Egg Heaven Cafe [Long Beach]

Egg Heaven Cafe is a little mom and pop shop located on the street corner with its unassuming green awnings. I arrived for Sunday brunch and the wait list wasn't long at all -- although, I believe that this is the type of place with a long wait at an earlier time. The restaurant itself offers bar and booth seating but both are rather limited.

Even though it's called Egg Heaven Cafe, there are dishes other than eggs: sandwiches, pancakes, oatmeal. I'm not usually an omelette gal but it dominated a major portion of the menu and compelled me to order one. My Vegetarian Exotic omelette consisted of lentils, rice, cottage cheese, sour cream, Jack cheese. It also came with a size of potatos and toast. The omelette was a little large for me but the hodgepodge of ingredients worked well together and it was rather tasty. Another plus is that I felt healthy eating it. I was extremely surprised with the wheat toast which was unlike any i've had at any breakfast joint. It was thick, and buttered, and even though it was toasted, the center was amazingly soft.

The small fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice is quite a generous serving and topped off my meal quite nicely.

My company ordered the Eggs Benedict but it didn't blow his socks off. Personally, I've had better Hollandaise.

If the restaurant were around the corner of my house, I would stop by occasionally but I don't think it warrants a special drive out to Long Beach.

Egg Heaven Cafe
4358 E 4th St
Long Beach, CA 90814
(562) 433-9277

Crater Lake Lodge [Oregon]

Though we copped out on camping and slept in the car, we did save ourselves a hefty $18 campsite fee and an even heftier $170 reservation at the Crater Lake Lodge. And while we did not partake in the amenities of the historic hotel, we thought it appropriate to treat ourselves to a proper breakfast before embarking on our 3-hour hike.

We both opted for the Blue Lake Breakfast ($7.75), which is nothing more than your standard two eggs, bacon/sausage/or ham, grilled potatoes, and your choice of a biscuit or scone. One of us got bacon and the other, sausage. One had their eggs poached; the other, over-hard. He chose a biscuit and I chose the scone. It was a fairly basic affair, but incredibly gratifying after a week-long diet of peanut butter and jelly. I also made the mistake of paying for tea when it was readily available in the lobby “For Hotel Guests Only.”

We spent the rest of the morning enjoying the sweeping views afforded by the Lodge’s prime location on the caldera’s rim. We took photos, reclined in the outdoor rocking chairs, warmed up at the fireplace, and got our fill of the complimentary “For Guests Only” coffee and tea.

A note on the hotel services: If I were paying that much money to stay in the lodge, I’d expect a certain level of service from the front desk and concierge staff. However, most of the Lodge’s employees are temporary workers from abroad who have little service experience. When asked about local breweries and restaurants, we were only given blank stares and I-don’t-know shrugs*. It’s certainly not the Ritz-Carlton, but I suppose that you’re only paying for the view after all.

* If you’re looking for more helpful service, try the Steel Information Center where the Park Rangers will even look things up on the internet for you.

Crater Lake Lodge
Rim Village
Crater Lake, OR 97604
(541) 594-2255

Krazy Eddie's [Laguna Hills]

Everyone is quick to champion their local neighborhood coffee shop and Krazy Eddie's is truly worth the rave.

There's no doubt that the bagels here are good--thin and browned to a crisp, not to doughy, and slathered with a lean coat of cream cheese. As Goldilocks would say, "It's just right."

While a touch sugary, the Strawberry Cream Cheese is the best I've tasted yet. Made with fresh strawberries, honey, and brown sugar, its simple yet vibrant flavor is enough to brighten any bagel. And while the bagels hold their own , they wouldn't be stellar without the greetings that are chirped as regulars walk in from their morning commute.

I pondered the coffee thermoses and prepared to fill my cup when a member of the eager staff offered to make me latte. I couldn't deny his enthusiasm and was greeted by a "be happy" five minutes later. On the foam skimming my full-bodied roast was a smiley face reminding me to take my 6-hour traffic school in stride.

I never understood the allure of a daily coffee fix (I gave up the stuff after I realized that my annual thousand dollar habit was giving me the shakes), but when you spend everyday riding the elevator with the same nameless faces, it's nice to feel relevant to someone and some place.

If you're doing a drive-by and can't seem to find the place, look for a sign that says Donuts&Bagels in red and yellow type.

