of course, the people, day, weather all contribute to the experience so a little advice to make it the chilled out start to the day that you want, would be to avoid American hotels with anyone from Austria in the morning when they ask for coffee

Order up!

Maffew

*Note from Beedub: Matt is too humble to admit the Bristolian was his Cafe. Wish it was still his so we could visit!

The Breakfast Club, Soho, London

33 D’Arblay Street
W1F 8EU
Website
How to Get There
Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Circus

Realising that ye old Blog was woefully neglected and having endured weeks on the recruitment merry go round (with the odd cheeky weekend in Austria thrown in), it was time to bust out and hit the breakfast circuit again.

Blue sky in London in Winter can only be a good omen and so with a pasty sun on our backs we set off for Soho. Seemed like a good direction based on a secondary requirement to good grub - interesting photographic subjects. Melissa, one of my co-pilots, is now the proud owner of a fandabulous camera and needed to test drive it.

So to Soho we went in search of the infamous Breakfast Club. Having been there previously for coffee, its been on my hit list for some time.

Now, any place called The Breakfast Club and which serves breakfast dishes all day, every day, can't really go far wrong in my book. We arrived to find a queue outside - clearly we weren't the only breakfast freaks. I am not sure who was more relieved when they let us inside - us or the poor people seated at the table next the window who had had to endure us pressing our noses against the glass oggling their food.

Inside, The Breakfast Club is kitsch and cozy and rammed. We were seated cheerfully on top of each other and beneath a gorgarse picture of The Hoff resplendent in Speedo and Santa Hat. We had already wrestled a menu off one of the other desperados camping in the queue outside and so we all knew exactly what we were having. The menu had me at Eggulars. But to be fair, I would happily cheat with the Mr Big Stuff section or one of the little beauties in the And Finally bit. 

Although I was really tempted by the Green Eggs and Ham (see the entry on Huckleberry's, LA for why), how could I resist a dish called Ham Very Eggstatic? Retrospectively, I should have waited for the monster of all hangovers to enjoy this beastie - a stack of pancakes laced with ham and cheese and topped with a fried egg. Oh and drowned in maple syrup to boot - apparently inspired by some bloke called Roger on Twitter. As (for once) I wasn't experiencing the stomach turning, grease craving clutches of a post mojitto overdose, it was actually too much for me and I would happy have swapped with Melissa who had the All American Breakfast (another but slightly less rich mix up of pancakes, bacon and eggs) or gone for one of the yummy French Toast  tasties.

Iain had the Full Monty. A most definitely man sized full English breakfast feast to be found in the Mr Big Stuff part of the menu. And Full Monty it was. He was still staggering around with a pot belly 4 hours of Soho rambling later.

I was gutted not to be able to have the Chocolate Orange Latte in the special Christmas drinkie section but they passed my stupid latte order test and made me a suitably milky vanillary concoction which passed the Beedub standard with flying colours. As did the fresh orange juice. So add to that the fact that you can eat Breakfast all the way until 5pm AND they have Eggs Benedict, Florentine and Royale, The Breakfast Club is most definitely a must.

There is no question that I will return soon, but I might wait until that special Sunday morning which dawns foggy with a hint of headache and a desperate craving for a gigantic eggy feast...

PS not to mislead those healthier than I, there are also loads of healthy choices and the smoothie menu looked lush

The Elephant House, Edinburgh, Scotland

Special Guest Author: Barbara Proske (Barbarazzi)

I can't believe that this lady managed to find the time to write me a review considering her crazy schedule. But then she does wrangle F1 Racing Drivers for a living. Barbarazzi is a kindred spirit, global nomad who travels full time and she is the only Austrian I know who loves English Builder's Tea...

The Elephant House, Edinburgh
21 George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EN
Website

Elephants and Harry Potter, how does this go together?

Meet the place where inspiration came from and where the words have been put on paper.
In this cafe which is located in the historic part of the city, it is said that the author J.K. Rowling spend endless hours writing her first Harry Potter novel. Unfortunately she has had too little money to get beyond an ordinary coffee - 'poor' her as she missed out on some culinary pleasures.
When you will get there yourself you won't be surprised how easily you can spend a lot of time in there enjoying the nice atmosphere with friends and the stunning view over the Edinburgh castle, which you might climb after having stuffed loads of food into your face.

