Realistic B&B Breakfasts
I sometimes day dream about renovating an old home and running a B&B. I often try to envision what I might offer when the "breakfast" part rolls around. I'd like to think I'd be creative, generous and fancy but I usually fall to earth with the realization that putting on a daily morning performance in the kitchen would cease being fun very quickly. Tell me, first, what have you encountered as an offered breakfast in your travels and, secondly, if this were your dream, what would you realistically commit to when it was time to set the table?
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20 Comments:
I spoke to someone once about running a b&b and they disabused me of romantic notions quite quickly. "Go home, strip all your beds, wash every sheet you own and remake the beds. Get up at five am nad make a huge breakfast and then at 8:30 smile politely when someone turns up their nose at it and asks for a goddamned egg white omelet. When you finish making it, go upstairs and strip all your beds and wash every sheet you own...."
BananaMonkey at 4:50PM on 09/16/09
My first and only B&B experience was 2 years ago at a little place on the West Coast of the US. The suite that we got was really nice, with a fireplace and jacuzzi sized bathtub. The breakfasts were so-so. We stayed 3 nights. First morning, the proprietor made us a crab quiche which was ok (I love quiche, but even I could tell that they used a cheap canned crabmeat), accompanied by some very good ginger cranberry scones and coffee for my husband and tea for me. The second morning, we were offered some sort of peach/apple coffeecake/cobbler, served with a fresh fruit, yogurt and granola. I lean more towards a savory breakfast than a sweet one, so I wasn't too excited by this offering.
The best hotel breakfast I've ever had was the full breakfast offered by the Hilton Hotel in Prague. The amount and quality of the food offered boogles the mind, but my favorite items were the silver dollar-sized yeast pancakes and the fresh baked breads and rolls that were offered every morning. It was always a wonderful start to the day.
For my own preference, a basket of warm baked goods (eg. croissants, bagels, toasts, scones) and some jam, honey & butter with a pot of hot tea or coffee is my idea of a great breakfast at any B&B or hotel.
AnnieNT at 4:50PM on 09/16/09
Most important thing is good coffee -- there is nothing worse than weak coffee, even if the food is great! I stayed at a B&B once in Hartford, CT that had the most amazing coffee ever -- I asked their secret and it was a 1/2 and 1/2 mix of amaretto flavored coffee and Folgers! I've replicated it at home and it is just as delicious.
Best breakfast was at a place in Michigan that had fresh fruit, yogurt and granola parfaits.
I think the thing I like the most about B&B's is getting to meet the owners and chatting with them. My husband and I, and 2 other couples, once rented out a B&B for the weekend and it was fantastic -- the owners were so friendly and nice -- we hung out in the backyard talking with them and sharing a few bottles of wine one evening, and were having such a good time that they pulled out the grill and started making wings at 11pm!
gbania at 5:45PM on 09/16/09
I once stayed at a small B&B in Victoria -- they only served breakfast, which was two fried eggs on wheat toast, with a grilled tomato and orange marmalade. It was decent, but I was starving by lunchtime. :P
avaryne at 6:34PM on 09/16/09
At B&B's - seem like the usual fare is a mix of muffins/bread/rolls along with one made-when-you-come-downstairs hot item - pancakes, waffles, eggs, etc. Best breakfast was at a small hotel in Tuscany - bread, cured meats, cakes, jams, honey, fruit.
tubulus at 9:33PM on 09/16/09
I was a cook at a B&B through college (La Maison in Spring Lake NJ). We'd bake muffins or scones and every plate had fresh fruit or baked peaches/plums. OJ was always fresh squeezed. And while people were waiting for their meal there was fresh baguette and jelly to eat.
We'd alternate between pancakes (plain or blueberry lemon) or waffles and omelettes (our signature had herbs de provence and goat cheese, but we had other veggies and cheese as options). We also had creme brulee french toast which is still my favorite thing to make for company.
On holiday weekends we'd bake banana bread or some variation in the evening while people were checking in and then we'd make french toast from that bread the next morning for breakfast.
There were only 10 rooms so it was really easy to custom make everyone's meals. I think that if it were larger crowds then the creme brulee french toast would be a good option since it's baked and not an individually cooked meal. I think frittatas and fresh baked breads/muffins/scones are easy to pull off and always yummy.
gingercookiewithlime at 10:13PM on 09/16/09
I've been to some B&Bs and all they do, is buy stuff at Cost Co or BJs, then set out a continental breakfast with yogurts, cereals and fresh fruit. If I were to do a B&B, ( I'm a dreamer, too) I would be up at 5am and making scones, sour cherry/chocolate, lemon/blueberry and brown sugar/ toffee or a blueberry sour cream coffee cake...I would make a breakfast strata , creme brulee french toast or apple bread pudding the night before, and pop it in the oven in the morning. I would make sure there would be fresh fruit of the season, and lots of coffee (my favorite is from La Columbe) and tea from Serendipitea.
then I would spend some time over coffee, talking with the guests before cleaning up and getting on with the day.
juliette527 at 12:11AM on 09/17/09
We used to stay at a B&B in Lancaster County PA that was great.
http://www.oldesquareinn.com/index.htm we liked the cottage. Every morning they would bring a hamper with wonderful muffins and toast and sausages, pancakes and eggs, bacon. Fresh juices and fruit. Now I am not a crazy for breakfast person but this place had great breakfast. They also have recipes on their website.
She was wonderful at being an innkeeper she knew all the best spots for shopping, dinner, lunch anything you needed or wanted.