Krazy Eddie's Donuts
23052 Lake Forest Dr
Laguna Hills, CA 92637
(949) 454-0528

Orange [Chicago]

Reviewers report long waits at this busy eatery, and those fortunate enough can grab a first-come-first-serve seat at the bar. I was able to score a bar seat and did not have to endure the 30 minute wait for a table on a Sunday morning. However, that did not save me from waiting entirely. I sat at the corner for the bar for nearly 15 minutes, menuless and starving. Everyone behind the counter was busy shuffling around and making juice, but where was the waitress? It turns out that there was only one person managing the business behind the bar and unfortunately, she was not easy to flag down.

I finally got my hands on a menu and I decided to move to a more open location on the bar, in hopes of faster service. I was not tempted by the traditional breakfast fare but got what I had come for: the pancake flight. It is a dish of pancakes, prepared four ways and following a central theme. This week, it was muffins: lemon poppyseed, carrot, almond streusel, and banana chocolate. For a drink, I turned to the customizable juice bar and ordered a grapefruit juice, adding another dollar for strawberries.

And then I waited some more. The bartenders came around the talk to me while they hurriedly prepared juice, using the industrial-size juicer. I watched the mesmerizing orange juicer behind the bar as it sliced orange after orange and pressed them for all their worth.

My pancakes finally arrived. I was astounded by the size of the pancakes and quickly deemed it as a dish that is better off being shared with friends. The "dollar pancakes" were at least 4 inches in diameter each, and they were arranged in piles of three for each of the four styles.

I started with the lemon poppy seed, which was very delicious and reminded me strongly of the muffin version. The vanilla lemon glaze wasn't too sweet but it didn't taste much like lemons either. I loved the crunch of the poppyseeds and the zest should be eaten with caution.

Normally, I don't favor chocolate in breakfast foods but this pancake actually turned my thoughts. I just wish that there had been more banana slices on the pancake. I felt that the white chocolate chips were unnecessary.

The almond streusel pancake was topped with almond anglaise and almond streusel. I couldn't make out that anglaise as the topped seemed as if it were one and it was thick and held its form. Streusel is of German origin and a crumb topping of butter, flour and sugar baked on top of a pastry. I didn't get any inkling that the streusel was in any way baked on to the top of my pancake.

The only pancake to fall short of expectations was the carrot. It did not resemble a moist carrot muffin at all, which I absolutely adore. The pancake was utterly dry and the cream cheese frosting did nothing to alleviate that issue. I think it could have been much better if the carrot were somehow worked into the pancake batter.

Overall, I ate about 30% of my dish but I wish I could have finished it.

Orange
75 W Harrison St
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 447-1000

Bistrot Margot [Chicago]

The strangest thing about Bistrot Margot is its classification as a Provencal bistro, which is nowhere close to the Italian mobster/Parisian cabaret vibe that was coming from the dining room. Lush velvet curtains, cherry wood finishes, and black-and-white, swap meet poster prints just don't add up to a French countryside for me.

However, the restaurant does have a pleasant patio, which sits streetside in Chicago's Old Town. The awnings, potted flowers, and balcony come a little closer to Provence.

The occasion was brunch and I was looking for something simple, but executed with A+ precision. I found it with Oeufs Aux Choix ($7.95): two eggs poached, haricot verts, sunflower seed toast, and three slices of bacon.


Though I was in the market for soft-boiled eggs, I wasn't disappointed by the poaching, which left my egg yolks runny and ready for the mopping. My toast was dense enough for a substantial crackle, while remaining soft and bready on the inside. While I meant to skip on the carbs, I kept taking one last bite after another until it was gone altogether. The bacon was drained of every ounce of grease and the haricot verts were steamed to the pinnacle of greenness before they were lightly dressed in a veneer of butter.

It was the type of morning that warranted something familiar and expected and Bistrot Margot fit the bill.

Bistrot Margot
1437 N. Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 587-3660

Bagelmania & Coffee House [Huntington Beach]

I have a tradition that involves bagels for breakfast when I know I've got a strenuous--whether mental or physical--day ahead of me. This time, the occasion was surfing and the objective: to find a freshly made or at least locally produced bagel. I was led to Bagelmania under the auspices of Yelp, but I was pleasantly surprised to kill two birds with one stone.

I was interested in coming in, but our rush led us straight to the drive-thru, where we entertained the menu only long enough to place an order. I'm normally a bagel purist, topping my Semifreddi bagels with honey and cream cheese, but decided to try the seasonal Hawaiian bagel with Hawaiian cream cheese--a decadent start to the morning laden with pineapple and coconut. We also threw in a plain bagel for good measure.

