Category: breakfast

Tick Tock Diner ticks the box #ticktock #diner #newyork

Of course we had to eat at an American diner while we were in New York City recently!

Tick Tock Diner in Midtown Manhattan claims to be the largest diner in New York and it certainly is very big! However the design with shared tables and traditional booths and the fact that it is full of locals (Madison Swuare Gardens and Penn Station across the road) and tourists alike at anytime of the day makes it feel much more intimate than you would expect.

The original Tick Tock opened in New Jersey in 1948 so the formula has now been extended to a number of diners in locations throughout New York and beyond..,

Serving traditional and run-of-the-mill American comfort food including Italian, Tex-Mex and Greek favourites, the huge all day menu caters to all tastes.

Service is a mixture of curt and courteous, with old school waiters in traditional diner uniforms.

Coffee is American style – percolated and poured into tin mugs with milk in plastic (!!) but all you can have.

Whilst our breakfast there wouldn’t rate as the best we had in New York it was in fact not too big and overwhelming and exceeded our expectations. On reflection it is probably better than some of the real tourist traps closer to Broadway/Times Square but not as good as some of the traditional smaller local favourites like Chelsea Square Diner on W23rd and 9th Ave.

We certainly got our diner experience just down the road from the apartment we were staying in and it set us up well for a visit to MOMA and some pre-Thanksgiving shopping in Manhattan!

Ticks every box in terms of a budget American diner brunch and experience if that’s what you might like to try!

Shanthini3 Comments

Bali Breakfast rice pancake #yellowflowercafe

This was a beautiful, light wheat free breakfast rice pancake enjoyed at one of our favourite breakfast spots in Bali, Yellow Cafe 2019 Best “blooming breakfast in Penestanan village in Ubud.

The homemade palm nectar and freshly grated coconut and bananas and berries are a sensational combination.

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#Booji Breakfast: spicy Indian scrambled #eggs

A favourite Indian breakfast and famous street food which is just as good for a quick lunch or dinner. There are lots of different versions and you can experiment by adding chopped bacon bits, tomatoes or even finely diced boiled potato.

I made this today for Father’s Day breakfast served with crunchy sourdough toast and sausages.

Ingredients:

  • 1 small onion very finely diced
  • 1 large mushroom finely diced (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 or 2 cloves garlic smashed to a paste
  • 2 green birdseye chillies finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cummin powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cummin seeds
  • 2-3 curry leaves (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon diced coriander
  • 3 large eggs beaten

Method:

1. Heat oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a non stick frying pan over medium heat.

2. Add cumin seeds and curry leaves if using. Heat until fragrant.

3. Add onions and cook slowly over gentle heat until translucent, then add garlic and sauté for a minute.

4. Add turmeric, cumin and chilli powders and sauté until cooked into onions, about 1.5 minutes. Then add green chilli and mushrooms or other ingredients you may choose to add, like cooked bacon bits or finely diced boiled potatoes. Add a sprinkle of salt. Cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through.

5. Add the other tablespoon of butter, add eggs and scramble until egg is cooked to your liking.

6. Toast bread and pile on booji, garnish with coriander and enjoy!

Shanthini1 Comment

#salmon #caviar #Crepe Cake

Changed up the traditional Smoked Salmon Crepes recipe creating a layered crepe cake for a celebratory brunch.

Layered with herbed creme fraiche with dill and capers, smoked salmon and caviar, the overall result was delicious and looks fabulous. You could add finely chopped red onion or replace caviar with salmon roe..lots of options to suit your taste.

I used my favourite crepe recipe Martha Stewart Crepes but made them a bit smaller so that the mixture made about 18-20 crepes to layer up into a high pile, leaving a few to drape over the top to complete the picture.

Easy and fun. plenty of options to make a sweet version for a dessert too!

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Blueberry and almond flour muffins

Working from home through the lockdown means no morning teas with shared baked goods, or breakfast meetings at nice cafes so I have planned for the week ahead by baking some low gluten muffins for us and to drop to some friends who live within 5km!

Using a combination of almond flour and plain flour, buttermilk and a mixture of oil and melted butter makes these muffins super moist and filled with the goodness of frozen and fresh blueberries.

Super-easy to make and just as easy to enjoy.

Preparation time: 15 minutes Baking time: 25 minutes Makes 10-12 muffins

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups almond flour
  • 1 cup plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 200g frozen blueberries
  • Handful of fresh blueberries
  • 1/8 the cup of slivered almonds
  • Muffin tin with 12 holes and paper muffin cups

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven 200 degrees Celsius

2. Sift flours and mix dry ingredients including almond flour, plain flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar into a large mixing bowl.

3. Put wet ingredients into a seperate bowl including eggs, oil, butter, buttermilk, and whisk together until smooth.(make sure butter is cooled).

4. Slowly add wet ingredients into flour mixture mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix at this stage.

5. Fold in frozen berries, fresh berries and almonds.

6. Put paper muffin cups into muffin tin holes. Fill each muffin cup with batter ensuring blueberries are as evenly distributed as possible.

7.place in oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and skewer comes out cleanly. Leave to sit in muffin pan to cool for 5-10 minutes. Enjoy immediately and for days to come.

Shanthini2 Comments

Secret Garden brunch at Daisy Green #daisygreen #london

Reliving memories of my recent trip to London as the city rolled towards the COVID-19 shutdown last month…it was a slightly surreal visit to one of my favourite cities but filled with nice memories that will stay with me,

I found this delightful cafe called Daisy Green in Portman Village, on the corner of Seymour st and New Quebec St, just behind Oxford st.

Turns out it’s part of a group called the Daisy Green collection described on their website as:

“The Daisy Green Collection brings relaxed and buzzing Australian food and coffee culture to London. Through individually designed cafes and restaurants, the Collection creates iconic spaces which quickly become local destinations and meeting points for surrounding residents and visitors.”

Downstairs at Daisy Green Portman Village

The Portman Village cafe has been designed by UK street artist, Shuby, into an Alice in Wonderland esq outdoor/indoor garden.

I managed to quench my craving for a real Australian coffee or two and enjoyed delicious avocado on toast, with a sprinkling of paprika, chives and a squeeze of lemon, and a side of real bacon!

I would have been one of the last customers prior to the shutdown, but I sincerely hope the cafe and Daisy Green collection come through the other side of the pandemic to flourish once more.

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