Ethnic Breakfast Options [General]

2011 Sep 8
Aside from the typical American/Canadian breakfast of eggs, bacon/sausage and toast, are there other options for breakfast foods that can be had from an eatery/restaurant? What about other ethnic cuisines? I've had some interesting breakfast options when staying at friends homes, holidaying and trying the occasional recipes. It would be interesting to try some new breakfast foods or have some good ethnic breakfast cooking.
I'm chinese and one typical breakfast food I had often as a child is congee. Breakfast back than has been a typical north american style rather than chinese and we had cereal, eggs with bacon/sausage and toast. But occasionally when my gran was nostalgic, she would make a big pot of congee.
So where can I go and get some ethnic breakfast foods. I love trying different things. Is there a restaurant that serves Japanese breakfast, or what about Jamaican or even Indian. Even a traditional english or irish breakfast.

2011 Sep 8
never been before lunch, so i'm really not positive ... but if i had to guess i'd think Cafe Orient might do a late breakie?

2011 Sep 9
Junkster, I have great memories of Japanese breakfasts in Kyoto. I wish there was a place here that served them. I do a lot of work with the Japanese community, and will try to find out whether any of them know of a place for Japanese breakfast outside their own homes. Would love to have miso soup, smoked fish and pickled plums for breakfast.

2011 Sep 9
my family gets around the non-traditional breakfasts by often having dinner leftovers for breakfast. i love savoury over sweet some mornings.

one option is jericho in the glebe. they have an eggs diablo (maybe called something else) that is wonderful. hardboiled eggs in a spicy, seasoned tomato sauce. they also used to have some other traditional lebanese foods for breakfast.

2011 Sep 9
Pizza, stuffed buns from chinatown, dim sum (a breakfast in Hong Kong I think),
interesting fruits - cactus fruit chilled is very good, so is watermelon. Quinoa flakes make a great porridge. Steamed perogies (the Giant Tiger ones are made out West and pretty good) with either sour cream or hot sauce are also good. Sous vide eggs. French toast.

en.wikipedia.org

2011 Sep 9
Germany it would be some nice pasteries fresh from the bakery, as well as a 'do-it-yourself' table of sliced meats, cheeses and various breads. I have a picture in my tour of Cologne on this site

Forum - Food Porn from Cologne, Germany?post_id=1402#post_1402


2011 Sep 9
Speaking of Germany, I heard via Twitter that Lindenhof is doing a brunch now.

La Cabaņa does a brunch option as well, nothing too extensive though.

2011 Sep 9
Lindenhof also has kids night on Wed and date night on Thurs

2011 Sep 9
Chimi: Lindenhof's brunch is excellent, like everything else there. Ruby red smoked salmon on potato pancakes with dill creme fraiche? Yes. Schitzel topped with a fried egg? Oh yes. And that is just what I remember...

2011 Sep 9
Cabana is pretty good for brunch, tho i'd deeply love to find a solid mexican huevos rancheros somewhere.

The Wild Oat on Bank does some interesting pseudo-ethnic brunchy things.

2011 Sep 9
If you're at all interested in making your own I have a couple of Middle Eastern streetfood breakfast dishes that I make (but use more for lunch or dinner) - ful and balila, both chickpea-based. Lots of versions online but I can post the recipes I use if interested. I don't know if either dish is available at Jericho or Les Grillades - perhaps someone else knows.

2011 Sep 12
Jericho "sucks" lately- they have not been making any breakfast on weekends for a while- I tried to go a few times when I was walking by :(

other than that Jericho has a good lunch menu.

For "Asian " things Golden Baguette has a spinach filled bun, apple filled bun and also some coconut sticks.
They also have breakfast sandwiches w egg, bacon, cheese on a bun or bread/bagel.
Golden Baguette also often sells spring rolls filled w noodles- and these are huge for around $1 like larger than Chinese egg rolls.
they sell out often though.

Malak pastry often has a "lebanese" breakfast item.
not sure of the name, but it is a flat bun that has sesame seeds on both sides and they fill that with some kind of semolina pastry with cheese and you put that in the microwave and then can put some nuts and syrup on it.

I've tried that a few times, it is different.
But I would call to see if they have this breakfast item,might be on weekends only.
A few Middle Eastern people I know told me this is supposed to be a popular breakfast thing for middle eastern cultures...

Forgot to mention, when I used to get breakfast at Jericho it is the typical North American style eggs,bacon ect. They also used to serve pancakes- but I'm pretty sure they are from a mix.
they tasted like "regular" pancakes. nothing wrong w them, just not interesting.

I have also gone to Todrics a few times for weekend breakfast and their menu is different!
todrics.com/flavor-of-the-day

Todrics also has a regular weekday menu,but have not had a chance to check it out yet.
or else My House cafe on Bank st has a different kind of menu-like tofy scramble, vegan coconut french toast w bananas in the middle.

