Two Completely Different Breakfasts

The Cairo Classic breakfast features fava beans, egg and falafel

In the past few days I've had two different brunches in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) that reflect the region's diversity.

The other day I visited a family friend in Pickering, about a 40-minute GO Train ride east from Union Station. There we went to Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, which serves all-day breakfasts, sandwiches and for dessert a variety of pies.

The "Magnificent Seven" breakfast at Perkins

I tried the "Magnificent Seven", consisting of two eggs over easy, two sausages, and three pancakes (C$10.95), seven items of food! 

One of the eggs was sadly broken when it arrived at the table, the grilled sausages nothing special, though the large round pancakes were fluffy. I could manage to eat two and ate two bites of the third before I felt a food coma coming on.

The breakfast was straightforward and somewhat comforting, though predictable.

Then yesterday I had probably my most exotic brunch yet -- Egyptian -- at Maha's Cafe in Toronto. It was about a 20-minute walk from my friend's place. She told me on the weekends there is a queue that goes down the length of the block and so she assumed there wouldn't be a line on a Monday.

A side of hummus at Maha's Cafe

However, when we got there, there were five groups of people already waiting in the queue around 11.30am. Luckily the line went quickly, and after about a 15-minute wait we were seated inside an eclectic-looking cozy place with simple couches lined with cushions, a wall covered with various currencies from the Middle East, Hong Kong, China, and India, the Egyptian flag on the window, and plants around the dining room.

I ordered the Cairo Classic (C$22), which is a breakfast found on every street corner of the Egyptian capital, according to the menu description. The staple is fava beans that are cooked with different ingredients. The fava beans at Maha's Cafe are stewed with tomatoes and onions, and comes with a boiled egg that is sliced, a sesame covered falafel that was surprisingly soft, and some pillowy warm balady bread, a kind of brown pita, and a small dollop of creamy tomato feta with a squirt of olive oil.

Limonata made with limes

Even though the fava beans aren't something I usually eat, they felt comforting and flavourful, and I mopped every last bit with the balady bread. This breakfast also came with a small cup of pickled onions, cucumbers and tomatoes. 

At the spur of the moment we also ordered some hummus (C$8) that wasn't blended ultra smooth like some places -- here there was a chunky texture and lots of garlic and some small whole chickpeas too. It came with more pita bread.

My friend ordered a honey cardamon latte (C$6.95), while I had a glass of limonata (C$11), a thick concoction limes, water and mint. It could have been diluted a bit, but still very refreshing and not too tart.

How's that for two completely different brunches! 

Not sure Vancouver can top the exoticness of an Egyptian breakfast...

Perkins Restaurant and Bakery

1097 Kingston Road

Pickering, ON

905 492 1745

Maha's Cafe

226 Greenwood Avenue

Toronto, ON

416 462 2703

Convenient Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kremes are easier to get in Vancouver

Fans of Krispy Kreme doughnuts in Metro Vancouver were excited to see it open a second store in a convenient location -- Cambie and Broadway. 

The first location, which opened in 2004, is all the way out in Delta, about a 29km drive that would take about an hour and a half. 

For many who work and live in Vancouver, this location will be convenient for those who take the Canada Line, or bus along Broadway. 

This box needs some love handles!

Krispy Kreme has 24 locations across Canada, with nine locations in Toronto alone! Going head-to-head with Tim Horton's...

This latest Krispy Kreme location opened just before Christmas and hardcore enthusiasts of the American brand of doughnuts were willing to line up 12 hours before the shop opened at 7am on December 16.

This busy intersection also has a Jollibee across the street, making it, as one person commented on social media, "a deadly combo," with doughnuts and fried chicken steps away from each other.

Yesterday I happened to be in the neighbourhood and wandered to Krispy Kreme to check it out in the afternoon. I was surprised to see the shop is actually quite small, but it turns out the doughnuts are made in Delta and transported over twice daily.

The customer in front of me just bought one original glazed doughnut, while I was admiring all the other flavours: maple glazed, strawberry iced with sprinkles, glazed lemon filled, raspberry cheesecake, and caramel kreme crunch to name a few.

In the end I got three: the original glazed, chocolate ice custard filled, and glazed raspberry filled. They were placed in a box for half a dozen doughnuts and I carefully carried it home on the bus.

As soon as my dad saw the box he got all excited and ready to try them!

Following the recommendation on the box, I microwaved them for eight seconds, though nine or 10 seconds would have been OK too.

The original tasted the same, though if it was fresh, it would have been even better. 

I didn't have a chance to try the others because my dad ate the entire chocolate ice custard one, and late ate the raspberry doughnut too!

Krispy Kreme

519 West Broadway

Vancouver, BC

236 466 5433

Classical Concert in the Church

Zanrosso and Kahn at the front of the church

Before we headed to San Francisco International Airport, we attended a free concert (well donations of US$20 per person) organised by Noontime Concerts. It was held at Old St Mary's Cathedral, which is near Chinatown. 

We arrived early, so we attended the tail end of mass. The father presiding over mass talked about how Americans need to be more humble, using the Olympics as an example. He said at the closing ceremonies, the French tied sports with the arts in a thoughtful presentation and as the next Summer Games are in Los Angeles in 2028, what do the Americans do? Have Tom Cruise jump out of a plane...

Old St Mary's Cathedral

It was an amusing observation from an American!

After mass was over, the baby grand piano was wheeled in from the side and the concert began, featuring Evan Kahn on cello and Amy Zanrosso on piano. Zanrosso has a Canadian connection, as she studied music at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, and did a Masters degree at McGill University in Montreal. 

Because we had luggage with us, we sat at the back of the church; that made it hard to focus on the performance with people coming in and out of the church, as the die-hard concertgoers were near the front.

Nevertheless it was nice to hear some classical music in a church where the acoustics are great! The performers got a standing ovation at the end.

Sonata for Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 102, No. 1 by Beethoven

Melodie for Cello and Piano, Op. 20, No. 1 by Alexander Glazunov

Sonata for Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 65 by Benjamin Britten