Week 19: John's Breakfast and Lunch

John's Breakfast and Lunch is located at 2614 4 St NW, Calgary, Alberta

https://www.facebook.com/johnsbreakfastyyc/

John's Breakfast and Lunch looks fairly nondescript from the outside and cozy and bright on the inside! There are a few tables on an outside patio but the fall morning chill drove us indoors. The serving staff are super welcoming and we were fortunate to find a seat next to the window, street-side. 

The Menu has a full offering of omelettes, eggs benedict, french toast and traditional breakfasts.  Bill chose a benny and I opted for the vegetarian omelette. The portions were generous and the vegetables in the omelette were fresh and not heavily oiled.  Often one of the downsides of a vegetable omelette is the vegetables are precooked and have gotten a bit soggy and tasteless.  Not so at John's!  The restaurant had a steady flow of customers and the atmosphere was relaxed! We would definitely go back and next time I'll try the French Toast.

My next post will be #20. We have circled back to restaurants on the blog a couple of times. Once was a return to The Holy Grill on 10th Ave. SW and the other was OEB on 1st Ave. NE. I'm starting to feel a bit "breakfasted out". We have really enjoyed exploring the Calgary breakfast options and have also enjoyed experiencing new styles and the way restaurants source their food products.  It's encouraging to know that local producers are supported as well as healthy eating choices. Evolution at work! I've yet to decide on a new direction for the blog and look forward to seeing what emerges!

The Book

This week I'm reading Lars Kepler's The Rabbit Hunter. Lars Kepler is the pseudonym of husband and wife team Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril. This is the 5th novel in this series that I've read and am loving this one. Investigator Joona Linna is serving time in prison and is          

temporarily released to search for the killer of a high ranking member of the Swedish government. Joona soon concludes that what Security Police thought was a political assassin is, in fact, a serial killer!

While working to create a profile and motive, two more people are killed and Joona discovers there are eight more people on the killer's list.  The killer leaves a cryptic nursery rhyme at each scene and no other clues. When the third victim is identified, all the rules of the investigation change!

Week 18: Galaxie Diner

The Galaxie Diner is located at 1413 - 11 St. SW in Calgary's Beltline.  It's easy to miss because it's tucked between two shops kitty corner from a Good Earth coffee shop.

The menu is quite unique as is the interior design of the Galaxie Diner.    It's an "old school" diner with the design emulating a renovated street car from the '50s.  The space is small and cozy and the chef cooks behind the counter.  We were seated in one of the 6 or 7 booths.  There are a few counter seats and very little space between. Each table has a wall jukebox.  They aren't operational but it was fun to look through the music selections.  

Bill ordered the Montreal Smoked Meat Omelette and I ordered the Breakfast Burrito.  Both were delicious and had lots of fresh tasting ingredients.  We always swap tastes and agreed that everything on our plates was excellent!

We go out for breakfast at least once a week so are getting pretty seasoned and probably a bit more discerning from when we started this project looking for cool and tasty places to eat breakfast in Calgary (or wherever we happen to be).  The Galaxie Diner fits into my top five.  The environment was so relaxed and retro that when we left the Diner, I half-expected to find the rest of the city transported back to the fifties!  The restaurant is not far from Shelf Life Books on 4th St. SW where we always find something interesting to purchase.  It always feels good to support an independent book store as there are not that many left in Calgary.

                                                 

And now the books!     

I've read a few books over the summer, mostly novels, and reread Eckhart Tolle's Power of Now. And by the way, I highly recommend it even if you've read it before. It remains one of the most profound discourses on the eternal space we inhabit from moment to moment. If I had the self-discipline, I'd read it at least once a year.

I now have 3 books that I'm looking forward to digging into.  The first is Reader Come Home, The Reading Brain in a Digital World by Maryanne Wolf (author of Proust and the Squid) , Birds by the Shore by Jennifer Ackerman and Lars Kepler's The Rabbit Hunter.  

I hope everyone enjoyed a great summer, good food and great reads!

