Eggs with a view

In the process of moving house I have discovered that my good friend Gary loves a Big Breakfast and that he has never visited Canberra as a tourist, so I decided to find both in one place. An opportunity to see a bit of Canberra and a good feed. As a bonus, this little place also offered an eggs benedict.

Was I setting my hopes high?

In one of the older and more prosperous suburbs in the ACT, high on the hill, there a view point called Red Hill. There’s also a small, round, building that houses an intimate café with large windows that allows you take in the vista as you dine.

As we waited for food, our drinks arrived and I pointed out all the points of interest that you could see from our vantage point. The Australian Museum, the War Memorial, Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie (another spectacular view, no cafe but an ice cream truck on good days), and, of course, The House Where it ALL Happens.

A latte for me and an orange juice for Gary. My coffee was smooth, his orange juice was concentrate. Was this an omen for my eggs?

It wasn’t a bad one.

It arrived on a fancy plate. Almost a platter. Compact in its presentation with little sprinkles of dried chive for decoration. From the colour I could tell, packet, and so much, was it going to overpower the other flavours on the plate?

Before I had even started eating half of the Big Breakfast was gone. The fried mushrooms pushed to the side awaiting my fork to remove them.

‘Evil things!’

I tucked into my Eggs with bacon. Maybe it was the sun streaming through the window on an early Winter’s day. Maybe it was the eye candy outside the window tucking into the exact same meal. Maybe it was that I was really hungry after a whole day’s packing the day before. Maybe it was the fact it was prior to 9am on a Sunday morning, but I completely forgot to be in the moment and focus on my enjoyment of the eggs.

I know I enjoyed them, because the plate, was glazed with little bobbles that prevented me from mopping up all the sauce and yolk with the muffin.

I know I enjoyed them because I didn’t worry about the sauce to egg to spinach to bread ratio.

I know I enjoyed my meal. I just can’t tell you why.

As I sat, coffee mug clenched between my hand, and watched the sun rising higher in the sun, defrosting the foliage, and providing a glorious halo around the clouds, I thought to myself; I can’t believe I’ve lived in Canberra nearly six years and I haven’t been here before. I really must come back.

And I will.

Location: Red Hill Lookout and Café
Address: 50 Red Hill Drive, Red Hill Nature Reserve ACT
Website: Facebook Page

EB Price: $19 (+2 for Salmon)