 I had just loaded up a plate at the breakfast buffet in my hotel in Warsaw, Poland, when I noticed the other guests making a beeline for a small table just off to the side from the main spread. That’s when I saw it: A silver serving platter full of perfect little slices of cheesecake topped with an apricot glaze. It was 8:30 a.m. and I had already made plenty of choices from the European breakfast fare on display: freshly-baked rolls, sliced cheeses, and a selection of cold cuts, pâtés and other meats. Still, I didn’t hesitate for a second. A slice (or was it two?) of the creamy dessert made its way to my table and though I don’t plan on adding it to my morning ritual for fear of getting hooked, I am here to tell you that cheesecake is delicious for breakfast. So is Champagne. That festive breakfast buffet selection awaited me on the next leg of my trip in a hotel in Paris, France, where the bubbly chilled in an ice bucket not far from a pitcher of milk every morning– and you could just help yourself to either beverage. Guests sipped from their Champagne glasses as casually as from their cups of café au lait and it made for a merry start to the day. So here is a toast to hotel breakfast buffets and the decadent choices they offer. When you’re out of town, there’s something magical and comforting about waking up in a new place and knowing there’s a room full of breads, pastries, eggs, miniature jellies and steaming cups of coffee waiting for you to indulge as you please. It’s also the perfect opportunity to sample something you would otherwise never try for breakfast, like caviar paste in Stockholm, Sweden, or black pudding and a tattie scone in Scotland. Then there are hotel breakfast buffets that leave you breathless, like the one in Paris Las Vegas, where after filling up on crepes, omelets, croissants and cheeses, I always feel sorry that you can only eat so much during one sitting. I’m already dreaming about my next visit, but for now, back to bagels and cream cheese. What’s the most indulgent thing you’ve ever eaten at a breakfast buffet? Let us know in the comments below and get more at CNN Travel |
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I apologize to all the monolingual English- speakers I offended with my grammar. My intention was not to make fun but to point out that "Tom B" called the article and comments 'stoopid' (stupid). I could have written my comment in five different languages, but thought English would be easier for everyone. I thought the comments were interesting and educational (with one exception).
I LOVE THE VERSATIL WAYS THE EGG DISHES OUT SOUFLE, OMELLETS, SCRAMBLED, POACHED, ITS THE BREAKEST CHAMPION!
Sterling Brunch, Bally's Las Vegas. Be there. Aloha.
The Original in San Antonio, right on the Riverwalk. During the non-peak tourist season, they are 24 hour from Thursday to Monday morning. Excellent Mexican breakfast. If it's cold out, you get a blanket for your lap and the center of the table is those standing heaters they use on patios. My husband hates the cold and has 2 ulcers – he still talks about how fantastic that place was. The food didn't upset his stomach. Fresh tortillas, fresh fruit and a very decent selection. We make a point to go there for breakfast when we're in San Antonio.
A full Scottish breakfast buffet and a serving of Haggis was simply delicious at the Point Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland two weeks ago.
If I could teleport to Scotland every day for breakfast, I would be the happiest person on Earth.
Fresh soft Chinese Buns(Baos) with juicy ground pork filling, dipped in hot sauce!
Cold Pizza and Yankee Doodles!
Poached eggs over poached salmon, sides of back bacon, tomatos and mushrooms, at the Ballyliffin Lodge over looking Malin Head and the Inishowen coastline of the Atlantic in Co Donegal, Ireland
The jazz brunch at Commander's Palace in NOLA. I've tried Brennan's a couple of times, but I keep going back to the Commander int he end.
Brennan's in New Orleans. Pricey but the standard against which I will judge everything else I ever eat. I had breakfast from the prix fixe menu – 3 courses: First, baked apple. Sitting in a pool of heavy cream. The first cut allows the butter and brown sugar to fall out into the cream. The apple itself was firm, not mushy. Absolutely delicious. Second, Shrimp Sardou. Honestly, I can't remember all the layers but it was just faulous. Third, Bananas Foster invented and perfected at that
same restaurant. Prepared table-side. Accompanied by 2 sazarac's, I was floating in food and drink heaven! I only ate half of everything. The staff is friendly and don't make you feel tacky if you take pictures of the food because it is also picture worthy. A not to be missed experience if you have about $175 to blow on breakfast (including tip)
I posted this before I scanned all the other posts. Looks like Brennan's gets the win. For all the judgmental folks out there...
I call a rare indulgent experience living. Le bon temps roulette!
Michaels Kitchen Cafe in Taos, New Mexico. Spanish-style omelette with house-made chile and hot sauce.
super thick french toast with fruit sauces and whipped cream.
Buttermilk biscuits and blackberry jelly, both homemade and served with love at Grandma's.
The sweets on European breakfast buffets are for the tourists. The locals will not eat sweets until teatime. When I was in Germany and took a sweet for breakfast, my tablemate looked at me like I was an uncivilized oaf.
Not always the case. Spending summers with my grandparents in france, the typical fare was baguette with confiture (jam) + nutella.