You wouldn't find this anywhere else. Take a seat on one of the massive wooden elephant chairs, enjoy the good atmosphere and choose between Scottish, English or 'normal' breakfast or anything else from the menu - whatever you feel like. The choice is easy, straightforward and tastes yummy - piece and quiet is free of charge.
We had eggs on toast and the scrambled egg with salmon which will be enough for the little appetite. If you go big you might want to order more out of the daily breakfast menu.
A must try is the menthe tea - the aroma of the fresh menthe leaves will make you want to relax, sit back and enjoy yourself in this special place.
Loved the short bread as well, but didn't like queuing at the counter as the girls were a bit slow - but hey, it's not about putting down a track record, it's about enjoying yourself and the ambient and having a relaxed and laid back morning which might very well extend until well over midday :)

Picture taken from inside the cafe over Edinburgh castle

Milkd - Maylands, Perth

Special Guest Authors: The Esteemed Queen and Princesses Wood

Shani and her daughters live in Perth. Or should I say they rule Perth. Shani is one of my dearest friends from Red Bull Air Race who I consider a both a mentor and inspiration. Milli and Tildi are her fabulous daughters who I plan to employ as my right and left hand just as soon as they are old enough...

Shani happens to be a fantastic cook who offers her family custom breakfast orders daily at her house so this will be just the first (I hope) of many contributions from the Wood household. I asked the ladies to send me their favourite places and after a girls day out this weekend this is what they sent (thanks Tildi for the fab colours - I love them x)

Milkd 

32 Angove Street, North Perth WA 6006, Australia

Website

How to get there

Shani

Fave regular breakfast place is Milk’d in Maylands.  The food is fresh and the coffee brilliant.  The service is always consistently great and fast.

Every weekend the family heads here for a standard breakfast.  My fave is always the mushrooms with rocket and fetta and New Norcia Sourdough.  The rocket is always just so fresh and tasty and sometimes I add a poached egg – cost is $15.00.  The coffee is also always great and once you are a regular they know how you like it and always make sure you are happy.  Milk’d is also great for kids with games and yummy cakes if you feel like it later.

Millicent

My name is Millicent (Milli) Weaver and I am 12 years old, and from Australia.

I love Milk’d’s melts and drinks because everything is very fresh, and tastes really good. The iced chocolates have yummy ice cream, and sweet chocolate sauce with ice cubes in it.

The melts are really fresh bread with ham, cheese and tomato in between the bread. It tastes really good, and my sister and I always share one.

Matilda

Hi, my name is Matilda.

I live in Perth, Australia.

My favourite dish is a melt (from Milked.)

I am 9 years old and a live with my mum my dad my sister and my dog.

My favourite colour is blue and purple

Thanks

MATILDA LELIA WOOD WEAVER

Oz - Perth and Melbourne

Special Guest Author: Hannah Walter (Hansie/ Lil Lotta)
Hannah has been one of my surrogate family for the past three years as we travelled together around the World on an international event. We have stood side by side at so many bars and buffets I lose count and I have the hugest respect for her amazing ability to juggle the demands of a 300 odd strong crew queing at her office needing anything from arm length rubber gloves (don't ask!) to a hug for the homesick.

Perth
Millpoint Caffe Bookshop, South Perth

254 Millpoint Road
South Perth
WA 6151
Website
How to get there

One of the BEST hidden brekkie stops is at the Bookshop Cafe in South Perth on Mill Point Rd. They are open 7 days a week but get super busy on weekends.

They make coffee that even Wally* would approve of (and i think he did?!) and brekkie menu various in choices and prices, between about $8-$18. Smoothies and freshly made juices are also top picks - all produce is local and VERY fresh.

My fav choices are the gourmet scrabbled eggs with goats cheese and chives - joy! - and the blueberry pancakes that are so light that you can actually eat the whole lot and not feel like you just ate a concrete block. Those with a sweet tooth can jump into the homemade cakes selection... but then you may need a little push to roll down the street.

