The Big Egg Runeth Over

It's been a fun activity of mine to explore different breakfast haunts in my neighborhood since I'm now privy to waking up early with baby.  Getting to know my area even more intimately has been a lot of fun and I've made some new mommy friends along the way who've joined me for some delicious breakfast adventures.  This one, at the Big Egg was accompanied by Eva and her lovely little daughter Sophia, who I hope Edie can play with soon.

But...about the food!

Atmosphere:
Previously a food pod on N. Mississippi Ave, The Big Egg was always a challenge to try because of its popularity, and they always sold out early.  However, about 3 months ago that all changed, as they opened up their first brick and mortar location on NE Alberta St. and 30th Avenue.  What a treat for the neighborhood!  

While the storefront is small (it used to be the old Sugar Cube space), it's lovely and inviting and sports their quintessential yellow and brown motif.  The interior is friendly and seats about 20 people, with a variety of booth style and counter seating.  It's kid friendly, which is fabulous for me right now, and needless to say, I frequent it often.

Food:
I've tried a number of their sandwiches already, each being more delicious than the next that I now thought I should give their French Toast a whirl.  Really happy with my decision, I marveled at this crunchy breakfast sandwich that was wrapped in crunchy panko and then stuffed with smoked ham and a hint of gorgonzola dolce.  It was unlike any breakfast sandwich I had and certainly the most unique french toast.  A little taste of vanilla and cardamom in the brioche bread gave it that sophistication and something a little special that'll keep me coming back for more.

Service and Cost:
I usually experience really good service here and this time was no different.  Like a lot of restaurants in Portland, you order up at the counter and then wait for your order to be called out.  While it's not traditional restaurant service, I far prefer it, as it makes for a more casual experience.

Costs are on the expensive side for breakfast sandwiches but given the high quality of their ingredients, I really don't mind.  My French Toast and coffee set me back about $12 total.

3 Mmmms

The Big Egg - 3039 NE Alberta Street, Portland OR 97211
971.373.8098
thebigegg.com

Bing Me! Yes, Please!

On the topic of food carts, I must also tell you about last week's morning excursion to the Bing Me, Chinese crepe cart with my co-worker Molly.  I pass by this food cart each day on my way to work and have noticed people always standing by waiting to order.  Since it's so early in the morning, I always marvel at this, wondering what this place is all about, but I haven't stopped in to explore.  Well that all changed last week and I must say that I'll definitely be back soon.

About Bing Me Portland:
Specializing in this Northern Chinese crepe, just like at The Whole Bowl, there's just one thing on the menu.  Apparently they get really busy during lunch hours so your best bet is to try them in the early morning hours (they open at 7:30 a.m.), which is exactly what we did.  It only takes about 5 short minutes to prepare the crepe and it's best when eaten fresh.  Located in the prime food cart area in Downtown Portland on 9th Avenue between Alder Street and and Washington Street, the cart is hard to miss and makes for a great pit stop when touring Portland or for locals who are going about their day.

Jian Bing Crepe:
Never having anything like it, the Jian Bing crepe is all sorts of delicious.  Made of really thin pancake batter with some black bean paste, you'll encounter all sorts of textures when biting into this thing including both soft and crunchy.  The latter comes from a fried cracker that's placed in between the layers of the crepe, giving it an added element of surprise.  An eggy inside gives it that breakfast sandwich quality, which went a long way before the workday began, and you also get all sorts of flavor from the fresh herbs such as the lemony cilantro.  The only sort of off-putting experience is the smell of the hoisin sauce they put inside, but rest assured that it tastes great.

Service and Cost:
Lovely, hospitable service continued to grace us at this cart, as we were served with a smile and some expert advice (to eat the Bings as soon as possible!).  Since there wasn't yet a long line forming, we were in and out of there in about 7 short minutes, which was stellar.

Costs are totally awesome and worth every penny at just $6 for this delicious creation.

3 Mmmms

Bing Me Portland - SW 9th and Alder, Portland OR 97204
Red/Blue MAX line to Galleria Stop
bingmeportland.com

Peanut Butter & Jelly Pancake Inspiration

Being that I work from home now, breakfast is a big highlight for me and I always look to vary up my routine.  Spotting a beautiful recipe for a PB&J Grain Free Breakfast cake on Immaeatthat blog, I thought it sounded relatively simple and would make for an exciting weekday breakfast.  Given that it's gluten free, Dan was all about it, as I incorporated Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 baking flour that totally did the trick.  Actually, I have to say that I've used this flour on numerous occasions lately, especially when making waffles and everything always comes out great.  You virtually can't tell the difference.