Week 17: Dairy Lane

Dairy Lane Cafe  319 - 19 St NW Calgary has been at this location since 1950.  It thrills me to no end to know that at least something is older than I am! We've eaten here before but decided to add Dairy Lane to our list of notable breakfast spots.  They have added a nice outdoor patio - not a rainy day option but a lovely spot for warm summer days!  The breakfast menu is quite eclectic and includes traditional items plus burritos, tostadas and breakfast bowls. Dairy Lane emphasizes locally grown and organic menu items and the food is delicious! I ordered the Classic Breakfast and Bill had the All In Omelette. Both were perfectly done with fresh sides and great toast! The coffee is excellent!

No relevance just fun clip art

The Cafe is small but has a cozy feel.  The tables are pretty close together but for some reason it still

Every egg a happy egg

feels spacious and the customers are pretty chill.  I love that Dairy Lane is connected to a community project The Highbanks Society and have been for years.  

Take a short walk south down 19th Ave. after breakfast and stop in at Tapestry Thrift and Consignment Store.  They also sell new clothes and some lovely jewelry.  Keep walking and stop in at Soul Food Crystals & Books.  It's a beautiful little shop with an extraordinary selection of gems and crystals.  Linda, the owner, is an absolute wealth of information and has a great staff.  I challenge anyone to leave the shop without a pretty purple shopping bag!

Now the book!

I heard this woman interviewed on a Super Soul podcast and was very moved by her argument for actively participating in the direction we want to see the world move toward.  Her premise is that the existing political environment has caused so much confusion and chaos and that shutting the world out is not an option.  

It's a very inspiring and timely read as we in Alberta and other parts of Canada see a similar movement of racist, homophobic (and other ics) threatening our own values.   

Week 16: Bumpy's Café oops it's closed! Return to Holy Grill.

We set out to go for breakfast at Bumpy's Cafe on 8th St. SW.  When we finally found it, the lights were out and the door was locked.  As it turns out, they closed the cafe at the end of May this year.

When we were looking for a parking spot we coincidently found one right at the front door of the Holy Grill!  Because we'd already paid for parking and were getting pretty hungry, decided to go in for breakfast.  We were pretty convinced that the empty spot at Holy Grill's front door was some cosmic hint that should have just gone there to begin with!

Our return to the The Holy Grill at their 10th Ave. location was definitely a good decision.  We decided to try the Nicmuffin, fried egg, bacon, cheddar and tomato on an English Muffin and the Wakey Wakey, two eggs, Italian Sausage and their "smash browns" and toast. Both were unique presentations of traditional breakfasts.

The Holy Grill (s) are owned by three brothers, Nicholas, Jonathan and Andrew Yee who grew up around the restaurant business.  Their second location is on the corner of 5th Ave. and 4th St. SW, above Tim Horton's. 

We always look for something unique in each of the places we choose for our breakfast and the Holy Grill does have something very unique to offer.  It's located at street level with large clean windows (you know who you are that don't bother with this important detail) so the street entertainment is close at hand. We also liked the casual atmosphere and the super friendly staff.  The breakfasts are prepared quickly and it's perfect for those who are in a morning rush but also want something nutritious and tasty! Also, there is free parking on the east side of the Cafe.

AND NOW THE BOOK...

This week I chose to re-read a book that I read a few years ago. The book is called The Visionary Window: A Quantum Physicist's Guide to Enlightenment by Dr. Amit Goswami. Recently, the field of epigenetics has caught my interests.  'Epigenetics literally means "above" or "on top of" genetics. It refers to external modifications to DNA that turn genes "on" or "off." These modifications do not change the DNA sequence, but instead, they affect how cells "read" genes'.  References to quantum physics kept showing up and since Amit Goswami is a theoretical nuclear physicist and I happen to have 3 of his books in my library....  Dr. Goswami  calls himself a "quantum activist" so let me allow him to explain what that means.

"To change ourselves and our social institutions, quantum activism uses the power of quantum physics.  To see this, consider that quantum physics is the physics of possibilities.  Quantum thinking gives us back our free will to choose amongst these possibilities.  These choices are discontinuous, breaking us from past habits.  They come from a cosmic interconnectedness we call quantum non-locality, which is an ability to communicate through space and time without any signals."