Its great because you can browse through the bookstore, sit inside amongst it or in a quiet leafy courtyard out the back. Parking is at the side or down the back plus you can walk about 150m to the foreshore. bliss.

 * note from Beedub - Wally is a guru of all things gourmet - living in Vienna, there is no one I know more knowledgable on outstanding coffee, food and especially wine so consider this high praise indeed...Incidently the coffee from this lovely Cafe kept me going for 2 weeks of being onsite. Its got an amazing atmosphere and the fact that it is always packed with locals says it all.

Photo taken from the official website

 Melbourne (or Melbs for those in the know)

The Coffee Roasting Warehouse

19 Leveson St.
North Melbourne
VIC 3051
How to get there

In Melbs, BEST brekkie AND coffee is at the Coffee Roasting Warehouse in North Melbourne. The name gives it away that the coffee is TO DIE FOR, you can select your bean and all the staff are pro baristas so the coffee is perfect. Brekkie is a mix of classic choices and a more unique menu - do not go past the indian eggs, which is poached eggs in a curry type tomato mix with roti bread and fresh corindar, AMAZING! Meals are between about $6-$22. Sitting outside in the rare moments Melbourne isn't raining or inside around the warehouse or in a small back indoor courtyard. Very cute and popular so go early!

The Pavillion Cafe, Victoria Park London

Special Guest Writer: Kat MacKenzie

As my knowledge of London unhelpfully seems to stop on the borders of Westminster and Maida Vale, my lovely mate Kat has generously agreed to donate some of her North and East London expertise. Kat is an extremely well travelled, dynamite package of many and varied talents including being a meastro of Sports and Events Marketing and one of the most fun people to go out with anywhere in the World...

Victoria Park

Old Fort Road

London, E9 7DE

How to Get There

Nearest Bus: Globe Town, Victoria Park (E9) (Stop GA)

Nearest Tube: Bethnal Green 

Open Daily 10am-6pm

The affectionally named "Pav"  sits directly on the Victoria Park lake* in the heart of east London  and has been serving up delicious breakfasts, cakes and coffees for the last couple of years.

During the week , don't let the crowds of  hot east london mummas and their babycinos put you off coming inside (or even better, taking a outside seat if weather permits); the coffee and breakfasts will have you coming back  time and time again.  At the weekend, be prepared to get strategic about grabbing a table but trust me , you wont be disappointed!
There is a full day menu but as a fully fledged breakfast lover can't see past their all-day breakfast items. 

Monmouth coffee is  expertly poured by their charming baristas  ( and who isn't a sucker for seeing their coffee foam crafted into a cute heart?!).  Food highlights include HUGE full english breakfasts with ginger pig bacon and sausages accompanied by delicious homemade beans (homemade beans surely being a benchmark for a place that really cares about its breakfast)

For me, perfectly poached , fried or a mountain of  fluffy scrambled eggs are the order of the day. The best thing about this place has to be that they don't mind what i call the  " princess breakfast " order, whereas most places baulk at an attempt to order off menu:

Scrambled eggs with rosemary mushrooms on the side?  Eggs beno with extra crispy bacon instead of ham?  "Fried eggs on wholegrain with a small side of  homemade beans?"  

"No problem" is always the cheery reply.

They even let me give them my ipod to put on one day -  now that really is customer service!

The Pav fully deserves its excellent reception and if you go east skip the jog around the park and head straight to the Pav for a yummy breakfast 

*lake is generous, lets be honest its a pond, this is Hackney!

Los Angeles

Finding ourselves at a loose end simultaneously for the first time in years, the now ubiquitous star of this Blog, Fiona and I found ourselves planning a road trip through California.

Although neither of us had a huge desire to spend time in LA, we both have friends there that we wanted to see and so picked the City of Angels as our launch pad. Knowing that we had a precious few days before heading South to start a serious detox Retreat, we decided to make proverbial hay and immerse ourselves in the all American food tradition.

During a great birthday dinner at Soho house, we picked the brains of friends Bob and Mariel on hot tips for a memorable LA Breakfast.