Instead of using mashed blackberries as the bed for the peanut butter, I substituted with frozen blueberries that I warmed up.  Then came the creamy warmed peanut butter on top that sealed the deal on this already moist cake.  Just a few small pieces filled us up for several hours, and I'd recommend sharing one portion with 1-2 people at least!

PB&J Grain Free Breakfast Cake - recipe courtesy of Immaeatthat Blog.

Bread Rules at Roman Candle Baking Co.

This week's PDX Breakfast Club meetup took us to the Southeast area of Division street, which is peppered with excellent restaurants, block to block.  I've been especially curious about Roman Candle Baking Co, as it seems to attract a good crowd and its specialty Roman pizza is a big draw.  Suggesting it to our meetup organizer Robin, she was happy to check it out and so were our fellow breakfast comrades.  

Atmosphere:
The first great thing about Roman Candle Co. is that it has a small parking lot, which makes it more accessible than some of the other restaurants and businesses in the neighborhood.  Nearly occupying a whole block, the restaurant is large and airy and boasts a beautifully large communal table for all to congregate at and enjoy the day's freshly baked treats.  This table is a true thing of beauty as it's rustically constructed and highlights the natural imperfections of wood that give it an irregular yet gorgeous shape.  There's a counter up front with enticing pastries, bread and of course their pizza oven that starts to crank out their signature rectangular pies starting from 11:30 p.m. for lunch service.

Food:
Pleasantly welcomed by their rich breakfast offering, you can choose from items such as toast with creative toppings, breakfast bowls and eggy plates.  It's all good and the Stumptown coffee is free flowing, giving you a reason to linger as long as you like.

Toast - Robin ordered two different toasts which she shared with the group, including the Nutella on raisin walnut bread and the honey/bee pollen on super grain bread.  Both were excellent and I must call out that the Nutella was homemade, which scored extra points in my book.  The honey toast was my favorite, mostly because of that fragrant bee pollen that added an earthy element and some texture too.

Everything Bun with a Duck Egg - Curious about something besides their bread, I was eager to try their take on an egg and cheese sandwich.  Of course it was something special and interesting, and turned on its ear.  The duck egg was ginormous and filled the contents of the bun perfectly.  I loved the way it was cooked to fluffy perfection and the aged cheddar on top provided just another layer of delicious tang.  A side of hot sauce was just the right accouterment and I generously poured it on for extra flavor.

Service and Cost:
The folks at Roman Candle were as lovely as can be and not only seemed happy to be there but were pretty prompt about having our food ready.  I looked around the place and everyone appeared to share this sentiment, as the space seemed to get fuller by the hour.

Costs are moderate and fair for the excellence in atmosphere, food and service and set me back just $8.50 for my duck egg sandwich and coffee.

3 Mmmms

Roman Candle Baking Co - 3377 SE Division Street, Portland OR 97202
971.303.6605
romancandlebaking.com

Doughy Perfection Found at Milk Glass Market

With another successful PDX Breakfast club meetup under my belt, I have yet another delicious breakfast haunt to share with you.  It's called Milk Glass Market, which has actually been on my to-try list for a while.  Burning such a proverbial hole in my food list, I suggested to the club's organizer that we try it and she was happy to oblige.

Atmosphere:
Set in the quaint and somewhat elusive North Portland neighborhood of Overlook, you'll find Milk Glass Market just a few blocks away from The Hop and Vine, which we also visited last week.  Known for its breakfast treats, the cafe is open starting from 9 a.m. and has a pretty extensive and imaginative menu.

The interior is bright and cheery with clean, natural decor such as wooden cutting boards on the walls and vintage glass light fixtures and white porcelain dining-ware.  There's plenty of tables in the main dining area, which makes it a good pit stop or a place for a business meeting for example.  While this place can get busy, it's definitely not loud and I'd recommend stopping in for some peace and quiet.  I must also mention that they have a fabulous private room in the back, which our organizer reserved just for our meetup.  Being connected to the kitchen, it was most convenient and allowed us to enjoy stellar service including our own private coffee stash.