Spine tingling?  Maybe not but epigenetics and quantum physics?  Be still my heart!!

Week 15: Holy Grill

The Holy Grill has three locations in Calgary.  The one we chose is located at 827 -10 Ave SW across the street from Mountain Equipment Co-op.  There's a small customer parking lost on the east side of the restaurant.  The restaurant is cafeteria style with an "old school" vibe and huge windows facing 10th Ave.  Unfortunately, we were so hungry when we got to Holy Grill we neglected to take ANY pictures.  You'll have to visit the website or Google "images" to get an idea of what the food and restaurant looks like!

It won't happen again!

The menu is sandwiches and benedicts (4 selections of each) and Bill chose the South Beach Benedict with two poached eggs, tomato, avocado and  hollandaise on an English muffin.  It looked delicious and tasted GREAT!  I chose the Bacon Avocado Crisp (wish I had a photo because the image would definitely make your mouth water) with bacon, avocado, fried egg, cheddar, mayo, pickled eggplant, spinach and tomato on a bun.  The pickled egg plant was a nice touch and I devoured the entire sandwich before even thinking about a photo!!  

                     

Fifteen breakfast blogs and I'm wondering if it might be time for a change soon.  We are enjoying eating our way through the breakfast offerings but think we may be approaching the time where something new is required.  I have a couple of ideas rolling around and they both involve food.  I'm interested in healthy, tasty and nutritious food without giving up the fun factor!

 Last night we went to a pizza restaurant in Inglewood called Without Papers. We went with the family and ordered three delicious pizzas The Shrooom with roasted garlic truffle panna, wild mushrooms, arugula and truffle oil;  The Margherita with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt; The Hawaiian 5-0 with tomato sauce, Canadian back bacon, pineapple, jalapeños, aged cheddar and mozzarella.  Each was totally unique and made with fresh ingredients.  

After dinner we went to Village Ice Cream in Victoria Park at 431-10 Ave. SE and what a wonderful spot! They make their own special recipes and judging from the large crowd out eating ice cream at 8 o'clock in the evening, it's a well loved place for families and friends to share delicious treats!

THE BOOK

I thought I was going to be able to stop myself, but I couldn't.  I'm now reading my fourth Ragnar Jónasson thriller called Blackout!  Detective Ari Thór is called in to investigate the brutal murder of a man who had come to the northern Icelandic town of Siglufjördur to oversee a construction project.  As the characters are revealed it is clear that each one connected to the murder had publicly threatened the victim. A young reporter from Reykjavik who has come to cover the story becomes entangled far beyond her role as a journalist!  The story takes place during the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjalllajökull (pronounced AY-yah-fyad-layer-kuh-tel) in 2011.  Can one get addicted to Nordic noir?

Week 14: Brekkie Cafe

Brekkie Cafe is located in SW Calgary off 85 St. at 9th Ave. in a strip mall.  The restaurant is quite unique and, if I could venture a guess, feng shui principles may have been incorporated into the design and decorating. The restaurant is bright, very clean, earth coloured walls with plants situated on the tables and in the shelving that divides the two sections. It's a very comfortable environment.

The Happy Diner

The menu is varied and there are a few interesting items that caught my eye like the Quinoa Almond Bowl and the Braised Short Rib Poutine. We decided to check out their more basic breakfasts so Bill ordered the Traditional Benny and I ordered the Classic Brekkie. Both were delicious and the eggs were fresh (no greater sin that to serve old eggs) and the sides were tasty.  The staff were great and our breakfast was served quickly.  Overall we really enjoyed our breakfast and to add to the positive experience, separate washrooms!!

Today was a cold, rainy day in Calgary.  We drove through a couple of the nearby communities and back home through Springbank. It was nice to see the green fields and trees with the homes nestled in the hillsides and the horses out enjoying the new grass and cooler temperatures.  There's a weather condition for all!

THE BOOK

It seems I can't get enough of the Nordic noir and am on to Nightblind, Ragnar Jónasson sequel to Snowblind.  This story takes place in the same northern Icelandic town where Ari Thór is faced with the shooting of his senior colleague.  None of the pieces of the puzzle seem to fit together and time is critical as Ari's own life may be threatened.  

