In search of Egg Laying Woolly Pigs...

So having worked with Germans and Austrians for a long  time, I have developed a love of all things Germanic. If I had to pick favourites, it would probably come down to (and in no particular order) German idioms and Austrian breakfasts.

Which other nationalities have the linguistic limbleness to not only achieve in two words what English would take a paragraph to describe, but to crack it in a way that simply isn't possible in Her Majesty's idiom?

Exhibit A: "eierlegende vollmilchsäue"

Literally translated "An egg laying, milk producing, woolly pig."

Common meaning "A jack of all trades. Someone who can literally do anything."

Now not only is this one of my favourite German idioms, but it also allows me a bit of poetic license to lead on to my second favourite thing to come out of Middle Europe. Tenuous I know, but what's not to love about the idea of a mythical beast that could provide you with a full monty breakfast?

The same is true of an Austrian breakfast. There is a well balanced symmetry to dawn dining in the country that brought us sachertorte, schnitzel and other culinary delights you just don't find outside of Europe.

Added to that, there is simplicity -  no fannying about with fancy sauces and griddle pans, which I love. It's no secret that I am a sucker for rich, elaborate breakfasts, but there are some days when the basics, done perfectly, are just what you feel like.

A recent blog entry written in Innsbruck, Austria, waxed lyrical about the growing creativity to be found breakfasting in Austria's larger cities. I experienced a real pang writing that because I genuinely miss the efficiency of a breakfast that tastes great, but doesn't exhaust you with too many choices. Plus did I mention the coffee? And that you can eat cake, yes people, CAKE for breakfast...

Finally, in my usual rambling way, I get to the point: with a little bit of help from an Austrian friend, it turns out that a true Austrian breakfast, served in a way only the Viennese understand, is very much alive, well and brewing in London.

Enter Kipferl. Austrian born and bred twin eateries, one in Nottinghill/Kensigton and the other in Islington. If you know London at all, you are probably familiar with Goldborne Road. If not, it is the lesser known cousin of Portabello road, a cheeky cornucopia of antique funk. 

Now I have been there more times than I have fingers, but somehow have managed to miss Kipferl until today. I think it's because its slightly innocuous black facade is easily overpowered by the colourful pavement melee that starts to wake up at 12 on a Sunday. When you get there at 10am, however, most shutters are still down and the traders haven't begun to take over the pavements.

What heaven! Unlike its famous neighbour Pizza East, Kipferl isn't heaving at that time of day. You have plenty of peace and quiet to catch up and enjoy the fact that the staff are actually Austrian. Thankfully though they are a London friendly version of traditional Viennese service. If you've been to Vienna you'll know what I mean - not for the faint hearted!

The breakfast menu is small and authentically Austrian. We chose the Viennese Breakfast, topped up with an additional Eier Zwei. Quintessentially what Austrians do well: bread, ham, cheese and egg. But that doesn't do it justice at all. We aren't talking just any bread, we are talking semmel: crunchy, golden rolls with gloriously soft, yummy centres. And rye that is dark and deliciously exotic. Hell, even the ham tastes like it has been smoking gently in a barn in the mountains somewhere.

It's not cheap, but then nowhere in London really is anymore and Kipferl gets away with it because they use excellent, fresh ingredients, they know how to serve the perfect soft boiled egg and their coffee is beyond tasty, served with Viennese flair. Translated that means on a silver tray accompanied by elegant glasses of water and melt in the mouth chocolates.

I would definitely recommend a visit to Kipferl West's Islington sister too as they appear to have a slightly bigger menu with a few dishes that have piqued my curiosity. With the Austrian skill with all things bread, how could their version of French toast be anything other than lush?

Kipferl
95 Golborne Road, 
London
W10 5NL
Website and Menu
How to Get There

Seventh Time Lucky

I have adventured to Lucky 7 a grand total of seven times, but inexplicably not managed to get it together enough to write about it. Ok I might be taking a wee bit of poetic license here. It's only six, but in context, that's more than any other breakfast joint in the world.

 

I should tell you straight off the bat that the reason I haven't waxed lyrical about it until now is not because it's a wrong 'un. Completely the opposite. It's simply because every time I have been there, it's been with friends as part of a lovely days ramble through Nottinghill from which I normally return sleepy and content and take a gigantic nap, only waking up in time for Strictly (I'm not going to lie, pub pit stops might also have been involved).