Food:
With a nice variety of savory and sweet breakfast dishes, there was plenty to choose from.  While their sweet things looked very enticing, I ended up going with a savory breakfast and took a sweet treat for the road.

The Swell - I thought this an interesting name for a breakfast sandwich, and its ingredients drew me in right away.  The fried egg was its main component, which was then layered with bright veggies such as roasted peppers, fresh basil and even some gooey provolone cheese.  A crunchy ciabatta roll, which held the whole thing together was the piece-de-resistance, with a toothsome crust but a perfectly pillowy middle.

Apricot Scone - After seeing someone in our group eating this, I knew I had to stop back in and get one for the road.  I actually bought it for Dan and he was pleasantly surprised to profit from my little breakfast outing.  Needless to say, I had some as well and marveled at the crumbly, buttery dough that flaked apart perfectly and revealed a pretty orange apricot marmalade that I'm assuming had to be homemade.

Service and Cost:
Milk Glass Market is an order at the counter kind of place, which makes life easier, especially if you're dining with a larger group.  Also, as mentioned, since we had that private room to ourselves, I think the staff did a great job of bringing the dishes out in good time and refilling our coffee pot when it got low.

Costs are moderate and fair for the high caliber of food.  I paid a total of $11.50 for my hefty sandwich and coffee and another $3 for that godly scone.

3 Mmmms

Milk Glass Market - 2150 N. Killingsworth Street, Portland OR 97217
503.395.4742
milkglassmrkt.com

Fluffy Belgian Waffles Made 2 Ways

Making homemade brunch on Saturday mornings has quickly become one of my favorite things to do - as it breaks the weekly routine of simple, no frills cereal breakfasts.  Given that we have an awesome Belgian waffle maker gives me all the more motivation, as I decided to make sweet Belgian waffles two ways - one gluten free and the other regular, for us wheat lovers.

While I usually make these waffles on the savory side (see my previous preparations), these particular ones were going to be sweet and indulgent - topped with homemade apple compote that I made with leftover Rainier apples.  The method is quite simple and something I already used when I made these pancakes the other week, simply involving thinly sliced apples sprinkled with cinnamon and some brown sugar and then cooked on low for about 15 minutes.  I threw in some toasted pecans on top too, infusing a bit of texture into each bite.

Here's the simple recipe I used that comes from the Food Network website by way of Emeril Lagasse.  For the gluten free variety, I simply substituted the all purpose flour for Bob's Red Mill corn flour and it worked just fine.  Hope you enjoy it during the weekend - or anytime!

A Whimsically Delicious Breakfast at Trinket

Yesterday, I attended another fun foodie meetup with some local Portlandian food enthusiasts at a quaint little restaurant called Trinket.  Being that it was a breakfast meetup, we congregated first thing in the morning, which I prefer, as it leaves the rest of the day free for work and plans.

Atmosphere:
Situated in the South East part of Portland, not far from the popular Division Street, Trinket occupies a small space right on Cesar Chavez Blvd.  It's easy to miss if you're not looking for it, but luckily I spotted it right away and was also happy to see they had a small lot for parking.

Walking in, I was pleasantly greeted by a cozy atmosphere with rustic wooden furnishings, such as the pretty antler chandelier and the charming booths.  There's a small bar in the back where the day's pastries are displayed ever so carefully and the whole space is filled with nostalgic, comforting touches that remind you being at your family's house.

Food:
There were so many amazing options to choose from, lots of them being non-traditional spins on classic brunch dishes such as duck eggs Benedict, a savory waffle, pistachio French toast and other fun items.  After much deliberation, I went for the sweet stuff and got the French toast you see above:

Pistachio French Toast - Part of the small plates on the menu, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect in terms of portion, but I decided to take my chances.  It's true that the above pictured serving was quite small, however, I must say that because it was so rich, a little went a long way.  Consisting of soft, pillowy brioche bread with ribbons of cinnamon and flecks of raisins, it also hat bits of chunky pistachios, as promised.  The latter ingredient was more subtle, which was OK with me.  The top of the French Toast was dressed with freshly whipped cream, which was just dreamy as well as a dollop of smooth apple butter.

Service and Cost:
Given that we were a large group and that this is a small restaurant, I think the service went off without a hitch.  Mostly all of our dishes came out at the same time, with the exception of one, which then appeared just a few short minutes later.  Our server was pleasant and accommodating with any special requests, which was appreciated.