Ragnar Jónasson is a master storyteller and I enjoy visiting another county through the eyes of a resident.  

Week 13: Monki Breakfastclub & Bistro

Monki Breakfastclub & Bistro has two locations in Calgary.  The original is in the Beltline at 1301 10th Ave. SW right across the street from Community Natural Foods. We ate at that location last week and weren't overly impressed the Rösti Waffle, too crisp, and the coffee, lukewarm.  The restaurant had been recommended so we thought we'd give the second location in Inglewood a try.  It's located 1420 9th Ave. SE with 2 hr. free street parking!

The restaurant is new, bright, and the tables are set up so that there's plenty of room. The staff are welcoming and friendly. 

We are learning that there are similar offerings in most of the breakfast spots that we have tried.  However, each one seems to have one or two "specials" that are unique to their restaurant.  Monki has a waffle selection that (although neither of us ordered them) looks tasty and decadent!  Bill ordered the Monki Huevos Rancheros with spiced rice, ground beef and fresh mushrooms and tomatoes.  I ordered the Salmon Avocado Toast and it was simply prepared and delicious.  Our server, Kaine, was great and made sure our coffee cups were full!

Having now been to both locations, we agreed that the Inglewood Monki is more comfortable and the food seemed a little fresher!  The Beltline location is in an older building so has a bit of "I can't believe we fit a restaurant into this space" feeling to it.  

The Inglewood location is close to a couple of my favourite places to shop. One is the stationery shop Recess at 1323 9th Avenue SE.  Recess has a huge selection of great quality products from all over the world and the quality of the pens, stationery, notebooks, art supplies and general office supplies is enough to send a pen and stationery nerd into a trance!  The second spot nearby is Next Page at 1217a 9 Ave SE a beautiful and not set up like your usual bookstore.  I won't say more about that so as not to spoil the surprise!

THE BOOK

This week I read a second Ragnar Jónasson novel called Snow Blind.  It takes place in a small Icelandic town, Siglufjördur, close to the Arctic Circle.  Ari Thór, a new police graduate from Reykjavik moves to the small town to begin his career.  He gets thrown into the "deep end" when 2 residents of the town are murdered and the close knit community does not give up information easily!

Why read this novel?  "Nordic noir" has an interesting combination of slightly tormented protagonists and isolated settings. The combination pulls you in to the desperate need to untangle and solve a mystery as though it were the only way to salvation! Who couldn't use some of that?

Week 12: Diner Delux

This week we decided to go for breakfast at a place I had been to several years ago and remember enjoying the vibe although details eluded me.  Diner Deluxe is located at 804 Edmonton Trail NE

The location is a bit tricky to see from Edmonton Tr. so keep your eyes peeled!  This is a classic diner with requisite bits of chrome, a long sit-down counter and a cozy feel with nostalgic, retro style features.  We were greeted by a rather unfriendly hostess but our very welcoming waitress, Kaley, made up for the abrupt introduction to Diner Deluxe!

The menu is everything you'd expect including bennys, skillets, omelettes, waffles and frittatas.  Whenever we experience a really good coffee we check the blend and this is Phil & Sebastian Coffee. A great introduction to any restaurant is that first sip of a delicious brew!

Huevos Rancheros

Egg White Frittata

 Bill ordered the Huevos Rancheros from the "classics" portion of the menu and I ordered the Egg White Frittata.  These were both huge meals and neither of us were able to finish although we came respectably close!  The ingredients were fresh and the Huevos Rancheros was full of delicious vegetables and spices!  Our waitress was exceptional and made our Diner Deluxe experience fun!

Always worthy of mention are washrooms, and in this case BONUS kudos for having both men's and women's facilities!  Diner Deluxe is definitely a spot we would go to again!  

And now, the Book!

