Guest Blogger – Corey Wilson

Sheraton Kaiulani Princess – Honolulu, Hawai’i

In my line of work, I’ve been sent to some pretty unsavoury places on our planet, so it was a nice change to attend a conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Not only did this give me the opportunity to spend a week on a lonely rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean during the southern winter, but to add some length to the Morning Glory by my own hand...

Ahem.

The clichés have been used ad nauseam with a certain meal being ‘the most important of the day’. The proof is in the poached eggs when you see the science on how a kick-started metabolism is the cornerstone of weight control and if you’re trying, weight loss. As this is a tourist-town in an annexed part of the USA, it’s not surprising that the only thing you can get for breakfast here is - you guessed it – American Style.

First cab (and might well be the last one) off the rank was at my motel, The Sheraton Kaiulani Princess in Honolulu. The cost of breakfast in my own hotel was the first thing to get me offside - twenty dollars (US of course) for a smorgasbord that only provides powdered eggs served as either scrambled or an omelette – of sorts. So let’s go through the items on my plate in no particular order of preference:


Powdered egg omelette: Contained diced bacon, onion, jack cheese, mushrooms and tomato.

Verdict – Wouldn’t feed it to a brown dog.

Turkey links: You can’t screw these up.

Verdict – As dry as the previous night’s martini.

Bacon: American style.

Verdict – Crispy and caused me to overdose on ‘meh’.

Hash browns: Made fresh with shredded potato.

Verdict – Undercooked and no where near enough seasoning.

Coffee: For my 20USD I was expecting a decent coffee. Not today. Americans seem happy to be over sugaring and guzzling crap-in-a-cup with non-dairy creamer.

Verdict – As bitter as a divorced lemon.

So there you have it. I know I might’ve come across as a bit of a bitch for my first Morning Glory entry (snigger) however I pride myself on giving credit where it’s due. That’s why The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is getting none from me following this piss-poor effort.

The Canadian Breakfast Experience

One of the benefits of being in love with a Canadian is experiencing Canada and all it has to offer.

Certainly one of the things Canada does well is breakfast and awesome ones at that. In fact it could very well be the home of the big breakfast. What other country is known for bacon that is named after itself (Canadian Bacon)?

The Canadian Breakfast Experience blogs are not so much of a review, I was having too much fun to critique, so therefore the below places wont be rated. They are an insight into the breakfast experience Canada has to offer.

The Canadian Breakfast Experience - The Elbow Room Cafe 1

The Elbow Room Cafe
560 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC

http://www.theelbowroomcafe.com

I thank Jenn from the bottom of my heart for finding this one. Elbow Room is world famous for its breakfasts and after our experiences there, I can see why.

Elbow Room is not only famous for its breakfasts, but is also famous for the Abuse its staff gives. As they say "Food and Service is our name. ABUSE is our game."

Amusing set of rules.

The first time we went here we had a waiter with a bit of attitude but was pleasant just the same. It was amusing listening to some of the comments he made.

Jenn ordered the Hilary Swank (Don't make me cry) Omelette. This was made of Cream cheese, avocado, sautéed spinach, fresh mushroom and tomato.

About a gazillion eggs in that baby.

I decided to stick with my favourite style of breakfast so I ordered The Lumberjack. Two large eggs, one slice of black forest ham, two English style sausages, Three strips of Montreal style bacon, half grilled tomatoes, hash browns and toast.

A fantastic start to the day.

I struggled to finish but eventually did. However being the good spirits that we try to be, donated to the Loving Spoonful foundation which is a charity that supply's meals to those who are homebound with AIDS. If you don't finish your meal, you have to donate!

What a fantastic place! So good I walked out of there wanting to go back for lunch, but knowing i couldn't eat another thing until dinner.

The Canadian Breakfast Experience - Cookies Grill

Cookie's Grill
Unit A-3 44335 Yale Road West
Chilliwack, BC
V2R 4H2

+1 (604) 792 0444

http://www.cookiesgrill.ca

Cookies Grill is exactly how it sounds. It is your quintessential North American style diner.

Cookies Grill has been raved about in Chilliwack in recent times. So much so, that our friend Tyson just had to take me there when I was over.

The food is plentiful, done well and doesn't cost much at all. In fact I cant find anything over C$10.

I had the "Cookies Big Bold Breakfast". This consisted of: Two fresh eggs any style, two slices of bacon, two breakfast sausages and a slice of Black Forest ham, served with Cookie's country fried potatoes or shredded hashbrowns and toast, with your choice of buttermilk pancakes or French toast or cinnamon brown sugar waffle sticks.

Yes this is a bloody big breakfast. So big we couldn't get it to fit in the shot.

My darling Jennifer had the Sausage Sampler Skillet. This is a sampling of their Maple, Breakfast and Farmer sausages with mushrooms, onions and aged Canadian cheddar. It is served with their Signature Country Fried Potatoes or shredded hash browns, with two fresh scrambled eggs and your choice of toast or buttermilk pancakes or French toast or cinnamon brown sugar waffle sticks.