Costs are inexpensive to moderate, setting us back around $12-15 each including tip.

3 Mmmms

Trinket - 2035 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, Portland OR 97214
503.477.4252
trinketpdx.com

Bagel Land - A Pretty Decent Bagel in Portlandia

I had a pretty strong hankering for a bagel the other day - so much so that I made it my mission to find a bagel shop in my neighborhood.  The challenge wasn't too tough, as I discovered Bagel Land, a modest little bagel place just under two miles away from our home.

Atmosphere:
To call Bagel Land humble is a good way of putting it, as the shop is really no frills and the epitome of basic and simple.  Virtually it serves just what its name suggests, which comes in its plainest form as well as with various flavored cream cheeses and toppings.  The shop practically has no atmosphere, as its just a place you walk into to order your bagel and then go on your merry way.  This was more than fine with me, as I planned to devour my bagel in the comfort of my own home, and the other customers in the shop also seemed to share my idea.

Bagel:
I knew what I came for which was an everything bagel with lox - no cream cheese or other fixins to dilute the taste, just simply a bagel with lox.

There were a bevy of bagel flavors to choose from, including your standard variety of sesame, poppy, whole grain, salt, garlic and others.  The cream cheese flavors seemed plentiful as well and there were a few suggestions for breakfast sandwiches and the like that looked enticing too.  However, I kept my eye on the prize, which was the lox.

Happy to say that I was impressed with the bagel sandwich overall, the actual bagel wasn't overly large in size and it was just fluffy enough.  Certainly not as dense as a NY style bagel (which is delicious in its own right), it still had a lot of flavor.  The lox was superb and better than in NY, I think, as the salmon is more local here in the Pacific Northwest.  I liked that it wasn't overly salty and the small portion went a long way - it's as if they didn't have to try too hard to get it right.

Service and Cost:
Friendly, humble and efficient, I got my bagel in about 3 short minutes after ordering it, which gave me just enough time to snap some photographs.  Perfecto!

Costs are inexpensive, but you do pay a premium for good lox, as my sandwich set me back about $5.50.  However, it was well worth it and I'd get it again in a heartbeat.

3 Mmmms

Bagel Land - 4118 NE Fremont Street, Portland OR 97212
503.249.2848

Rise and Shine with Nuvrei's Dante Biscuit

It's not too often that I venture to Downtown Portland, since I'm still very much in the throes of exploring the North and the South East.  Last week however, presented an opportunity, as I had a breakfast meeting at a quaint little cafe that's popular with the locals called Nuvrei.

Atmosphere:
Even though I'm still very new to Portland, I've actually been to Nuvrei before and was happy when my dining companion chose it as a meeting place.  Friends, Sonya and Moses took Dan and I there last summer for a quick bagel and coffee stop-over before hitting the Willamette Valley Wineries.

Situated in the heart of the Pearl District, which is the snazzy part of Downtown Portland, Nuvrei is a popular haunt for residents and folks who work in this part of town.  Although the cafe is quite small, it never manages to feel too crowded, as the seating is strategically dispersed into every open crevice of the space.  There's a lovely display case of beautiful looking freshly baked treats such as croissants, scones, cookies and gourmet, delicate bagels one can't help but salivate at.

Food and Coffee:
Nuvrei excels at both of the above, and I especially love their Heart Coffee Roasters local coffee, which originates from East Portland.  It's great, potent stuff that you can prepare in an aeropress, and that's no joke.

Dante Biscuit - Even though their specialty bagel sandwiches always look impressive, I steered clear this time, as I chose a hearty biscuit sandwich instead.  There's a few ingredients that sold me on this right away, including a combination of smoked bacon, raspberry jam and a fried egg on top.  We can't forget about a crumbly, buttery biscuit that soaked up all the juices of the aforementioned ingredients.  While the sandwich looked on the petite side, it packed a punch and kept me full for more than half the day, giving you great bank for your buck.

Service and Cost:
I usually find the service in Portland beyond cordial and wonderful, but I won't use effusive words when referring to the folks here.  They're nice enough but for some reason don't really exemplify the Pacific Northwest hospitality I've recently come to know.

Costs are expensive at $2.50 and $6.50 for the coffee and the biscuit respectively.  But, you get what you pay for and that's high quality.