This week I was listening to an interview that Jennifer Weigel did with author and medical intuitive Carolyn Myss.  She referenced a book that she (Jennifer) had written and it sounded interesting.  It's called Psychics, Healers & Mediums, A Journalist, a Road Trip, and Voices from the Other Side.  She interviews eight people with varying abilities and gifts including some I have heard of or read and a few I hadn't.  The author looks for commonalities and ways to verify the information she receives from readings while maintaining a journalistic perspective.  It's a pretty quick read and offers some very interesting insights.  I really enjoyed it!! 

Week 11: Sunny Side Up

I took 2 weeks off from the Breakfast Blog during a trip to Manitoba.  There are plenty of great places to eat and blog about all over Manitoba but time did not allow.

This week we ventured a small distance from Calgary to Cochrane, AB to a lovely little breakfast spot called Sunny Side Up. It's located at  519 1 St W.

Full Breakfast 

Tuscan Benny

Bill at the front entrnce

When you walk into this restaurant the first thing noticed is that it's bright, modestly decorated and very clean (that's a big plus for me)!  The menu has an expansive offering of Bennys, omeletts, and "perfectly poached" eggs.  It's obvious that "fresh" is the name of the game and the coffee is a special blend from a local roaster, Cochrane CoffeeTraders.  A special shout out to the potato wedges that are fresh, elegantly spiced and just the right amount.  

There's a huge blackboard in the restaurant that includes suggested menu items and a premature homage to spring, "April showers snow brings May... snowmen"! Having had a front row seat to Saturday's impromptu snow storm, we enjoyed the reference! There's plenty to do in Cochrane if you're interested in a stroll after breakfast including a beautiful walk along the river.

My breakfast partner is away next week golfing in Arizona so I'll be back with a new post sometime after May 8th!  In the meantime, enjoy one of these great books.....

We as human beings have the amazing capacity to be reborn at breakfast everyday and say, “This is a new day.” -Jack Kornfield

                                 THE BOOKS

Since my last post I've read two very good novels.  The first was Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller.  I found this gem at a book shop, Talisman Books & Gallery on Pender Island, BC. This is a very intriguing story about an elderly grandfather, Sheldon, who moves from New York to Oslo with his granddaughter and her Norwegian husband, Lars.  Sheldon, a former Marine sniper in the Korean war, witnesses a murder and escapes with the eight year old son of the deceased woman who is being hunted by the perpetrator.  The story weaves between the past and the present to tell a magnificent intriguing tale with humour and a snap shot of great humanity!

The second book was Don't Let Go by New York Times Bestselling author Harlan Coben.  Coben's protagonist Detective Napoleon (Nap) Dumas happens upon a clue that may solve the mystery surrounding his twin brother's death fifteen years past. The story includes a suspiciously abandoned military base, a murdered corrupt local police officer and the reemergence of a presumed missing or dead former lover.  

Week 8: OEB Breakfast Co.

The OEB Breakfast Co. is located in Bridgeland at 825 1st Ave. NE.  There are 2 other locations in Calgary one downtown and the other in Mission.  When asked, our waitress told us that OBE stands for Overeasy Bacon and Eggs!  However, the OBE Breakfast Co. website describes the values upon which the business is based:

  Outstanding People
  Embracing Evolution
  Bold Food Integrity

I expect the "over easy" explanation is considerably easier and generates a lot less questions!  The restaurant is busy and vibrant. The decor is a little intoxicating with modern furnishings and bright yellow and white counters and chairs.  The menu is very different with a unique selection of crepes, benny's, waffles and omelettes. We were fortunate to be seated next to the kitchen line where the servers pick up their food and were impressed by the colours, variety and portions of the delicious looking breakfasts!

I chose the ARTISANAL BAGEL SAMMY with fried hen eggs, white truffle mayo, haas avocado, lyalta watercress, semi dried cherry tomatoes and market fresh fruit!

This was singularly the tastiest breakfast bagel I have ever had!  The truffle mayo was sooooo tasty and the semi dried cherry tomatoes added the perfect juicy addition to the combo.  The fruit was fresh and included kiwi, strawberry, apple, pineapple and orange pieces.  Just every once in a while a perfect meal appears and whatever altered state of consciousness it creates is sublime.  This was one of those occasions!  The website describes the experience as "leaving you soul-full".

