In all three countries we have so far inhabited, breakfast is a big deal. In our home country, an English breakfast is a thing of beauty when it’s done properly - an egg cooked to your preference, a couple of grilled tomatoes and a few mushrooms on the side, two rashers of best English bacon, and a couple of decent sausages, because it wouldn’t be an English breakfast without them. Black pudding if it’s offered, but only the decent stuff, and fried crisply on both sides. Beans if you have to, and toast, plenty of buttered toast. All washed down with ginormous mugs of tea. A tradition enjoyed by thousands in Greasy Spoons across the land, as big an institution as the breakfast themselves – each offering a slice of life along with the grub. For the real deal I would highly recommend Ches’s Trattoria in St Margarets. Greasy Spoon by Day. Great Italian by night.
In Denmark, a land crazy about brunch, our breakfast of choice was a far daintier affair – its famous clouds of delicate pastry. Each containing at least a pack of butter, but still feather light and moreish. Best enjoyed outside on a sunny morning, with a good (but astronomically priced) cup of Joe, in some fashionable square in Copenhagen. I would probably recommend the original Lakagehuset in Christianshavn or The Royal Cafe.
And here in Bavaria? Weisswurst is the traditional choice. Served in steaming tureens and just waiting to be slathered in mustard, once you have peeled them of course. My favourite part is always what they come with though, the baskets of divine, freshly baked pretzels. You pay individually for each one you wolf down… You must not ask for a Weisswurst after 12pm though. Ever. This is totally against Bavarian Law! And if you’re serious about enjoying this breakfast like a local, a Weissbier is of course a compulsory pairing (whatever time of the morning it is!), while you sit and watch the world go by… I would definitely recommend The Weisses Brauhaus for this experience…
And out of all of these, the first option is still the one I would choose every time! You can take a girl out of England….
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Me too! You can’t beat a good cooked breakfast, or an Ulster fry as we call it at home (my dad’s signature dish!) But love the idea of sitting in a square in Copenhagen eating danish pastries :)
An Ulster Fry sounds equally good… Some of the best cooked breakfasts I have had have been in Ireland. I could quite easily eat a whole soda bread :)
Sausages, pretzels and beer for breakfast. When’s the next flight?
They are very frequent to Munich, if you time it right you could arrive in time for sausages for dinner followed by sausages for breakfast! :)
Breakfast… surely the best meal of the day. At the moment I have become a big fruit fan for breakfast but in the winter I do like something a bit more warming.
And you are right there is nothing quite as yummy as a well cooked English Breakfast!
Mollyxxx
Thanks Molly… :)
Peel them? I have a horrid feeling I wouldn’t realise this and would be the laughing stock. Breakfast is the most important time of day to me.
Yep… don’t sound that appealing do they, but they can be quite nice! :)
ah, the english breakfast is the best bit of staying, and waking up, in a b&b. it’s not that i can’t rustle it up at home – but it doesn’t feel the same! :)
Thanks Pia, I know what you mean… There’s something just so nice about someone else making it for you! :D
boy, now i’m hungry. that’s some english breakfast! i don’t think i’ve ever had all of what’s on that plate at one time. how about kippers? americans are appalled by those and grilled tomatoes for breakfast, but i love to eat what the locals eat when i’m across the pond. : )
I am very fussy about kippers, and only like them freshly smoked, none of that boil in the bag stuff! I love your American breakfasts as well, especially the pancakes. I can’t eat the bacon, and maple syrup and pancakes together though :D
Oh, I miss Lagkagehuset so much! I used to work in Christianshavn and walked past the bakery every day, twice a day. I love their frøsnappe! Bread here in Stockholm just isn’t the same as that in Copenhagen…
You have much stronger willpower than me. There is no way that I could walk past that place without going in :D
Oooh, what an interesting post. I like the idea of the 3rd breakfast :)
Thank you Jacq. It’s worth a try :)
Danish for me all the way!
You almost tempted me with your description of a full English but no – sweet for me!
I thought it might have been with that biscuit tin of yours! ;)
Oh I am so with you on the freshly baked pretzels – yummy yum yum!
My big downfall! Thanks Mags :)
We always used to call salami type sausages that you serve in slices, voosht at home. We had voosht and eggs for Sunday lunch, voosht sandwiches, etc… I thought everyone called it voosht until I realized it was a Yiddish corruption of wurst. Never for breakfast though as we couldn’t mix milk with meat and you need milky coffee at breakfast.
I love that… So interesting how words are used throughout different cultures :) Thanks Rachel!
Fry up’s are my fave! Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I just wish I had more time to enjoy it. x
Quite! Thank you MM :)
That is 3 very different breakfasts!
Aren’t they just! Thanks Fiona :)
That wiki page about the weisswurst was fascinating:lack of preservatives the main reason historically for not eating after noon. Bit pale looking mind. Think I prefer pastries and coffee. Looking forward to my Swedish breakfasts soon. What can I look forward to there?
Thanks Trish! Jealous of your upcoming trip! You can look forward to lots of lovely cardamon flavoured pastries… my favourite! Also lots of cinnamon flavoured stuff too! Enjoy!
My favourite is still an English one… Or pancakes. I would settle for those :)
It would be a tough choice between the two, but English for me I think too :)
Book me in I am coming to yours .x
No problem :) x
I love breakfasts, all breakfasts!
Me too… :) Thanks Jen! xx
Oh I love this post. I’m a massive breakfast fan and it’s my favourite meal when I’m on holiday, especially if you can take the time to all sit round the table with a nice pot of tea in the centre.
Thanks Rachel. Totally, although I have to say it would depend on where I am as to whether I would be happy with the tea or not! :)