3 Mmmms

Nuvrei - 404 NW 10th Avenue, Portland OR 97209
503.972.1700
nuvrei.com

Gluten Free Banana Pancakes = Awesome Breakfast

As I'm nearing the end of my gluten free diet, I thought I'd share this easy recipe for gluten free banana pancakes.  I got the idea to make this dish because I was getting bored with eating gluten free cereal each morning, and needed a bit of variety.

Investing in Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free pancake mix, putting it together was a total cinch.  The outcome was a hearty plate of thick pancakes, which had bananas both inside the batter and on the outside too.  A little bit of natural maple syrup and some apricot preserves made this dish complete for me, and it sustained me for a good part of the day.  Here's the simple recipe:

Gluten Free Banana Pancakes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Pancake Mix
1 large egg
3/4 cup of milk
1 tbsp of vegetable oil
1 tbsp of butter
1 whole banana, sliced
Maple syrup and/or your favorite preserves to put on top

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together except for the bananas.  The batter can still be a little lumpy.  Add the bananas and mix gently until incorporated.

Heat a non-stick skillet (or griddle if you have one) until super hot and coat with a 1 1/2 tsp of butter.

Scoop batter onto the hot skillet (or griddle) with a 1/4 measuring cup.  Cook for about 2-3 minutes or until the top bubbles up.  Flip over to the other side and cook for about another minute or until the other side is golden brown.

Serve with sliced bananas on top, and some marmalade and syrup.  Enjoy this tasty gluten free treat!

Start Your Morning with a Cypriot Breakfast

Last week, Meg, Mackenzi and I spent some time at a local oldie but goodie over breakfast while we discussed some exciting We Heart Astoria matters.  That oldie/goodie is no other than Cafe Bar, which has been on a 24/7 schedule since the summertime.
Serving breakfast each day, not only on the weekends, from 10:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m., we were happy to see so many solid choices, each with a unique Greek and Cypriot twist.

We each ordered some form of eggs, and what immediately caught my attention was the first thing on the menu, called a Cypriot Breakfast.

Cypriot Breakfast - Making up a true mini Mediterranean feast, this breakfast offering is quite hardy, boasting a full plate of homemade Cypriot sausage, fried eggs (over easy), grilled halloumi cheese, fresh tomatoes and Cafe Bar's signature, hash browns.  All in all, a winning combination, I think the sausage definitely stole the show, and I couldn't believe how large it was.  Giving away a nice chunk to Meg for a try, she seemed to really enjoy it, and we both thought the homey flavors and the fresh herbs that were stuffed into the pork casing were just gorgeous.  Only later, I found out that this sausage is prepared in red wine, which made a lot of sense, considering the delicious pungency of each bite.

The perfectly cooked eggs had a lovely, silky yolk, which coated the already flavorful hash browns nicely, creating a rich golden glaze.  I loved seeing chunks of mushrooms and asparagus amongst the potatoes and appreciated the creativity in the preparation, as did my friends.

Red Dragon Smoothie - During our visit, we were also offered a first sip of a new smoothie on the menu called the Red Dragon.  Boasting a beautiful magenta color that just screamed beets, it's what was indeed inside, along with hints of apple, pear, mango, pineapple and cinnamon.  Each sip had a slightly earthy aftertaste that was also a little sweet, which reaffirmed its nutritious contents.  It was a great way to start the day and get energized, so if you see it (or don't yet see it) on the menu, do just ask for it - they'll hook you up.

Service and Cost:
Although our meal was absolutely lovely, the service was a bit spotty, which was interesting to observe, given the sparsely populated space.  It wasn't anything that put us off necessarily, it was just something we noticed and it could've been a result of where we were sitting.

Costs are moderate and the above mentioned breakfast (with coffee) set us back about $18 with tax and tip.

2.5 Mmmms

Cafe Bar - 32-90 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11103

718.204.5273

R/M Train to Steinway Street or N/Q Train to Broadway

www.monikascafebar.com

Homemade Pumpkin Pancakes

While Thanksgiving may be over, you can still find pumpkins and butternut squash out there to cook with (well at least for a little longer).  And although this recipe doesn't use fresh pumpkin, but instead canned organic pumpkin puree, you can absolutely substitute with fresh pureed pumpkin too.