My husband chose the SMOKED BOAR SPECK Benny with
Haas Avocado, Semi Dried Tomatoes.  The smoked boar speck is a cured bacon that is cut like prosciutto.  A healthy serving of "twice fried herb potatoes" afforded a generous sharing which I genuinely appreciated!

Bill commented on the freshness of the ingredients and then went silent, as people do when they enter that altered state of eating a perfect meal!

We both agreed that this was our favourite breakfast since we started this eating "tour" and blog!

And then the book....

This week I finished reading Peter Robinson's Sleeping in the Ground, a compelling read with a dramatic, unexpected twist in the plot.  I had taken this novel with me to Victoria and reading it wholly swallowed up two 90 minute flights!  

My next couple of reads will be Gregg Braden's Human by Design and Michael Connelly's The Wrong Side of Goodbye!  

Week 7: Victoria BC Floyd's Diner

We have spent the past week in beautiful Victoria, BC.  We are staying at a hotel on Menzies St. across from the Provincial Legislature and a half block from the Victoria Inner Harbour.  While out walking we noticed a very purple house with white trim and awnings.  As it turns out, it's an eatery called Floyd's Diner. It was Sunday and there was a long line-up of people waiting to get in so we decided to wait until Monday (today) hoping that the wait was a weekend phenomenon!

We arrived at 9:30 am and were seated next to a large window facing the street, a perfect spot for people watching and enjoying the morning sun.  By 10 am the restaurant was full!  The menu is very interesting with dishes named after regular customers, historic locations (The Berlin Wall Omelette, You'll Be Liberated After You Eat This) and well known phrases (Listen To Me While I'm Talkin' To Ya Son), the two we selected.

The portions are beyond ample and the food tastes fresh and delicious.  True to Victoria's "hidden gem restaurants", the ambiance is casual, welcoming and the staff are very upbeat and attentive. The decor is eclectic yet reflects the overall theme of the menu.  Altogether, a clever overall vibe!

We are leaving Victoria tomorrow, returning to Calgary.  A quick mention of a couple of great places to eat: Fifth Street where the rotisserie chicken is "eyes rolling in the back of your head" delicious and Pizzeria Prima Strada. These are both places we return to each time we visit this beautiful city.

And then, there were the bookstores!

My husband is the consummate tour guide and is always on the lookout for local attractions and especially those that meet our individual interests.  He discovered that there were five independent bookstores in Sidney, a town just a short drive north of Victoria.  We decided to visit each one (a self-directed tour) and see what this concentration of bookstores was all about!  We checked out Beacon Books and new home to the Military and History Bookshop (overwhelming number of stacks of used books), Tanner Books and The Haunted Bookshop.  We didn't get to Galleon Books and Antiques as they had moved locations and we ran out of time.

Haunted Bookshop Sidney

The Haunted Bookshop, advertised as Vancouver Island's oldest antiquarian bookshop, was our favourite!  We purchased 3 fairly obscure books, one being a Biography of Vilhjalmer Stefansson's Explorations of the Canadian Arctic and a travel book titled A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush.  Neither of us had any indication that the shop was haunted but we were drawn to some rather unlikely reads!

In Victoria we visited Bolen Books which is Vancouver Island's largest (and to my mind, best) independent bookstore.

Week 6: The Bro'Kin Yolk

Just when you think the "Burbs" can offer no surprises, you stumble upon The Bro'Kin Yolk.  It's tucked into a shopping centre, Creekside, in Simons Valley. It's on the north end of the shopping centre next to Tim Hortons. This spot is a gem with a bright, open decor and a story to tell.  It is owned by two brothers Jeff and Gil Carlos who bring a touch of the Philippines with some of their special ingredients.  They chose the name Bro'Kin Yolk because they are  brothers, they wanted to create a place where families could enjoy a meal together and they care about the ingredients they use and the quality of the eggs they serve. The menu includes Bennys, Poutines, Frittatas and a wide selection of "Breakfast Classics".

