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On Valentine’s Day a fellow blogger, Capri, visited the Coopersburg Diner and reviewed it in her blog.  Her fine review prompted usCoopersburg Diner to add it to our growing list of diners to visit for breakfast.  Recently, on a lovely April morning, we decided to stop.  I do agree with Capri.  What a great spot for breakfast!

As we drove south, the construction along Route 309 almost caused us to pass right by.  Just in time, Penn Dot’s orange cones alerted us to the temporary turn-in lane.  (This accounts for my slightly lopsided photo.  Hard to get a more centered shot without risking life and limb.)  Given the traffic situation, the parking lot was fuller than I expected.  Apparently a little roadwork isn’t keeping folks away.

Inside, we were shown to a side window booth.  The diner has a clean refurbished look, homey with wood paneling, and an interesting ceiling.   Our waitress brought menus, water, and a carafe of coffee, which she left at the table :) .   The breakfast menu held a wonderful variety; well worth reading through.  I opted for a croissant sandwich, although I was sorely tempted by the cinnamon roll sandwich with vanilla ice cream.  Sometime.

Croissant sandwich As we chatted and browsed through the newspaper, still more folks arrived.  Soon the servers were bustling.  Our smiling waitress brought our order.  As mentioned, I’d chosen the croissant sandwich – fried eggs, cheese and bacon on a croissant.  It came with homefries, browned, just as I’d requested.  M. ordered eggs, homefries, and a large order of bacon.

The breakfast croissant was huge, and delicious.  Couldn’t quite finish it.   M. thoroughly enjoyed his meal as well, superbly prepared.  We both agreed that the bacon and homefries were exceptionally tasty.  Our one disappointment was the coffee, a bit weak.  (We like strong coffee.)  Still, given the quality of everything else and the fine atmosphere, that won’t keep us away in the future.

Service was excellent, with our friendly waitress checking back often.

Our meals – two eggs, five pieces of bacon, homefries, orange juice, toast and coffee for him, croissant sandwich, homefries and coffee for me – came to under $12 (plus tip).   Most reasonable, given our large orders.

The Coopersburg Diner is located at 336 North 3rd Street (Route 309) in Coopersburg, PA.  610-282-1853.  They offer call ahead seating, have banquet facilities, and cater corporate and family functions.

Have you visited the Coopersburg Diner?  Please share your experience.

Sara

Coopersburg Diner on Urbanspoon

Easter breakfast is a delightful meal, easter-flowersrvespecially when served at home.   Our favorite is to serve a savory quiche with muffins, fresh fruit and, of course, hot coffee.  Over the years the quiche recipes have varied but the basics remain the same.

I used to make muffins from scratch until I discovered a box mix, the Krusteaz brand.  It is as moist and flavorful as anything I could ever make.  Krusteaz comes in many flavors.  We prefer Wild Blueberry, but others – Lemon Poppyseed, Chocolate Chip, and  Cranberry Orange – are just as good.  If you click on the Krusteaz name (here), then click on your favorite flavor, you’ll find recipe variations.  Adding fresh blueberries to the Lemon Poppyseed mix creates an especially moist muffin.

Fresh fruit is always a delight for Easter breakfast, or any breakfast.  Whether cut up into a fruit salad, or sliced, or eaten whole, the flavor of yellow bananas, whole strawberries, or chunks of melon is a sure winner.

Quiche became popular in the United States in the early 1970′s but history dates it back to Medieval times, to the Alsace-Lorraine region in France and Germany.  It is a hearty meal that can be served as an appetizer, for breakfast, or brunch.  It is made from eggs, milk, and cheese baked into a pie crust.  Savories such as diced onions and pieces of bacon or bacon are added, along with vegetables such as broccoli or spinach.   Through the years I’ve found that as long as you have the basic mixture of eggs and dairy, other ingredients can be changed at will.  Click for an assortment of Quiche recipes from Allrecipe.com.

Mr. Breakfast offers up his own version.  Click the screen’s center and turn up your volume to see how it’s done.

Here’s the link to Mr. Breakfast’s written recipe for Spinach Quiche.

What will you and yours be eating for breakfast this Easter?  Do you have a favorite restaurant you’d like to tell us about?  An old family recipe you’ll make at home?   Please share by clicking comments on the dateline at the top of this post.

Happy Easter!

Sara

Café Verde resides in a quaint two-story row house in Phillipsburg, NJ, on the banks of the Delaware River.cafe-verde5 Over time, several readers have recommended it.  This morning, just as we were discussing where to go for breakfast, I received an amiable email from yet another reader noting Café Verde as a favorite.  Providence.  So, on this blustery April morn, my husband and I drove across the bridge to New Jersey.  It was worth the drive.  The restaurant delivered on all we’d heard.

The downstairs dining room looked quite cozy.  We would have gladly taken a seat there, but I’d heard that the upstairs had a view of the river.  We chose a table on the second floor, overlooking the Delaware. In addition to the pleasant view, the room was comfortable and pretty, painted in soft greens and blues.  Attractive art work from area artists adorned the walls.  A homey feeling enveloped us.

breakfast-1441Our friendly waitress soon brought glasses of water, and large mugs of black coffee with creamers.  She then disappeared to give us time to look through the menu.  The café offers a good selection of omelets, French Toast, pancakes, and sides.  We both chose the French Toast, made from thick Challah Bread.

When we first arrived we’d been alone upstairs but, while there, a family arrived, then a few other couples and friends.  It struck me as the perfect sort of restaurant to bring friends from out-of-town for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.   Quiet and comfortable but with a unique local flair.

We were just finishing our first mug of (sensational!) coffee when our meals arrived.  M. had ordered French Toast Deluxebreakfast-1473 – three pieces of Challah French Toast, two eggs, a slice of ham, bacon, and one piece of sausage.  He also asked for a side of toast for his eggs.  I chose two pieces of French Toast and a side order of bacon.  We agreed that the French Toast was among the best we’d eaten.  Light, thick, rich.  M. said the ham, sausage, and bacon were all choice quality, and well-prepared.  His eggs were large and poached just as he likes them, hot and runny.  Our coffee mugs were refilled at just at the right time.  The waitresses were friendly and attentive.  All in all, a perfect meal in a gracious setting.

The total bill came to $24.50 (plus tip).   We ordered too much, though, and the portions were large.  For the first time – ever – we brought home leftovers from breakfast. :shock:   Still, it re-heated well, and was as scrumptious for a late lunch as it had been this morning.

As a final aside, I found this You Tube video about the restaurant.  (Click in center to run. )

Café Verde is located at 60 S. Main Street in Phillipsburg, NJ.

My sincere thanks to Carol, and to other readers, for directing us to this charming café.  I hope you will comment with your experiences.

Sara

Cafe Verde on Urbanspoon

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A thought

"A simple enough pleasure, surely, to have breakfast alone with one's husband, but how seldom married people in the midst of life achieve it." --- Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Breakfast in the Valley Allentown restaurants

 

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