I decided to make these pancakes on Thanksgiving morning actually to kick off our day of indulgence the proper way.  Making my own pancake mix, which was easy enough (see simple recipe), and then eyeballing the pumpkin puree at about a 1/3 of a cup for 2 servings.  It was jut enough too, as it didn't overpower the pancakes with pumpkin flavor, but still gave them that fall, comforting feel.  I sprinkled the top with a dash of cinnamon, also helping to decorate the plate, and then finally dressed it with a modest helping of Canadian maple syrup.  You can also use chunky preserves or a fruit compote on top such as an apple or pear.

The whole thing was wonderful to enjoy with a big mug of coffee and your loved one.
Homemade Pumpkin Pancakes recipe, courtesy of the Food Network

Pumpkin Bread French Toast Kinda Day

As a result of our constantly busy schedule, Dan and I are always on the run and rarely sit down to a nice, leisurely breakfast together.  Well I aimed to change that this weekend, as a little purchase over at All Good Things on Friday inspired me to make French Toast. 

That little purchase to be more specific was pumpkin bread.  Not what you may be thinking, this wasn't a desserty pumpkin bread, but instead a hearty, not sweet version.  I purchased it at All Good Thing's Orwasher's stand, which has a lot of other interesting breads, and while they come at a premium, they're really fantastic.

So as you can see here, I decided to use this bread for a homemade French Toast, topped with authentic Canadian maple syrup, courtesy of my friend Sarah from Calgary (thanks Sarah!). We further topped it with Back to Nature's Apple Blueberry Granola, which was just delicious.  

Even though you probably don't need me to tell you how to make French Toast, here's a little synopsis just in case.  

Pumpkin Bread French Toast:

Ingredients (serves 2)
3 eggs, beaten well
4 large slices of pumpkin bread (you can substitute with oatmeal raisin bread too)
A dash of cinnamon
Vegetable or olive oil
A pinch of salt
Good quality maple syrup
Your favorite granola

Directions:
Heat a large non-stick skillet on medium high with oil until really hot.  Add the pinch of cinnamon and salt into the eggs and whisk well.  

Coat the bread in the egg mixture and place into the skillet.  Pan fry on both sides for about 2-3 minutes or until the sides are golden brown.  Place on a plate and blot with paper towels.  

Serve immediately and top with maple syrup and granola.  Enjoy a great start to the day!

Point Brazil - All Day Buffet Feast

Point Brazil - 38-01 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.278.1934
N/W Train to Broadway or R/V/G Train to Steinway Street

I've noticed Point Brazil on many occasions but haven't taken the time to learn about it until now. What drew me in was a sign that said "buffet all day long." "How bad could that be?" I thought. There's always people around, sitting outside (except for in this picture because it was pouring rain). Needless to say, Point Brazil seems popular and well-respected in the community.

Below are the deets about their all day buffet - as you'll notice, the prices are staggeringly low. Meg and I will check it out soon and I'll report back with the specifics. In the meantime, feel free to be the judge...

Breakfast Buffet - 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. $4.99/lb
Includes three types of omelettes, scrambled eggs, sweet potatoes, fruit, and other Brazilian specialties.

Lunch and Dinner Buffet - Noon - 10 p.m. $4.99/lb regular buffet, $5.99/lb BBQ buffet
Regular buffet offers Brazilian-style dishes including 2-3 types of meats (chicken, red meat and fish). BBQ buffet incorporates the above as well as rotisserie meats with various sauces.

Eat up Astoria!

A Lovely New England Brunch

Dan and I spent New Year's in New England with good friends, Rory and Darren who live in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Their town is as quaint as can be, and at moments I felt like I was in a story book.

Our gracious hostess Rory made us the most delightful brunch today. It was a perfect New England-y set-up with beautiful country flowers, delicious coffee and a savory omelet. A touch of Astoria was infused into the equation, as Dan and I brought over giant bagels from the Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company. You can see the lovely spread above. The recipe for the omelet came from Ina Garten's latest cookbook, Back to Basics.

Country French Omelet:

Ingredients (serves 2)

1 tbs of good olive oil

3 slices of thick-cut bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 cup (1 inch diced) unpeeled Yukon Gold potatoes

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

5 extra-large eggs

3 tbs milk

1 tbs unsalted butter

1 tbs fresh chopped chives (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Heat the olive oil in a 10-inch ovenproof omelet pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook for 3-5 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is browned but not crisp. Take the bacon out of the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate.

