Fat Belly's -- Who thinks of these names?!

A sign of a genuine breakfast cafe is a closing time mid-afternoon.  At Fat Belly's it's 3:00 pm. And, lucky for us, the opening time is 6:30 am.

The sky is still dark, as we're at the end of the second longest night of the year.  We've walked the length of Downham, in southeast London on the Bromley Road, passing three breakfast cafes. At the end of the commercial stretch, we loop back, crossing at a zebra crossing.

Happy Husband catches sight of a plain sign directing us toward, 'Mini-cars & Cafe'.  So we head off the main road, slipping behind a row of shops. 

There Fat Belly's cafe with tables and chairs under an awning beckons us.  Lights are on and the tiny cafe feels full to the brim -- obviously a local favourite.  We wonder if we'll get eats.  But a table directly beneath the front counter opens up, and in we slide, side by side up against the wall. Every table taken, all men, mostly in reflector jackets or vests - a glow of neon. 

Our hosts, a British couple, welcome us, "'Mornin' luv."  Turns out he, Ben, hails from North Cyprus and the wife is London born, her parents having immigrated from North Cyprus.  They explain that theirs is a "semi-arranged marriage." They've had the cafe for 13 years, and seem happy in southeast London.

Happy Husband decides to go whole hog and orders the set breakfast-- one of everything and a pile of beans!  I order my regular 2 x 2 (eggs and toast).  Piping hot tea in mugs arrives quickly.

A Delicious Southeast London Breakfast in Britain.

Portslade Station Cafe -- near the Channel seaside at Hove

Up at 5:00 am and out the door at 5:30 heading south to the English Channel. Around the edge of London on the M25, then south toward Brighton.  We're heading to Hove, just west of Brighton where Happy Husband's favourite plastic model shop is closing down -- hoping for some sales.  We've enjoyed Linda's Cafe on the waterfront before, but today we search out a new watering hole.

We discover the Station Cafe at Portslade Station, having opened at 7:00, five minutes before our arrival.  It's light and warm inside on this brisk winter morning.  A couple pensioners are already enjoying their mugs of hot tea.  By 7:30 every table is taken. 

We split the Number 7 Full Breakfast -- two of everything and beans for Happy Husband.  The Christmas decor enhances the old photos of Portslade hanging on the wall. A classic am radio carries music from the 1980's into the dining room.  The husband and wife team have been cooking breakfasts here for 10 years.

Sated, we head out.  The Portslade Railway Station sits across the street.  As I take a photo, a work crew in a fluorescent lorry query what I could possibly find of interest to take pictures of.  So I take their photo, too.

We enjoy numerous charity shops and, naturally, the sea.  We find several re-gift items for Christmas -- treasures of Merino wool and a year's worth of Sudokus  (don't tell Happy Husband until after Christmas!)

Another wonderful Breakfast in Britain.

City Safe Haven -- Top Chef Cafe on Brockley Road

Passing shuttered businesses along Brockley Road (SE4), we head toward the sign board announcing Top Chef Cafe is open for custom.  We're rugged up against the cold wintry air, so delight in the warmth as we step inside.

The warmth extends to our welcome. Uger and Musa greet us into what is clearly a mens-zone at this point. They've been flipping eggs since 6:30, yet have energy and interest to ask about our foreign accents. Turns out they hail from Cyprus and have resided in South London for 24 years. 

No food photos, no menus and no music stack up the points in their favour when it comes to pleasing our simple tastes.  The décor consists of a rack of newspapers and six clever sign boards concerning coffee, summed up as "Life begins with coffee." And the eggs are perfectly crisped with runny yolks -- yum!  Mugs of strong steaming tea tops things off.

We notice the "City Safe Haven" poster in the window, and realize our local church's footwork has indeed made an impact on our community. 

Our church, St. Andrew's United Reformed Church Brockley (on the corner) is a paying member of South London Citizens, a branch of Citizens UK, a not-for-profit organization bringing together numerous faith communities, trade unions, and schools to address local concerns and make a difference in people's lives. 

A first focus of action, about 14 years ago, was initiating the Living Wage Campaign which has resulted in communities, corporations and government across Britain taken the steps to ensure workers a "living wage" -- enough above minimum wage to enable a worker to take the tube instead of the bus and take their family out once a week for a meal -- ensuring more family time which, one might be tempted to believe, means healthier and happier families, which, one might be tempted to believe, means healthier and happier communities.

The City Safe Campaign arises from the concern that children and youth feeling bullied or being hassled on the streets have no place to go to find protection and safety.  Historically, businesses here as in so many other cities, might keep their doors locked so young people can't come in and "loiter."  Or shoo "problem" youth out, not wanting to get involved in potential conflicts, and wanting to keep their shop in an isolated island of calm. I can understand that age-ism sentiment, and am excited about this alternative: City Safe.  Proprietors receive some training, ideally, in conflict resolution, and agree to allow threatened and fearful youth to enter their space for sanctuary.  They agree to call the police who are included in the plan, so there is immediate intervention on the behalf of the hassled youngster.  Remember, police officers here do not carry guns, and store owners for that matter, and the youth involved, legally do not carry guns. So there's the opportunity for a reasonable and safe intervention.  So, the City Safe sign in a window promises sanctuary and reasonable response in the aid of frightened children and youth -- what a concept!