Bagelmania's bagels are baked with more air holes and are hence less dense and filling. This also means that toasting the bagels won't quite have the same effect. Bagelmania makes up for it with their signature blistery exterior, which is chewy to a leathery crisp. I know it sounds unappealing, but it's an acquired texture that is more interesting than it is offensive.

The Hawaiian is my favorite flavored bagel thus far and has only a touch of sweetness that wont give you a toothache. Even better is the Hawaiian cream cheese, whose excess I scraped off and added to my plain bagel.

I like everything about Bagelmania--from the drive-thru window to the delicious seasonal bagels, it was a hit for me.

---

Updated 7/24/07

Today's occasion: Hike to Switzer Falls.

I thought I'd try going with a healthier option and opted for the whole wheat bagel with Hawaiian cream cheese. I had a feeling that it'd be a not-as-good combination and was proven right by the nuttiness of the bagel that overpowered the pineapples and coconut.

I did, however, enjoy my SO's McBagel, which had all the makings of a breakfast sandwich with a hearty, dense bagel bun. Although a thinner bagel would have been better, since the sandwich was pretty dry and hearty even without the carbs.

I actually went into the store for this excursion, just so I could grab some interior shots.

Bagelmania & Coffee House
8861 Adams Ave
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
(714) 965-5637

Avanti Cafe [Costa Mesa]

Q: How do you drag a carnivore to Avanti Cafe for lunch?
A: Don't tell them it's vegetarian.

Fifteen minutes before I'm supposed to get picked up, I get a call from AH asking me whether or not the restaurant was vegetarian.

Me: No you're looking at the wrong menu. I said the Avanti Cafe in Newport Beach and that place is a total hole-in-the-wall and it isn't online.
AH: Oh, okay. Are you sure?
Me: Positive.

We pull up into Costa Mesa twenty minutes later and a light bulb goes off in AH's head after looking at the menu. Hey, I've seen this before... I giggle with the glee of my trickery and proceed to order for the both of us.

The selections in the deli case looked pretty good and though I considered ordering a sampler, we settled on the eat-in, cooked-to-order items instead.

The Avanti Magic Bruschetta ($6.75) wasn't a whole lot to look at and didn't resemble bruschetta in any way, but would've been a solid choice for brunch at any cafe. It came with sweet potatoes and yams, which were the the flavor highlights of the otherwise bland dish. It was light and refreshing, though I would've added a little salt, were there salt shakers on our table. It was served with thin slices of a dense bread loaded with nuts and cranberries.

I made the mistake of not asking enough questions and was kind of disappointed when our pizza came out looking exactly like the bruschetta, but on pizza crust instead of with eggs. The Shitake Artichoke Pesto ($8.75) was almost an exact clone of the yam, spinach, pine nuts, and olive combination that was sitting just across the table from me. However, it did managed to offset the blandness of bruschetta by being a tad too salty. I'm not sure that pesto works particularly well with the yam, but as separate entities, they worked on they pizza. The crust was both doughy and bubbly, but didn't carry much substance flavor-wise.

There are a few tables where you can sit down and enjoy your lunch, though the strip mall location doesnt lend itself well to a leisurely long lunch. They do offer a wide selection of teas and some interesting coffee and juice blends as well. I head they do a mean pizza and beer night on Sundays, where local artisan brews are featured.

I like that Avanti doesnt try too hard to be something its not. It is simple, healthy, natural, and a good way to eat out when you've spent the last five meals in restaurants.

Avanti Cafe
259 E. 17th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 548-2224

Daily Cafe [Portland]

Daily Cafe is located in the trendy Pearl district of Portland, which is one of those revived warehouse areas a la NYC's Meatpacking district. The modern space is painted in vibrant oranges and reds and is a dose of sunshine waiting for you on a Sunday morning. Not too busy or noisy, it is a good place to bring the family on a warm weekend.

Sunday brunch at the Daily Cafe involves a three-course prix fixe at an affordable $12.95. We started with a basket of pastries that included a cranberry scone, banana nut muffin, and cheddar cheese biscuit--all of which were fairly generic and dry.

Our appetizers came after our entrees and weren't memorable interpretations of apple cobbler or granola. The standouts were our entrees of baked Portuguese eggs with choricou and kale and smoked salmon omelette. In both case, our eggs were cooked to perfection and well seasoned.


Daily Cafe in the Pearl
902 NW 13th Ave
Portland OR 97209
(503) 242-1916