Showing posts with label breakfast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breakfast. Show all posts

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Victorian Village: Katalina's Cafe Corner

Cafe Corner is one of those feel good, local, neighborhood spots that you'll want to keep coming back to.

Recently under new ownership, Cafe Corner has kept much of its original menu the same while adding some new perks.  Known for its breakfast tacos (recent winners of a North Market challenge and recently featured in Columbus Alive) and delicious sandwiches, Cafe Corner has a lot to offer for the vegetarian, non vegetarian, soup lover, salad muncher, and now, cookie cruncher.

I ventured to Cafe Corner today to have breakfast with a friend.  When I go to Cafe Corner, I normally get a breakfast sandwich, but today I decided to branch outside of the box and spring for the Swedish Pancakes.

Well, I am sure glad I made that bold, wise decision.

These Swedish pancakes are a little slice of heaven.  Cute, small pancakes (my aunt in India would call them "pediatric size), stuffed with your choice of Nutella or strawberry jam.  Obvs I sprung for the Nutella filling.

What is Nutella, you ask? Have you been living in a cave? Nutella is probably the best spread out there.  Made from chocolate, hazelnuts, and milk, Nutella is a delicious spread on breads, crackers, waffles, or eaten out of the jar by the spoon full.  Unfortunately, it is not nut-allergy friendly (sorry, White Ninja)

Cafe Corner serves up these little pancakes from heaven with your choice of breakfast meat (bacon, sausage, and ham), and a serving of homemade syrup and homemade whipped cream -- although I felt that that I didn't need either since the pancakes were so decadent:




My friend ordered an omelet.  I think the sign on the menu board says "big omelet" and it really is.  They have to seriously put in 3 or 4 eggs to make this omelet. And the omelet is overflowing with goodies -- cheese, your choice of veggies, and/or your choice of meat.  My friend opted for ham and American cheese.  Doused in habanero hot sauce, my friend's plate was clean so I feel like it was a success.



CONCLUSION:  Despite its new name, Cafe Corner is really delicious and a great staple in the Victorian Village neighborhood.  At lunch time, the tomato-mozz sandwich is delish,  but if you're going for breakfast and you love Nutella, you're crazy not to get these little pancakes.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Clintonville: Beechwold Diner

I love breakfast.

Growing up, my parents did an amazing job of accommodating both American and Indian style breakfasts.

My mom would make egg-less pancakes, which were very tasty. My mom doesn't really eat egg, unless it's baked into cakes and cookies and she has no control over it, so she wouldn't cook with it. My dad, on the other hand, is the master of the omelet. I have tried over the years to replicate his style. My dad first takes a small frying pan (not even a type casted omelet pan). He heats the pan with some ghee, or clarified butter, staple of Indian cooking. He neatly cracks two eggs in a small bowl, in this series of Tupperware bowls my mother must have bought 30 years ago, takes a fork, neatly whisks the eggs. He adds salt, pepper and garlic. My dad always knows when the heat of the pan is exactly right, adds the egg. He then flips it, adds a piece of American cheese, and bam. The perfect omelet, that can be easily transformed into a bread sandwich. However, on days when my dad didn't feel like cooking, he'd take my sister and I to McDonald's and we'd all split a big breakfast. Those were the days!

However, South Indian breakfast is a big deal. Totally savory. Delicious dosas with coconut chutney. Upma, which in made from a semolina-like substance called rava, with fresh vegetables, served with spicy mango pickle. The only really sweet dish I can think of are these coconut dosas my aunt makes, with molasses chutney. Melts in your mouth!

Anyway, I am a big fan of American style breakfast. I love sitting in coffee shops and home style diners and having buttery, delicious stacks of pancakes, omelets that are overflowing with goodness, and having a great cup of coffee.

Last night, Columbus had a pretty big snow storm. Although it wasn't the snowpacolypse that the east coast apparently received, it was pretty bad. I had made plans with some of my friends to visit the Beechwold Diner this morning for breakfast. Luckily, the snow stopped over night, so we were able to venture this morning.


The Beechwold Diner is located on Indianola Avenue, between Cooke and Morse roads. It is only open for breakfast and lunch. It is in a building that is occupied by several other businesses as well, so parking is plenty. When we walked in, it reminded me of the German Village Coffee Haus, with four seaters booths and one big booth, and plenty of bar stools overlooking the grill top. The bar tops looked like they were made of granite. Very clean, very nice.

We were allowed to self seat, so we chose a roomy booth for the four of us. Upon glancing at the menu, the prices were very reasonable. The most expensive omelet was the garbage omelet, which was $7.50.

I like looking at what other people order when they go to restaurants. Most people around us had omelets. I normally get pancakes when I go out for breakfast, but today I sprung for the omelet. Although I must say,the cinnamon rolls looked AMAZING.

After a round of coffees, which tasted like a very fresh brew, we all ordered our omelets.

Mine, a sausage and cheese omelet with wheat toast:



A bacon and cheese omelet with an English muffin:



A garbage omelet with wheat toast:




And a good ol, plain cheese omelet:



The omelets were paper thin. I was amazed at how neatly the eggs were folded, like a piece of paper. Due to this thin-ness, I was surprised at the contents that could fit in the omelet. The cheese warm, delicious, and gooey, was on my fork after the first cut. It was really great.

With the omelets, a delicious side of potatoes and toast came. The potatoes were scalloped, crispy, and not greasy. Very good. The toast was buttered, which was fine because the meal was fat fatty anyway.

I wish I didn't gorge on the breakfast. The dessert special was pie. DINER PIE. I saw someone get a slice of blueberry, and it looked amazing. The special was french silk pie.

I also wish I would have saved room for a cinnamon roll.

CONCLUSION: I will be back. For pancakes. And cinnamon rolls.