Mariel is a long time friend who has travelled the world and loves good food so was infinitely qualified to offer advice. We tried her suggestion first, co-oinciding neatly with a plan to explore Santa Monica. If you can ignore your Garmin and good friend's excellent directions and still find your way onto Wilshire then you are already on the right track...

Huckleberry

1014 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica
Website
How to Get There

Say!
I like green eggs and ham!
I do!! I like them, Sam-I-am!
And I would eat them in a boat!
And I would eat them with a goat...
And I will eat them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so good so good you see!

So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!
Taken from 'Green Eggs and Ham' by Dr Seuss

Huckleberry is nestled in a very nondescript section of Wilshire and you'd definitely miss it if you hadn't been tipped off.

Thank your lucky stars for Mariel I say because this place is most definitely a keeper and we wouldn't have found it without her. It is a really beautiful bakery and cafe where everything is baked on onsite with the result that as you walk in, you are literally overwhelmed by the most delicious aromas. If you can actually make it to the counter without falling on your knees, then the selection of hand baked breads, delicate pastries and heaving bowls of berries will finish off even the toughest non breakfast heathen. Giant blackboards float above the counters offering event more temptation...breakfast smorgasbord (special dishes, side AND pastry options), sandwiches, salads, soups and more.

I found myself mesmerised browsing down the Breakfast Board past Granola and Niman Brisket Hash with fried Eggs, to find, to my absolute delight, Green Eggs and Ham. Now I don't know your personal relationship with Dr Seuss, but I wasn't weaned onto a bottle. I was handed The Cat in the Hat and told to get on with it. Retrospectively, I Sam-I-am, may possibly have started my love affair with breakfast purely because of Green Eggs and Ham

So naturally that was that, choice made. We found a table while I impatiently awaited my Green Eggs and Ham. Would it come with a mouse or a house or even be served by a fox in sox? Fiona, who had lost the battle with her very bossy sweet tooth, distracted me with the yummy pastry and the amazing home baked Apple tart she had chosen. Both delicious.

My breakfast duly arrived and Dr Suess himself wouldn't have been disappointed. The Green was a fragrant basil pesto drizzled over two perfectly cooked poach eggs, perched on a bed of spicy arugula, crispy proscuitto and warm buttery english muffins. Speechless.

If I hadn't been instantly smitten with the Green Eggs and Ham and as a result probably could never eat anything else should I be lucky enough to go back to Huckleberry one day, there are so many great options to choose. There are at least six completely unique egg dishes each with their own twist on old favourites. The Salmon platter looked amazing and even the Califriendly Health options looked fab. Although I think its safe to say you won't see me passing up a good fry up for the Quinoa, spinage, butternut squash and fried egg combo anytime soon...

Huckleberry is open every day except Monday's and breakfast dishes are available until 11am. So until 12am being one of my requisites for a perfect score, it didn't quite score 10 our 10, but for food this good I would get my lazy ass there in time for 11am any day. Plus there's always jet lag to get you up at 4am anyway...

Joan's on Third

8350 West Third Street
between La Cienega Blvd. and Fairfax Ave
West Hollywood
California
Website
How to Get There

So, having hit the jackpot on Day 1 we challenged Bob, Fiona's fabulous friend to raise the bar, which he did in style. Not only did he have a cheeky suggestion up his sleeve, but he invited us there for breakfast and a tour of his neighbourhood.

We arrived bright and early in a corner of West Hollywood I didn't even know existed, to find a little slice of quirky heaven. All signs of jet lag disappeared as we marvelled at gorgeous Deli's and restaurants rubbing shoulders with zany designer shops, jewellery havens and book stores. The street can even lay claim to one of Los Angeles's oldest Mexican restaurants which we've promised ourselves to go back to one day

Like Huckleberry, Jones is a Deli cum cafe also serving a range of amazing baked delicacies and deli selection as well as an organic supermarket. We stocked up on detox essentials while we were there before heading to the counter to order. As usual I opted for an Egg choice, selecting the Egg Basket Omelet served with a choice of fillings and sour cream. My filling pick was a healthy asparagus and goats cheese but I was sorely tempted by the Bonne Femme - potatoes, bacon, cheese and onions.

