Rise and Shine, It's Breakfast Time

Food writers are supposed to be impartial when they set out to write about restaurants and culinary destinations. I try my best to paint a picture and convey my own personal tastes and perceptions of where I am and what I'm eating. Unfortunately, it may be impossible to stay neutral for this particular piece.

Why? Because I am writing about breakfast food—my absolute, all-time favorite kind of food in the world. I could eat these dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And that's what I did.

After one early morning start to my day, I popped into Whole Foods Market to beat the crowds and do a little grocery shopping. It was 8 a.m., and the smell of bacon drew me past the coffee counter towards the back of the store where all of the prepared foods are located. There, set up buffet-style, one can grab a hot breakfast feast that includes scrambled eggs, grits, turkey and regular bacon, oatmeal, and even French toast. I enjoyed the "Denver Eggs," a simple egg, pepper, and onion scramble topped with melted cheddar cheese. Healthier fare can be had at the new "Rip's Big Bowl" counter where grains, granola, shredded wheat, nuts, dried and fresh fruit, and soy milk varieties are kept fresh and cool. Breakfast is offered from 8-10:30 a.m.  All items are sold by the pound.

You can't write about breakfast in Darien without mentioning the Sugar Bowl Luncheonette, a town fixture for over 50 years. Known for its over-the-top dedication to celebrating each and every holiday with an array of seasonal decorations, this tiny eatery serves up simple breakfast and lunch fare at a more than fair price. Eggs how you like them, hot and cold cereals, muffins, pastries, pancakes, and French toast head up the menu. The French toast is prepared with three slices of dense white bread dipped in a milk and egg mixture and cooked up on a highly buttered griddle. Sometimes no-frills is what you need to get going in the morning—and this hit the spot. I also enjoyed the  "Bob's Special," which is a toasted English muffin topped with two poached eggs, American cheese, Canadian bacon, and sliced tomato. It's a step above your typical greasy bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. And more importantly, it comes with seasonal eye candy to enjoy while you chow down.

Looking for something a bit more refined to have with your morning joe? Aux Délices has a daily menu that includes a handful of scrumptious breakfast items. On this particular morning, a tray of fluffy ham and cheddar egg stratas emerged from the kitchen. Likened to that of a lighter, puffier quiche—minus the crust—these popular breakfast treats share the stage with a hearty breakfast burrito (eggs, chorizo, cheese, black beans, and salsa fresco); egg white omelet (broccoli, mozzarella, and tomato); egg sandwich (grain bread with over-easy eggs, munster cheese, Maplewood bacon, arugula, tomato, and spicy mayo); and various baked goods such as muffins and fruit danishes. A coffee bar comes complete with iced teas and iced coffees as well as an array of robust hot coffee blends. Relax at the long communal table and watch all of the prepared foods being set up for the day ahead.

I think the last time I swooned over a meal and ordered all of you Patch readers to "head out and try this dish!" was when I experienced the sublime linguini with white clam sauce from Harper's in June.

Well, here comes another sharing moment, as my breakfast cravings will never be the same again. The Darien Diner, an unassuming, 3-meal-a-day joint that overlooks the Post Road and the I-95 ramps, is home to the Pancake Club. This quirky concoction has the best of all worlds, starting out with 2 large (slightly sweet) buttermilk pancakes, griddled up light and fluffy. Four scrambled eggs—left soft but firm—are then sandwiched between the pancakes with 4 slices of Canadian bacon, American cheese, and sliced tomato. The large over-stuffed pancake sandwich is cut into 4 triangles and presented on a platter with some of the crispiest hash brown potatoes I've ever tasted. I had everything I need on one plate. It's hearty, fresh, cooked to perfection, and just delicious. I sipped my hot mug of coffee, relished in my breakfast discovery, and t0ok the rest home to enjoy for lunch later.

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I'd have to agree.