JerzeeTomato at 2:15AM on 09/17/09
I work at a B and B right now - I took the job specifically because I was interested in running one in the future. First off, I can say it is hard work - I have lost weight, as has my boss from running up and down stairs. We have five rooms on two levels - three with ensuite bathrooms and two that share a bath. When it is full, we can accomodate 14 people. The cleaning is the hardest part for me - the tubs are clawfoot and you just about have to climb into them to get them clean!
On the breakfast front, I get up at 5:30. I have fresh baking every morning - scones, oatmeal banana cookies, biscuits. We set out other types to breads, fresh cut fruit, yogurt, coffee, OJ, all homemade jams, cereals etc. After the guests get into that, we do made to order hot breakfast - eggs, French toast, pancakes bacon, sausage. When we have a big group, we usually have a baked French toast of some variety or a strata. I usually finish cooking and cleaning the kitchen by about 10:30 - if the place is full, I finish cleaning the rooms by about 2 (I work by myself, just to be clear) - and the next set of guests arrive at 3. It's a busy busy life - I really enjoy the cooking and the guests, but the cleaning just about wrings me out!
Maureen at 8:59AM on 09/17/09
In a B&B in Dakar we had very good breakfast: bissap, a refreshing hibiscus drink, baguettes with butter and hibiscus jelly and grilled fish.
Mexican breakfast are amazing, being chilaquiles with their sour cream, green tomato salsa, chicken, cheese and 'totopos' one of the best morning treats I know.
But if there is a place in the world where they know about breakfast, I believe that place is Asia, specially China and Indochina. Get up early in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok... and you will simply not be able to count so many choices, savoury or sweet. No wonder they've been the center of the world for so many centuries.
roicinho at 9:35AM on 09/17/09
The last B&B I was at served a main course of apple french toast with your choice of meat side: bacon, sausage, turkey sausage (as a non-pork eater, i LOVED that this was an option and it was delicious too!)
They also had an array of cereals, bagels, fruit, muffins and other baked goods if you didn't enjoy the main course. I thought it was pretty well done. The only thing was I'm not that big on French toast so maybe I would have offered a choice of main dish?
Let us know what you make!
Chew on That at 9:58AM on 09/17/09
@Maureen - after getting up at 5:30 a.m. and cooking all those delicious things and keeping the kitchen and dining area clean, I don't blame you for being exhausted at the idea of cleaning rooms as well!! You poor thing! Is there no way you could hire a student in your busiest season to help out with cleaning?.. I should imagine you have other duties such as laundry, shopping, prepping, etc. you haven't even mentioned.
bareneed at 10:24AM on 09/17/09
I would love to do something like this but not a B and B. Why because I am not a morning person and know myself that I will not get up a 5a to make anything but maybe a pit stop. If I was to open anything it would be a b and b but called it bed and brunch, say around noon? Either way always the reg stuff, cereals, muffins, scones, seasonal fresh fruits, ect., but then eggs to order, hash browns, buscuits and gravy, bacon, sausge, ham, maybe a special of the week.
pjracz10 at 3:35PM on 09/17/09
@piracz, I like the idea of a bed and brunch. I'm usually not in the mood to eat first thing in the morning, and if it's a group breakfast I'm not particularly chatty, either. I'd rather have a coffeepot in my room, the newspaper delivered to the door, and leave me alone until I've reassembled myself into a human being. Brunch or even lunch would be fine, so I could go wander in the morning and come back to a meal and then go out again in the afternoon and evening.
Or "food to go" at brunch time. Some muffins, sandwiches, salads and stuff that you could take with and now if you're hungry or take with if you're going out. This would work better if the area was more rural/woodsy/beachy with not a lot of restaurants for lunch.
dbcurrie at 4:18PM on 09/17/09
@bareneed - yes we do have a person who comes in to clean (but rarely), but I am paid to do the entire shot - and that is 100 bucks for the shift - from 3 one day to 12 noon the next. I took this job for love, not money. If I were running it myself, I would not be cleaning, period. Laundry we send out, which is great. Shopping I do, prep I do as well. As my boss would say - the life of an innkeeper....... (he never ends that sentence!)
Maureen at 4:19PM on 09/17/09
@Maureen - I had a similar schedule when I worked in a b&b but there were two of us cleaning. It was about 10 years ago now and I was making $10 an hour plus tips. I think you're being grossly underpaid. It's really hard work.
gingercookiewithlime at 7:45PM on 09/17/09
@Maureen - My mom's best friend used to run a top rated inn that offered only dinner and breakfast (no lunch). She had help for the cleaning but did the cooking and guest services herself. She was absolutely exhausted all the time, especially when a guest didn't arrive to check in until midnight and she had to be up at 5 to prepare breakfast.
lexophile at 9:36AM on 09/18/09
@ piracz10 - genius! I am not a morning person either, and hate waking up early just b/c I know the owners want to get on with their day. I would stay at a bed and brunch everywhere I went.
tatianak at 3:19PM on 09/18/09
I've stayed at a few B&Bs. The best breakfast ever was at Ray's Bucktown in Chicago. The guy made the most amazing breakfasts to order everyday (or if you didn't have time to wait, there was a lovely selection of pastries). I have no idea how or why he did it, but I loved it, and I can't wait to go back.
jennkelley at 3:36PM on 09/18/09
I've only ever stayed at one B&B, and that was in Idaho, when I was fishing on the Snake River. I have to say that the place was beautiful and the breakfasts were fantastic! Good hearty American stuff - eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits with gravy, pancakes, fruit, etc. etc. etc. Magnificent, and I hope the host and hostess knew how much all us guests appreciated their efforts. I had a great time and the food was great!
minstrel at 12:12AM on 09/19/09