2011 Sep 12
prettytasty - is it just due to construction that jericho isn't doing breakfast? i hadn't realized they had stopped. since the original poster is looking for ethnic breakfast, i feel pretty confident in recommending the ethnic breakfast food at jericho if it is open and serving breakfast.

i'd classify pancakes and eggs as regular fair and would suggest they are better served elsewhere in the city.

2011 Sep 12
Instead of bacon and eggs, sous vide pork belly and eggs?

meandmytorch.com

2011 Sep 15
I doubt it is because of construction- the last time I tried to get breakfast there was BEFORE the construction.
Probably in the early spring.
Kind of disapointed as their breakfast was good- I did like the potatoes they cooked with it.

But I am not sure their breakfast is worth going to Bank st for- it was just a regular eggs,bacon,toast kind of thing.
You can get that "normal" breakfast anywhere.

Not trying to diss Jericho as I do buy food there, just their breakfast is pretty unexciting.

Von's across the street has a nice weekend breakfast- they even give you slices of carrot leaf or another muffin type loaf while you wait for your food..a really nice touch.

*I really do not remember seeing anything "ethnic" on the Jericho breakfast menu and also not many years ago when I lived nearby and would eat there w my mother...

The next time I pass by Malak pastry I will try to remember to ask what that breakfast item is called. Wish I really remembered the name for that.

How is the breakfast at Jak's kitchen?
I keep on walking by, but have never been hungry enough to stop while in that area.

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Now I am browsing online and just remembered the Sunflower cafe, now closed used to have "ethnic" breakfast and I tried it once. It was good.
The item I had was called Shakshuka.
it is eggs and tomato, cooked in a skillet.
No idea who serves that now...

www.guardian.co.uk

A north African dish. Some add preserved lemon, others feta, and the herbs and spices vary. Whatever you do, it's ideal for brunch
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Since I'm not sleeping at the moment I will gooogle what I can.

Found this on the Lebanese breakfast item I was writing about:

thefoodblog.com.au

from looking online the "flatbread" item I had bought is called KAAK - it is covered with a lot of sesame seeds on both sides (i use them for dips or sandwiches...not the original use for it).

the filling part is called KNEFE? or maybe spelled differently?

Maybe a Middle Eastern grocery store would have the items to make this, like the store on St Laurent maybe...

2011 Sep 15
hi prettytasty,
it is very possible that they took the dish off the menu. ottawa isn't known for its ethnic breakfasts :)

we lived around the corner for years, so were regulars. the best i can describe it as is the lebanese version of shakshouka (isreal version). we started making it at home after eating it there all the time because it was so delicious. we may have been the only people who ever ordered and it is even possible it was taken off the menu and we kept ordering it anyway :)

2011 Sep 15
Are you talking about the Shakshouka at Sunflower Cafe?
Sunflower cafe is now closed for a few months and WAS a Cinnamon Express until a few weeks ago.
I was at the Bronson location of Cinnamon Express and bought some food and spoke to the guy that seemed to be the manager of the place (only employee there then) and he told me that Sunflower cafe on Rideau was not also Cinnamon Express.
--------------------------------------------

Or was/is you comment about Malak pastry?
At Malak pastry I know that sometimes they make different pastried on the weekend and also have special pastries for holidays.
But the owner of the store told me if you want a specific item you can always call to order it and they can make it for you.
My mother actually orders 4 liters of ice cream when she visits ottawa- the banana ice cream is her favorite and she brings it back to Montreal.

2011 Sep 15
Prettytasty - No, it was Jericho (well it used to be Glebe Cafe). I'm sorry you don't believe me, but I do know where I go to eat. I lived in the Glebe for over 10 years.

2011 Sep 15
Sorry,
I do believe you.
I just thought you meant you ate at Sunflower Cafe and ordered that dish.

I guess I got confused and somehow missed you writing that you ordered this dish at Jericho.

I also remember when it used to be Glebe Cafe and they used to have breakfast there during the week and pretty much every day.
I think the ownership is still the same though.

I know the owner and he wrote a very good book a while back. He was selling copies of it at his store last summer (and might be still...).

www.amazon.com

*I actually used to live in the Glebe too :)
But that was over 15 years ago, and on Fourth Ave.
The Glebe has changed so much thesedays, tons of chain stores everywhere now!

Forgot to mention if you have the Entertainment book there is a 2 for 1 main course coupon for Jericho and you might be able to print a coupon online for free from Entertainment.com you used to be able to anyways...

2011 Sep 22
There is also Dosa which is a fermented crepe or pancake made from rice batter and black lentils. Ceylonta Restaurant serves it only on Sunday lunch brunch. I really enjoy Dosa.

2011 Sep 23
I just remembered Haveli has Dosa on the menu at their Sunday buffet, at least for dinner time when I went.

not sure about lunch though