Fiona and Bob opted for the Buttermilk pancakes, granola and a side of toast to share.  Feeling very righteous, we ordered ginger tea instead of our usual lattes which was delicious. The thing Fee and I really loved every where we went in California is that water, usually brought with a zest of lemon, orange, mint or cucumber is brought voluntarily to the table.

If I hadn't been laying the foundations for my body is a temple week, I would definitely have had the New York Breakfast Sandwich and a gigantic Latte. Sigh. Still I can always go back.

If Joan's wasn't enough on its own, Bob finished off our morning with a visit to Mimosa's - the LA branch of the cupcake bakery immortalised in Sex and the City. So now I know what Devilsfood tastes like...

Joan's pipped Huckleberry very slightly to the post purely because it offers Breakfast until 12 and it is in such a glorious neighbourhood you could make a morning's excursion out of it, but both are a fabulous way to start your day in Los Angeles (or to reward yourself for surviving a night of jet lag disrupted sleep!)

Other tips from this trip on LA: do yourself a favour and make time to spend at least half a day on Abbot Kinney Blvd, a treasure trove of a street named for the founding father of Venice Beach. It is about half a mile long and packed full of fantastic shops, galleries and eateries.

Oh and in case you didn't guess, it's in Venice...
A little more about it...

Innsbruck, Barcelona, Hamburg

Special Guest Writer: Bernie Hofer (alter Ego Carlos Bighole)

A dear friend of mine who lives in Austria and like me travels as voraciously as he reads


Where to find out more about Bernie's picks:
Parkhotel, Hall, Tirol, Austria
Hotel Cram, Barcelona Spain
Schanzenviertel District, Hamburg


"so....interesting project.....

me and breakfast is a quite difficult relationship as I'm most of the times physically not able for breakfast...but if I'm able I could recommend the sunday breakfast brunch at Parkhotel in Hall in Tirol....but only in summer as you can chill nicely on the terrace and enjoy mountaineous Austria...

further I can really recommend the breakfast at hotel cram in barcelona, even though its expensive, but the hotel has an impressive architecture...

further I can recommend in Hamburg to just go the Schanzenstern and choose one of the cafes there...I tried several and most of them were amazing...even though the waiters are mostly lame...but who is stressed at breakfast?

My favourite breakfast recipe:
Espresso
Fresh orange juice
Spanish Serrano ham
Fresh bread

Nothing more nothing less....maybe a glass of Pinot Grigio white wine...."

Ottolenghi, Kensington London

Ottolenghi is one of my top choices for a Let Someone Else Do it option (see DIY for more)

1 Holland Street, London, W8 4NA

Ottolenghi website

How to get there

Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington

This wasn't strictly tested at Breakfast time, but after a thorough investigation, it absolutely fits the bill should you be looking to treat yourself to a cheeky breakfast for one at home or happen to be throwing a brunch for friends.

Another one of my genius friend Fiona's picks, the joy of Ottolenghi is that there are several of them - Kensington, Notting Hill, Islington and Belgravia. She discovered the place through her Mum's suddenly inspired cooking. It turns out she (Mum of Fi) had bought one of Patron Chef Yotham Otholenghi's cook books. Well, thought Fiona, if it can turn Rachel into Nigella then this place is worth a look.

So, today we interrupted our quest for difficult to find organic foods at Wholefoods in High Street Kensington so that she could show it to me. The Kensington shop is take away only but I believe the Islington Branch has a full restaurant and Belgravia and Notting Hill have small tables available for the lucky first comers.

I am no gourmet wordsmith and whilst I could use cliches like kid in a candy store and Willy Wonka's Chocalate Factory had nothing on this, I think it sufices to say that I could have bought everything in there and eaten it on the spot. Whilst there are delectable breakfast friendly pastries, the dishes on offer are more suited to Brunch. In addition to the lushest cakes, quiches and pastries I have ever seen, there are buy by the pound deli dishes including sweet potatoes dressed with sour cream, red pepper corns, coriander and cardamom, pan seared tuna and beef dressed with tantalising combinations of lime, chili, wasabi and more, feta and pepper muffins and so many other glorious dishes the challenge is in choosing the ones you want. While we were browsing, we were offered Persian Fairy Floss - a magical trip back to childhood with a very grown up twist of saffron.

