Ritual, with an Umbrella

My Saturday morning routine is to take myself out to breakfast -- I’m rewarding myself for surviving another workweek and fueling up for a busy day of sewing. The ritual is always the same but I’m constantly on the lookout for the ultimate breakfast.

Breakfast is a difficult meal for me since I don’t like eggs – scrambled, omelets, benedicts – they look great but it’s a strange texture issue ever since I was a kid. Nancy will happily tell you how I demanded eggs when I was a baby, but along the way something changed.

It’s not easy to eat breakfast if you don’t like eggs – usually it involves a horde of side orders OR convincing the waiter that you’d really like the two-egg and hash meal with no eggs. They always look at you so suspiciously like not wanting eggs is un-American.

I have been wanting to try the Liberty Elm Diner for a long time but my sleepy, as yet uncaffeinated brain can usually not remember that on a Saturday morning. I planned ahead, I pulled up to the Liberty Elm, and then I was a little concerned that so many cars were on the street – would I be able to find a seat? I walked in and found a seat at the counter. To my surprise, a dining room opened up behind the main “diner” room and I realized there was plenty of room for lots of hungry people.

I had a GREAT breakfast. First of all, my waitress was super friendly and understood my dire need for coffee. The coffee was great, waking me up while I waited for my delicious and eggless meal. I ordered a side of fruit, which was a large cup containing an artfully sliced combination of tart apple, juicy orange, and creamy banana rounds topped with a cocktail umbrella. I firmly believe a cocktail umbrella makes anything festive, but I’ve never had one with breakfast before…

My second cocktail umbrella arrived stuck in my bagel, which was toasted with melted provolone cheese and tomato slices. I was full and happy by the time my waitress refilled my coffee cup twice more and presented me with a teeny bill ($6.05 to be exact).

I was well pleased with the Liberty Elm, just sorry that it took me so long to try the place. I’ll be back soon!