At the Seaside -- Paignton, Devon

Not sure where to head for an early Breakfast in Preston, Devon at 6:30 am, we ask the Egg Delivery Man whose van sits outside our Guest house.  "Hop in," he beckons.  We tend toward the naive trusting way of life, and hope for the best in people, so in we hop. Mr Friendly Eggman drops us off in front of Frankie's Cafe on the main commercial street in Paignton.Great choice!
Frankie's interior decor oozes beach-theme. The light blue and white colours remind one of a beach box.  Lots of thoughtful touches, too -- a toaster on each table, and soothing wall art.
The proprietors, a friendly young couple -- he talks, she cooks -- explain that they started up four years ago.  When the competition between lunch cafes became so rigorous they changed a year ago to a breakfast cafe. One of them, we assume it's She, must be a "J" personality (think Myers-Briggs) as evidenced by the printed and posted week's cleaning rota which inlcudes everything from wipe down table legs to clean behind oven to scour extraction (grill hood).The poached eggs are the real thing -- perfectly runny. The table is solid, not at all rocky -- always a blessing.  I like to cut my egg on toast without table movement! At about 8:00 Charlotte, a young waitress with tattoos running up her arm, joins the team. My brother-in-law manufactures the decal transfer paper used by tattoo parlours around the world, so we now take more note of tattoos and tattoo parlours, which are prolific in small-town Britain.
After our leisurely eggs on toast meal, we stroll along the promenade, enjoying the English Riviera. We even find the penny arcade fortune teller Zoltar, straight out of the film Big!

The skies may be grey, but it's been another wonderful Breakfast in Britain.

Star Cafe -- Crofton Park, Lewisham, Southeast London

Staying close to home, we amble through the rainy morning toward Crofton Park, and enjoy a tasty hot breakfast of tea & toast at the Star Cafe on Brockley Road. 

 

The Cyprian proprietor welcomes us and others in the steady stream of hungry Southeast Londoners.

The Star fits the bill for a "typical British cafe, with it's signboards out front, clientèle in reflective wear, and lengthy list of breakfast options.

Another satisfactory and relaxing Breakfast in Britain!

Breakfast by the seaside in Hove

Up in the early morning light, we head to Hove on the Channel.  The 90 minute trip (by car) is quiet, as the commuters are still asleep. 

We beeline for Linda's Cafe on Kingsway, across from the working harbour, which we enjoyed once before a couple years ago. We remember, hopefully, that she opens early. 

Sure enough, the sign announces a 6:00 am opening time.  We appreciate the endless free parking along Kingsway, dash through the damp cold, and enjoy the toasty welcoming warmth of Linda's Cafe.  Two mugs of hot brewed tea soon warm our hands and palettes. We're welcomed by Linda and her daughter, Katie:  Linda cooks and Katie serves, at least this morning that's the arrangement.  With a broad smile, Linda proudly exclaims that she's been in business 22 1/2 years. 

Happy Husband orders the "Jack Size Breakfast," as opposed to the King Size and the Queen Size.  I stick to my two soft fried eggs on toast.  All delicious!

The atmosphere is homey and friendly with most clientèle being called by name.  And the place is CLEAN!  Super clean!  We peak in the kitchen, and it literally shines.  Linda proudly explains that she's received 5-stars from the "Food Hygiene Rating" board every year since she opened.  We can see why.  Even the back garden, where the loo is located, is loved and cared for.  Impressive.

The walls are free of artwork and clutter except for a cutlery clock -- remember those from the we'll-make-anything-from-anything craft era? 

After a meal, and a couple crossword puzzles, we walk into Hove.  Offering a model shop, numerous charity shops along a pedestrian street,and a long seaside promenade, Hove remains one of our favourite day-out destinations.  

On our way back to the car at the end of the day, we stop at the FISH shop and buy some seafood to enjoy back in the city. 

A great day in Hove, and we plan to come back!

1932 MB's Cafe & hidden Roman & Medieval treasures in the City of London -- celebrating Shakespeare's 450th Birthday Week!

Off we head to St George's Day celebrations at Leadenhall Market in the City of London just above London Bridge. We hop on the 21 Bus heading to Newington Green via London Bridge.  After crossing the Thames we decide to remain on the bus a few extra stops, finally disembarking at Old Street -- in a new section of London for us. We find ourselves in the business district of The City, people bustling to work. 

No cafes in site, and the espresso bars and franchise eateries we check out are charging double for breakfast (as much as £9.40!). We're tempted to duck into a Wetherspoon in an inviting old pub, "The Mask," but trudge on. Finally, about 45 minutes of searching, very-hungry Husband spots what looks like a Cafe sign board on the kerbside of a side street near Liverpool Station, and following our noses we find ourselves at MB's Cafe at 6 Harrow Place E17 DB. 


Definitely "can't tell a book by it's cover" experience at MB's!  The owner, Peter Baldacci, greets customers with a smile, and many by name. Turns out his father opened the cafe in 1932, and Peter's been working here for 55 years!  Today there's a second cafe nearby, and Peter and his son, Matthew, share the ownership and management of the two.  
Everybody seems to be a friend of Sam's -- those clad in business suits and those in reflector vests, as well as a group of London City coppers (who were happy to pose for a pic) and a local riding a wheelchair.  Already, we're feeling pretty chummy!  
The decor is minimal, a couple antique-looking metal beverage ads and two framed pictures of French or Italian piazzas.  But the eggs...perfectly soft soaking into "granary" bread.  Hot strong tea tops off the meal.  Worth the wait.

Sated, we bid farewell to our new friends, and visit the second MB's Cafe, just around the corner.  Sure enough, there's Matthew, Peter's son, and several photos of Grandpa and the original cafe.

Turns out we've found the centre of the City of London without knowing it.  Spitalfields Antique Market, though housed in a drab modern attempt to create a covered market, entertains us for an hour -- a place to find anything retro, WWII or iconically English. 

Then on to Leadenhall Market, a maze of arcade, filled today with English flag bunting marking St George's Day (patron saint of England).  Definitely a place to have the rellies bring us when they offer to take us out for a meal.

Next stop, Guildhall Library.hosting a "Shakespeare Week" to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the bard's birth.  A First Folio of Will's plays, printed in 1623 steals the show!

But that's not the find of the day...beneath the Guildhall Library lies the ruins of a Roman Ampitheatre -- unearthed in 1988 and opened to the public in the 1990's.  Seating for 6,000 they surmise -- where human death was the entertainment, so they explain on the sign boards.
And the cause of the downfall of the Roman amphitheatres in the 4th century?  The rise of Christianity, the curator surmises.  

On that positive note... it's been a pleasure to share another Breakfast in Britain!
One never knows what one will discover in London!