                           

Baked Egg Frittata

House Cured Bacon Poutine

The selections we made were both tasty and very filling.  The Poutine was a bit heavy as one might expect but delicious.  The Frittata was baked, full of fresh vegetables and topped with a generous amount of feta cheese.  

We had a brief chat with the General Manager who said that the Carlos brothers are expanding their restaurants (one already open in Mahogany and another soon in Westhills) and then eventually on to other cities in Canada!  Another warning ladies, the washrooms are unisex!

BOOKS!

Last week we visited Shelf Life Books  and I bought a copy of Michio Kaku's The Future of the Mind.  Coincidentally CBC did a piece on his most recent book The Future of Humanity.  It's an interesting and provocative interview!

 

If you've ever had a worry about artificial intelligence or wonder about the existing abilities of scientists to replicate the human brain, The Future of the Mind  is a very thoughtful expansive look at these issues.  Does science have a practical understanding of consciousness and will we be able to control the myriad of directions science will want to take us in?  I won't say this is a definitive piece of work but it does make one want to stay informed!    

Week 5: The Beltliner

The Beltliner is located downtown at 243 12 Ave. SW right across from the Memorial Park Library.  The restaurant is a comfortable, open, bright space with large windows facing onto 12 Ave.  We arrived about 10 am and were seated and "coffeed up" immediately.  Coffee is served in gargantuan mugs and is delicious!

The menu is full of mouth watering breakfast offerings and we selected the West Coast Toast (salmon, sliced avocado, 2 poached eggs, sourdough, arugula and cherry tomato salad) @$18.50, and the Merguez 'n Eggs (lamb merguez sausage, stewed tomatoes, yogurt, cilantro, 2 poached eggs and toast) @$19.50.  Both were delicious, however the Merguez 'n Eggs was outstanding both in flavour and presentation. Our overall experience was very positive. Warning ladies, the individual washrooms are unisex!

The House Rules on the left are posted at the front entrance and add to the overall "lighter side" of the establishment.  

I am excited about reading Peter Robinson's novel, featuring the seasoned detective, Alan Banks! It's one of over 20 mystery novels by this very prolific bestselling Canadian author. I wanted to start reading at breakfast but this will have to wait!

And then...

We wandered over to Shelf Life Books , an independent bookstore situated right at the corner of 4th St. and 13th Ave. SW.  Shelf Life Books has a wide selection of titles and it is wonderful to explore the many aisles and nooks.  

We purchased two intriguing books, The Future of the Mind  (a New York Times bestseller) by Michio Kaku and Austral  by Paul McCauley. I'll have more to say about both of these in later posts.

Week Four: Breakfast at Vendome Cafe

The Vendome Cafe is located in Sunnyside at 940 2nd Ave. NW just east of the LRT tracks on a residential street  Although from the outside The Vendome looks quite small, inside there is ample seating space. It's divided into 3 areas giving a very Feng Shui , open feel to the cafe.  Overall it had a Victoria, BC vibe which we loved!  Order your food at the front counter and take your beverage with you to the table.

My husband chose from "The Benedicts" a Glazed Pork Belly with black garlic emulsion, furikake (a Japanese seasoning), pickled shallots, hollandaise on side, poached Mans Organic (local organic farm) free range eggs and added a fresh fruit bowl @ $21.00 total. Lots of food and a nice presentation. I selected the The Health that consisted of two Mans Organics poached eggs, avocado, harissa (chilli) paste, roasted red pepper tapenade, chorizo, multigrain toast and house made jam @ $16.50.  The chorizo was cold slices and not my favourite. When my husband noticed I wasn't eating it, he scooped it up and loved it. I love eggs and avocado on toast so I was a happy diner. Coffee refills are $1.00 which seemed a bit odd if you've ordered a full breakfast so we passed.

We would definitely go back to the Vendome Cafe.  It was relaxing, super clean and the fresh flowers on each table was a nice touch.

And then.....

Decorative match box

Right next to the restaurant is a wonderful shop, Mélange.  Please check Instagram or Facebook to get an idea of what an amazing shopping experience you will have when you visit.  Do not buy any more gifts anywhere until you have seen the expanse of beautiful items in this magical place!