That must have been a peculiarity of the person you were breakfasting with. A lot of Germans eat "sweet breakfasts" – rolls with jam, jelly or Nutella. And others like cold cuts.
I lived in Germany for seven years, and the locals most certainly will eat "sweets" at breakfast.
Salmon eggs Benedict – Vancouver
Besides many full English breakfasts, I also recently had a buffet with tons of smoked salmon with capers and onion...nothing beats that. And I always appreciate any restaurant with the decency to serve proper English (or similar) marmalade and not that garbage American stuff. Mostly, I'm a fan of over-medium or scrambled eggs or an omelet with crispy American bacon and English bangers. And you know...totally healthy, too. Yeah.
Pancakes and Nutella. Nothing beats it.
Little Debbie Ho-Ho's
Breakfast buffet at the Banff Springs Hotel. They had a bowl of bacon!
Salty's amazing brunch on Alki Beach in Seattle Washington....chocolate fountain, crab legs, shrimp, lobster ravioli and so much more...
they have the best chowder hands down–love Salty's on Alki
In the Abacos ,a lobster & cheese omelet washed down with one of Junior's Tranquilizers (a rum & citrus drink). Heaven.
whats the name of that place
Great Harbour Room at Hope Town Harbour Lodge on Elbow Cay.
In Istanbul, they brought out an incredible spread with rolls, meats, cheeses, olives, sweet and savory spreads and dried fruits. Am I the only person that can totally dig a handful of green olives first things in the morn?
LMAO! I'm surprised this hasn't been taken off yet! LOL!!
Our hotel in Venice had 2 or 3 fruit glazed cheesecakes out each morning. I tend to go for the pates and meats and cheeses, but nothing wrong with taking down some cheesecake and champagne!
Cold pizza. Hands down.
Like!
The true breakfast of champions!
What's wrong with cheesecake for breakfast? It sounds AWESOME! And a mimosa is champange and OJ so why not? Anyway, my husband makes a breakfast lasagna that is to die for! Scrambled eggs, lasagna noodles homemade sausage gravy and crumbled sausage and bacon all smothered with mozzarella or cheddar cheese on top!
Kelly – that sounds awsome - can you share the recipe?
Kelly – yer husband is awesome for creating breakfast lasagna!
Grand Marnier french toast made from brioche, with a drizzle of warm maple syrup and a couple of bacon strips on the side. Wash it down with a nice mimosa (or two). But I will only indulge for my first meal if I can slip off into a food coma after. Big breakfasts, especially with alcohol, make me sooo sleepy.
Sunday brunch at the Hyatt Regency Valencia, CA. Dark Chocolate Chunk (Scharffen Berger) – Croissant – Macadamia Nut “bread pudding.” I learned the hard way though (the second time I had it that it was so rich that any more than an ½ cup serving gave me a not-so-pleasant rumbly in my tumbly (a nod to WTP)). Still, so delicious, indulgent, and decadent!
A full English breakfast: Two eggs, sausages, toast, sliced tomatoes, baked beans and sauteed mushrooms...topped off with a pint of good English ale. Keep you going strong all day long!
I agree with the English breakfast. Nothing better than baked beans with your eggs and sausages.
Don't forget the black pudding!!!
Hazelnut creme crepes and espresso in Montreal.
Cheesecake and Mimosa's for breakfast? What a lovely way to start the day! Do it!
Eggo waffles with crunchy peanut butter.
BOO-rah! My favorite breakfast!
We stayed in a "Castle Club" suite in Disneyland Paris. Castle Club guests have a private dining room overlooking the Park where a buffet breakfast available every morning. I was really suprised at the quality and quantity of the food. Tons of fresh bakery goods, hot and cold meats, loads of cheeses, fresh fruits and several kinds of yougurts. Best of all – once you took a seat – you recieved (literally) white glove service. Great coffee served from a silver pot into Limoges china. In the afternoon, they had a lovely tea service with tiny sandwiches and petits-fours. We were NEVER hungry during our stay!
Room service, breakfast in bed – eggs benedict (lightly toasted english muffin topped with grilled canadian bacon, a poached egg and drizzled with creamy hollandaise sauce)....all washed down with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. Yum yum.
A big bowl of Fruit Loops followed by a couple of Hostess cupcakes all washed down with a half gallon of chocolate milk. Been eating it for years and have 8% body fat, run 6 marathons a year and can kick Chuck Norris' butt any day of the week!
Liar, liar, your pants are on fire...
His pants already burned off.
Doubtful. Marathon runners typically incorporate protein in their breakfasts.
Champagne for breakfast isn't that weird. I go to a hangover brunch from time to time that has $5/liter mimosas which are definitely more booze than orange juice. You can keep your cheesecake though, best hotel breakfast for me is fresh tropical fruit, preferably local. That means whole passion fruit, star fruit, and whatever else came off the tree that morning. Maybe throw a little protein in there so you don't instantly get hungry, but by far the best is fresh local fruit.