As it wasn't strictly breakfast time, we succumbed to the Caramel, Macadamia Cheesecake. There-are-no-words-for-this. But I can tell you that I feel obliged to insist that you try it sometime soon and I would most definitely eat it for breakfast. And lunch. And Dinner.

Basking in my post Cheesecake euphoria, I did a bit of background research on their Internet site and found to my delight that amazingly, for the Olympic class Diva's like me, the Notting Hill branch will even pack your order in a taxi and send it to you!

So, next time you need a little morning treat in London, pop in. You won't be disappointed!

202 Westbourne Grove, London

Address: 202 Westbourne Grove, London, W11 2RH

Website

How to find it

Nearest Tube:  Ladbrook Grove, Westbourne Park, Notting Hill Gate

Fresh from Heathrow Terminal 1 and buoyed up with resolutions made on our trip to California, my good friend Fiona and I roped in our plus 1’s and friend Melissa to join us at 202, one of Fiona’s picks for top breakfast spots in London.

Having been spoiled with amazing food experiences for two weeks of road tripping up the Californian Coast, it was inevitably going to be tricky to find a good inaugural spot to launch my Ode to Breakfast blog.

Fiona, being something of a Londonphile came up trumps. I always find Notting Hill a treat and 202 is a little gem right in the heart of it. The brain child of Nicole Fahri, 202 is her lifestyle concept store with a twin store in Chelsea, New York. It is a warm, lively place to spend a Sunday morning browsing at her clothes and home wear collections or simply to enjoy a delicious brunch with friends. Whilst I visited it on a blistery cold autumn day, it would be as inviting on a rare blue sky day too.

We arrived in the nick of time for the Breakfast menu, which ends at 12 - one of my requisites for a good breakfast spot being the lazy bastard I am. The good news is that some of the nicest Breakfast dishes get carried through onto the Brunch menu starting at 12. Genius.

After a brief scan of the menu it was clear that this would make the Keeper list including a good range of breakfast staples (Buttermilk Pancakes, Maple Syrup baked granola with seasonal fruit, Eggs Florentine, French Toast, Bagels, Porridge and more) as well as a few unique twists and a daily specials board. The Prosciutto and Manchego Omlette and Sweet Potato, Pepper and Pancetta Hash with Egg Sunny Side up caught my eye. I also loved the various side options available for those blessed with a need to add crazy savouries to their pancakes or vice verse.

Since Fiona and I share an obsession with Eggs Benedict and it is one of my fundamental ABC’s of a fine Breakfast establishment, we were naturally disappointed not to see it included. Nothing ventured nothing gained is our motto and so we asked our Server. I pause on this point as I am not sure what is more awkward – using a potentially gender demeaning word like waitress or sounding like a pretentious knob. Answers on a post card please.

Anyway back to the challenge at hand. She and the chef were happy to oblige and custom made it for us. Big tick from me at that point. She also helpfully tolerated my freakish coffee preference for essentially a vanillery, coffee flavoured hot milkshake. Not only that, but she also managed to out Boss Fiona in a very charming Spanish way that had us all smiling.

As Eggs Benedict’s go, it wasn’t the most inventive, but the eggs were perfectly cooked and the sauce was delicious.

The men were more adventurous trying the Sweet Potato and Pancetta Hash (scrumptious  – I demanded a try in the name of the Blog) and Pancakes with a side of sausage served with a yummy chutney. Other sides on offer include delicious breads and pastries, bacon, baked beans and intriguingly fried green tomatoes with chilli and mozzarella.

Prices are on the upper end of reasonable, but as I figure that Brunch is two meals for the price of one, they didn’t bother me. Cheapest options weigh in at £2.50 and most expensive dish is £9.95

So, overall, this one goes in store under R for Return list. Treat yourself if you happen to be in Notting Hill enjoying Portabello Road Market or make it your destination on a Sunday.