Again, I seem to have lost count, doesn’t make sense I know, but when they all blur into one!!

We used to go out for breakfast, not when we lived in Germany, not when we lived in Belgium, and not when we lived in France but we did on a weekend, when we lived in Houston, Texas ( I do have to qualify this as Houston and Texas are very different from saying USA), our girls were small and their delight on a Sunday morning was whether to choose the Yummy berry Toast or the Happy Face breakfast. But then again back in Belgium no, we didn’t go out for breakfast, rather sweating in a swimming pool ( not me you understand) as by then the girls and boy were seriously into swimming and swimming competitions. And so back to Texas, and the interest in eating out on a Sunday had faded, the menu had not changed in the intervening years, but we had.

Moving onto the UK, first home, no outside breakfast, second home, yes, and likewise third home, but now on our fourth and Himself hopes the last, it is again a NO. Except when we went to Mexico, which we did for bout 5 years to visit eldest daughter and family and eating breakfast out was one of the joys of our visits.

On does have a false impression of Mexican food, either by visiting Texas ( see it is there again) where Texmex is definitely, not Mexican food, or even by going to Wahaca, the Mexican chain in the UK set up by Master Chef winner Thomasina Miers. There is nothing wrong with Wahaca, it is just not the Mexican food that we grew to love in Mexico City.

The venue of choice for breakfast ( could also be lunch and dinner) was LARDO, in Condesa, a leafy village in the centre of Mexico City. Their Menu for breakfast alone was outstanding and here it is:-

Cereals Seasonal fruit salad Granola, fruit and yogurt Baked oats, red berries and almond milk Black rice, coconut milk, banana and mango Green chilaquiles and burrata cheese Hotcakes, blueberry, ricotta and date syrup Eggs Fried egg, rocket, avocado and bacon Fried egg, chile con carne and avocado Tomato stew, basil, parmesan and fried egg Fried eggs, hoja santa and fresh cheese Fried eggs, spinach, speck and avocado Poached eggs, peppers sauce, epazote and purslane Scrambled eggs, zucchini, goat cheese, lemon and peppermint Fried egg, sprouting broccoli, chili, garlic and almond Croque madame, emmental cheese fried egg Tomatoes and goat cheese quiche Scrambled eggs, bacon and parmesan cheese Omelette, insects mole, echalote and green beans salad Poached egg, smoked salmon, avocado and holandaise sauce Sandwiches Pita bread, proscuitto di parma, burrata and tomatoes Pulque bread, avocado, herbs, and sesame seed toast Cemita, avocado and fresh cheese Sourdough, eggplant, tomatoes and goat cheese Sourdough, chorizo, tomatoes and rocket Sourdough, roast beef and gruyere cheese Croque Monsieur, emmental cheese Croissant, ham and gouda cheese.

SO my take on this breakfast is what I loosely call Mexican eggs, and again, it really is a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but yummy.

I start by taking a tine of chopped tomatoes. In a saucepan I heat a little oil to which I add one or two spring onions chopped and a couple of cloves of garlic also chopped, along with a chopped red or green chilli. When they are softened, I add the tomatoes, and let it simmer for a bit to thicken. Meanwhile I poach a couple of eggs , then peel and slice an avocado, and also chop some fresh coriander. Taste the tomato mixture and season accordingly, I usually add some harissa or a chilli mix as well as salt and pepper. When ready to serve ladle into a bowl, add the poached eggs along with the avocado and coriander. Serve with some sourdough toast.

Obviously can also be as a light lunch or even supper. Next up, have you ever had Croque Monsieur, or Croque Madam? I bet you have , but never so good as in Mexico City.