We stroll home through crisp air under a brilliant blue sky.  Signs of spring abound!  Another pleasant Breakfast in Britain.

Cliff-clinging diner in Ramsgate

Perched over the Royal Ramsgate Harbour, the Albion Cafe welcomes us on a cold blustery English morning. Storms blast the English Channel coast, but this morning enjoys a pause from the downpours.

 Local historic photos cover the walls, making for interesting browsing and conversation. Turns out we've chosen the oldest cafe in Ramsgate! The friendly staff serve with a smile. Ship models fill the window sills -- confirming that, yes, we are by the seaside.-- And close enough to tune into Radio France-- the local breakfast comedy show with canned laughter and all.

Our tea is hot.  Our eggs are runny. Their flavour is delicious -- could it be due to the fact they are Free Range?  Does that make a difference?  I'm a non-believer, but these are good eggs and probably the first free range eggs we've had on our Breakfasts in Britain journey.  I'm open to being convinced.

We enjoy a leisurely stroll down the steep hillside and across the harbour -- Yes, there's a walkway across the harbour access channel, so no need to retrace our steps. Highlights include the Sundowner of Dunkirk fame and the Smack Boy Home nestled under the roadway, next to the Seafarers Chapel -- reminds us of Melbourne, Australia. If you're wondering, smack boys worked on the fishing boats.  Always a lesson to be learned when enjoying Breakfast in Britain!

PS  Sorry I'm posting this so late -- a week of holiday takes its toll on routines.  

Brockley Breakfast -- where locals go

Ah! Breakfast in Britain -- Another perfectly prepared portion of eggs and toast being enjoyed by Happy Husband. Today at Central Cafe, on Brockley Road in Southeast London (SE4).  We try the fried eggs instead of poached, though poached are available; set in round molds to create perfect circles, Eastern European style.  Runny as we like them.  And the piping hot tea is brought to the table -- feels like luxury. 

Delightful display of double-decker buses passing the front windows (routes 171 & 172 stop across the street).  Minimal personality, with gold framed standard restaurant-fare pictures hanging above bouquets of plastic flowers. But bright, light and warm on a cold morning in London.

So...condiments.  What do we find on our breakfast tables?  Here at Central Cafe we find the regulars of salt & pepper, sugar, vinegar and tomato sauce.  Then there's soy sauce.  Why the soy sauce?  They do serve lunches, but on what would one shake soy sauce?  And vinegar?  Where has that tradition come from...vinegar on chips (french fries)?  I love it, don't get me wrong, but were the fried sliced potatoes of old so bad that they needed a flavour to cut the fact that they were a big edgy?  Or one day did someone just discover it's a good combination of flavours?  And no, to folks from outside the UK, that is not catsup, nor is it ketchup.  Tomato sauce in Britain is an animal unto itself.  My brother-in-law, of recent British descent, insists that there is more than vinegar and sugar in it, even real tomatoes.  

Frequent flow of customers fill the 40-seat single store front.  Some choosing take away egg sandwiches. Noticeable cleanliness -- tables wiped clean as soon as they are emptied, ready for the next diner.  As you can see, plenty of newspapers to go around.

Standard illustrated menu, immovable furniture -- parties up to 4 only, I guess, or split in two. But fine for the two of us.  Radio on, a blend of talk and music, hip hop mostly, but pleasantly unobtrusive.  Could be louder, but thankfully not. 

Brockley Road, the "high street" of Brockley, is mostly cafes, restaurants, a laundromat and a couple small shops, and there's a Costcutters for bread and bananas, but not a tourist destination.  Though St Andrew's United Reformed Church, a five minute walk down the road, is a lovely old Presbyterian style church built in 1882, remodeled about 15 years ago creating a new bright cheerful interior. (SE4 2SA)

So, in general a good review for a typical greasy-spoon cafe breakfast.

See you next week!

http://www.yelp.co.uk/

Chatham, Kent -- Piggy's Coffee House

The first photographed cafe (remember, it's pronounced "caff"), not so much for it's food, but for its theme. Piggy's is near the Medway River below/behind the High Street of Chatham (in Kent).  With a Porky-Pig-look-alike peeking out from behind the signs and plaster porker casts filling each alcove in the dining area, there is no confusion as to the cafe's namesake!  HH (Handsome Husband) had the inspiration to photo-document the event.  

Handsome Husband at Piggy's

 While the decor was delightful, the fact that we were the only people in a double-wide cafe was telling.  (Double-wide meaning that it fills two store fronts.)  We enjoy visiting Chatham High Street and the Historic Dockyards, but we have never returned to Piggy's Coffee House.

Not the only piggy decoration!