Place the potatoes in the pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Continue to cook over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes until very tender and browned, tossing occasionally to brown evenly. Remove with a slotted spoon to the same plate with the bacon.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the eggs, milk, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper together with a fork. After the potatoes are removed, pour the fat out of the pan and discard. Add the butter, lower the heat to low, and pour the eggs into the hot pan. Sprinkle the bacon, potatoes and chives evenly over the top and place the pan in the oven for about 8 minutes, just until the eggs are set. Slide onto a plate, divide in half, and serve hot.

Lemon, Basil and Egg Bread Pudding

I wanted to make a special brunch last Saturday for Dan and me. He worked late the night before so I wanted to surprise him with a yummy dish. Although I've made the lemon, basil, egg bread pudding before, I don't think he's ever had it and I knew that it would be a luxurious treat.

The recipe came from Giada De Laurentiis', Everyday Italian program and specifically from the "breakfast in bed" show. You can use the simple recipe here to recreate it. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare, 40 minutes to bake and 5 minutes to eat.

Dan and I both loved it because it had a nice mix of crunchy bread on the outside, and soft mushy bread on the inside. The fresh basil made this dish fragrant and refreshing, as did the lemon. A tip - if you don't have focaccia on-hand, you can use any other kind of bread that's scoopable. So use anything except for mushy Wonder-style bread.

Enjoy - and don't be afraid to reheat the leftovers in the oven!

Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company - Best Big Bagels

Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company - 35-05 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106

718.204.0141

N/W Train to Broadway

www.brooklynbagelandcoffeecompany.com

Despite its name, the Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company that I'm talking about is in Astoria--but there's also a location in the city. Many of you might know it for its gynormous, fluffy bagels (they're handrolled and waterboiled) and the great breakfast food. It's my number one go-to place for bagels in the neighborhood and I occasionally share this local treasure with family and friends--like yesterday when I brought a half a dozen over to my parent's house.

There are two locations in Astoria--one on Broadway and another one on Ditmars. They're identical in look, service and menu offerings. Standard breakfast foods such as eggs, bacon and their famous bagels make up its menu. They have every flavor of bagel that you could think of and my favorites include the everything and the egg. The cream cheese and spread selection is also extensive and includes anything from salmon spread to bacon and scallion cream cheese. Mini bagels are available but there's nothing mini about them--they're the size of regular bagels.

Expect a long wait when you visit and I'd allot about 7-12 minutes on line. But when you get those amazing pillows of heaven in your hands, you'll know that the wait was worth it. Since Brooklyn bagels are so substantial, they come at a premium at about $.85 each. But you can easily get two meals out of them.

If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend trying Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company for a casual yet delicious breakfast treat.

Kafene - All Day Breakfast and Burger Joint

Kafene - 23-08 Hoyt Avenue South, Astoria, NY 11102

718.274.6525

N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

Another fun spotting by Miss Margot, who jogs around the hood, doing double duty--staying in ship-shape and scoping out Astoria's new fooderies. Kafene happens to be somewhat near my place so I decided to take a detour there this morning before going to work. 2 words--so cute! Margot and I will be checking it out properly and treating ourselves to some of their grub, which smelled mighty fine.

Kafene is small and used to be a hangout for the old--literally older men--called Jerry's Place. It remains rustic and homey looking but has definitely been spruced up. There's one guy behind the counter by the name of Constantine. I'm not sure if he cooks and serves but it sure looked like it this morning. He was sweet and so welcoming when I came in--a toothy smile on his face, ready to make me the breakfast of my dreams. Maybe soon. Real soon.

The menu is displayed outside and is a fusion of American and Greek eats. Here's a glimpse of it. The prices look phenomenally cheap! Check it out on a lovely day--they have outdoor seating and they're open late, until 11p.

From the Grill: (served with hand-cut fries, lettuce, tomato and onions)

Greek Burger...$5.75

Italian Burger...$5.75

Western Burger...$5.75

Healthy Euro Toast...$4.25...Make your own option, add bacon...+$.75, add grilled chicken...+$1.50, add hummus...+$1.00

From the Sea:

Crabcakes (3)...$5.75

Shrimp (6)...$6.75

Salmon Burger...$7.75

All Day Breakfast:

2 eggs with bacon on a roll with coffee...$3.00

Greek Omelette...$4.50

Western Omelette...$4.00

Another positive is that Astoria Park is directly across the street--you can head on down after your meal.

Want to work at Kafene? See here!