 

What I am trying to say in a clumsy way is that Lucky 7 is a cracking way to start your Saturday. Although I haven't done this personally (that's my story and I am sticking to it), I reckon it would also be a brilliant way to end a very Good Friday night too.

 

It's no secret that I love American Breakfasts or that I am obsessed with 50's style diners. I blame John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. And the fact that diners were in short supply in Zimbabwe where I grew up. So effectively for a Zimbo kid, Lucky 7 is Disneyland. With eggs.

 

But I digress and in the interests of making sure this actually gets posted, I'll keep this short and sweet: 

 

Seven things you should know about Lucky Seven

 

#1 It's miniscule and by 11 it's rammed, so if you're not a morning person and prefer your coffee in solitude and don't like breakfast speed dating, get there early or with a group big enough to fill a whole booth

#2 Screw that. Early on Saturdays is for joggers - embrace the 7's booth sharing policy and go when your stomach can handle a feast. You never know who you will scooch over for. Rumour has it Jude Law goes there.

#3 The loo is downstairs and if you, like me, are a glutton for coffee, make sure you sit on the outside of the booth otherwise you'll annoy Jude Law having to get up all the time for you.

#4 All the food is Fanbloodytastic. And I mean ALL of it. But if I had to choose...

#5 For a sweet tooth day - the Buttermilk Pancake maple syrupy goodness hands down. For hangover or bigass hunger days it has to be the Breakfast Burrito crammed full of scrambled eggs, black beans, salsa, guacamole and either bacon or chorizo (choose the chorizo, choose the chorizo!). Or you could have the flat version of the same - their spicy Heuvos Rancheros feast.

# 6 The menu calls coffee 'Cwoffee'. And they don't seem to get annoyed if you insist on ordering everything in a stupid faux accent

# 7 The staff and owner rock. And it might be because Jude Law is sitting at your table, but even though the service is speedy and the queue out the door massive, you never ever feel rushed.

After all that I have officially made my self hungry. I am off for a seventh time lucky Cwoffee...

Pictures are by my extremely talented friend LondonMeliss

Lucky 7
127 Westbourne Park Road 
W2 5QL
How to Get There
Website and Menu

 

East or West Green Eggs and Ham are Best

It's been awhile since I got my A into G and went in search of a good egg, so this morning's venture into Nottinghill was long overdue...


My mate Fee is always good at finding good 'uns and today was no exception. It turns out one of Shoreditch's little gems has recently taken the Central Line East and opened in Nottinghill.

I'd already heard great things about  Pizza East and when Fee told me that they a. doBrunchnotjustpizza and b. have Green Eggs and Ham it was pretty clear we were onto a winner. Having been weaned on Dr Seuss, I have spent most of my adult life looking for Green Eggs and Ham. A few years back, Fee and I found avery delicious version in L.A. (Huckleberry Santa Monica) but sadly as a quick flip to California on a Sunday isn't something I can manage every week, I was pretty damn made up to find them on my doorstep too.

So Pizza East Portabello then. It's just exactly my kind of place. Quirky decor. Unbelievable tummyrumbling smells. Ok so on some tables the stools are a bit weird and make you feel like you're sitting on the loo, but do a shuffle and find the comfy ones and you're sorted.


Fresh, squeezed juice. Tick. Although we missed the breakfast menu, there is an all day brunch menu. Tick. Although the menu doesn't fill a page there are some crackers. There was no chance of me having anything other than Green Eggas and Ham, but I did notice Avocado on  Toast with Chilli and a damn fine suasagey thing being delivered to the table next door.

In case you missed the Huckleberry review maybe I need to explain Green Eggs and Ham...basically perfectly poached organic eggs served on serano ham and english muffins, drizzled with a fresh basil sauce and zingy rocket. I'm not sure my 4 year old self would have liked them, but my thirty something self sure as hell did!

Coffee is good too.

As we noticed the most unbelieveable roast being prepared while we were there, not only will I be going back for brekkers soon, I plan to do a Sunday lunch. Oh and maybe a hangover Pizza too...

Pizza East Portobello

310 Portobello Road

London

W10 5TA

tel: +44 (0)20 8969 4500

Website
How to Get There