Jenn wondering how in the name of British Columbia will she finish it!

Our friend Tyson had the Cookies Classic Clubhouse, whilst not a breakfast dish per say, it consists of: Three slices of toasted bread stacked with turkey breast, tomato, iceberg lettuce, bacon and mayonnaise. He had it with a side serve of fries (home cut with skin on) and gravy.

All in all Cookies was a pleasurable experience. With nothing on the menu (from my research) over C$10, great service and great food, you cant go wrong.

Keffi

Shop 1/285 Centre Rd
Bentleigh VIC 3204
Australia
+61395577300

Overview: OK, I admit, I'm a regular here. Being a Melbournite, breakfasts out on the weekend are a regular thing. Its close to where I live, the coffee is great, the service good and prices good.

This place gets packed one minute and emptiness the next. I have never had issues with the service and food comes quickly. I also think its good to have an open kitchen. No hiding in there!

They have a good menu but I always construct my own for the selections below.

So to keep comparisons valid I constructed the usual.

Eggs, just as I like them, poached and runny are always good and rarely has excess water.

Bacon, always torn? But still cook well and tastes quite good. Id personally prefer more crispiness.

Sausages are standard beef. Which is surprisingly a nice change from fancy chipolatta's of late.

Mushrooms have a bit of garlic and a few herbs. My favourite part of all.

Spinach, sublime! Rich, slightly salty and buttery.

This usually comes with two huge slices of toast. I usually ask for one, or a muffin.

7/10

The Pantry

The Pantry
1 Church Street
Brighton, Victoria
Australia

http://www.eatability.com.au/au/melbourne/pantry_brighton/

Overview: This is one of Brightons most popular Cafes. I have been here a few times and always seem to sit near a "name", Eric Bana, Mark Skaife for example. It seems to be a place more to be seen than anything else. Outside is always packed, the aspect is ideal for you are always in the sun on a winters afternoon. The buzz reflects this.
But how is it if you are looking for a superb breakfast?
The service staff are overly disconnected from the customers. Some positive feedback:

• A menu within 10 minutes of sitting down please. Should one have to ask?
  
• I do exist. I felt overly ignored at first (4 attempts to get attention) and hurried to leave after.
• A Maître d'? What for? You chatted to your cyclist mates for 30 mins.
• Please dont stick your hand out when im still chewing, with food still on my plate, knife and fork not together and ask "Finished?".

The disconnected service a side, coffee was quick and breakfast followed shortly thereafter.

Coffee - Very good. Creamy with bite. Very well made.

Breakfast:

Eggs - Poached beautifully. Yolk runny and resonably drained.
Toast - Lightly toasted with butter already applied! Perfect size for the two eggs.
Bacon - Well cooked. Crispy in the thin end of the rasher and not up the thick end. Just how I like it.
Sausages - Beef and herbed. Lovely and springly and succulent.
Hash Brown - The typical bought in. Why is it so hard to make your own?
Mushroom - Big and juicy. With a pesto style paste melted around the edges.
Tomato - Hmm. Not sure how this was cooked. Most likely oven. Would have been better on the hot plate. Was ok.
Tomato sauce - Not really sure why I needed this. Gave it a go on everything there. Didnt add anything to the experience and there was a lot of it!

6.5/10

Cafe Per Te

Cafe Per Te
66 Church Street
Brighton, Victoria
Australia

http://www.eatability.com.au/au/melbourne/caffe_per_te

Overview: The most unique breakfast experience ive had. A bit fatty. Greens would cut the guilt.

Coffee - OK. Didn't occur to me that it was great. But wasnt bad.

Breakfast:

Eggs - Fried, well seasoned and drizzled in olive oil. Im not one for fried eggs, but was OK.
Chipolata Sausages - Superb. The fennel seeds make these what they are!
Prosciutto - Lovely as usual. Crispy but could have been better drained.
Toast - Lovely. Fired over a grill and tasted like it. Drizzled with olive oil as well.
Tomatoes - Lightly charred and seasoned. Refreshing.
Pecorino Cheese - Never had this in a breakfast before! Was a nice addition.

7/10

Cafe Florentine

Florentine
24 Church Street
Brighton, Victoria
Australia

http://www.eatability.com.au/au/melbourne/cafe_florentine

Overview: This place is packed, warm, homely, with buzz. Perks one up on a cold wet day. Breakfast was superb.

Coffee - Nice. Great crema and milk.

Bacon - Lovely, crispy and two rasher which is just right.
Chipolata sausage - Was nice and juicy. No prominent flavours.
Eggs - Perfectly poached and runny. Weren't drained well, leaving toast soggy in places.
Hash brown - Nice, but these could easily be home made and therefore better.
Mushrooms - Sweet, juicy and great texture.
Tomatoes - Were well cooked and refreshing but not seasoned.
Spinach - Lovely and fresh. Could do with some flavour as they tasted like...spinach. Spice this up a bit.

8.5/10