We purchased a couple of small items including this gorgeous decorative box of matches (of which they have drawers full of beautiful selections).   There are lamps, sofas, tables, chandeliers, china, jewelry, statuary, linens, stationary and much more!

The Book....

One of my favourite genres is "nordic noir" that is a type of Scandinavian crime fiction that typically features dark storylines and bleak urban settings.

In Rupture the protagonist, detective Ari Thór revisits a case where a suspicious suicide is questioned at the same time that the town has been quarantined because of a possible deadly virus. Ari is faced with carrying out the investigation under much pressure to avoid public contact until a kidnapping, that may or may not be connected to the reopened case, puts the town on high alert. 

As a local politician tries to keep the image of a low crime town, Ari navigates through the challenges of the investigation as he fights his own demons. 

Week Three: Breakfast at Red's in Ramsay

Red's in Ramsay is located at 1101 8th St. SE.  We had eaten here before and enjoyed it. Red's is nestled in a residential part of 8th St. SE and has customer parking.  If you have the luxury of being able to go during the week, you're much more likely to find a spot.

The restaurant has two separate rooms with the area at the back including counter diner seating.  Red's has great natural lighting and the staff is very welcoming.

Perhaps one day I'll venture out of my comfort zone and try the Blueberry, basil and goats cheese stuffed French toast, but today I selected the three egg vegetarian omelette with spinach, red peppers, guacamole and cheddar cheese @ $17.50. It was flavourful and fresh tasting.  My husband had the Inglewood Omelette with Spolumbo's Chorizo, mushrooms and Brie @ $17.95.  Both meals were generous portions and our server was always near with the coffee pot. Some restaurants that are very popular have a "get busy and eat" vibe, but Red's has a relaxed atmosphere.

And no, I haven't forgotten about the BOOKS portion of this offering.  I just finished reading Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J. K. Rowling). This is the fourth Cormoran Strike novel.  The Cuckoo's Calling, was published in 2013. The Silkworm (2014) and Career of Evil (2015).  The characters are so well developed that by the time you're a quarter of the way in, you feel like you know them intimately. If you haven't read these delicious works of crime fiction, "shut the front door" and get to an Independent Book Store to start a journey into the mind and brilliance of Cormoran Strike. Shelf Life Books, Pages on Kensington and Owl's Nest Books are great places to visit.

No need to read in order but the main characters do evolve with time and experience.

Week Two: Blue Star Diner

The Blue Star Diner is located in Bridgeland at 809-1st Ave. NE diagonally across from a 7- Eleven convenience store.  There's a small customer parking lot along the side lane.  If the lot is full, be prepared for a few loops around the block to find a spot to park and the residential streets have restricted parking.

The restaurant is bustling and the seats are close together so it's a bit difficult to ignore your neighbours' conversations. This can be good or bad depending on how interesting they are 😀. We arrived about 9:30 am and were seated right away.  The hostess/server was super friendly and soon had coffee on its way.

The breakfast menu offers a wide variety of choices and we chose Eggs and Chorizo Sausage (tasty, fresh and filling) @ $10.50 and a Salmon Omelette (outstanding with just the right amount of feta cheese and capers) @ $17.00!  It's worthy of mention that the coffee is very, very good!

Our overall experience was that it was a fun place to eat, the food was great and the server was engaging and light hearted.

Breakfast at the Cast Iron Cafe

For our first weekly breakfast outing we chose the Cast Iron Cafe located at 211 61 Ave. SE in an industrial area about five blocks east of Macleod Tr.  From the outside it looks plain and unassuming, but when you enter, voilá, a rustic, retro delight!

We were seated by a very friendly server and immediately offered what every morning diner longs for, a cup of hot delicious coffee!

The menu is full of breakfast offerings and we selected the Biggie Benny @ $15.50 and the Zeus Eggs Skillet @ $12.50.  Both were delicious and filling.  The best surprise was the homemade peanut and almond butter, and the homemade watermelon jam 😊😊!

Great atmosphere, good food, great service!  A bit out of the way so not super busy and a fine eclectic assortment of furniture!