Just like the first time
I haven’t had an eggs benedict that has been prepared to for me, for months.
Lockdown in the ACT only lifted a couple of weeks ago and restrictions are slowly easing. Naturally when the G, the lovely grant writer and volunteer for WildTalk, and I decided to take our relationship to the next level and actually meet face to face, we decided lunch was the go.
We arranged to meet near the office and a café in Chiefly was selected.
It was raining, and had been for a couple of days, I arrived to find every single car space used except the two disabled spots. Thank goodness for my golden ticket. I try not to use these spaces unless absolutely necessary. I know there are folks out there with more limitations than me, so when I can, I park further away and walk, with or without stick. When it rains, I really don’t want to be walking too far because my balance isn’t what it was, combine that with a potentially slippy stick end and I just slid into the spot.
G was sat just inside the door. I took the window seat.
I already knew the base I was ordering, but there was choices of ham, bacon, mushrooms or house cured salmon. I decided I’d had have bacon as it’s not something I generally cook at home. There’s always much in a packet and often half of it is wasted. I don’t like wasting food.
I was curious how EB could have a *V option but then I realise gluten free bread and no meat. I had mistaken the *V for vegan. Vegetarian is totally possible and quite delicious on occasion. Not this time however.
I also ordered a Latte and bottle of sparkling water.
We chatted for a while as we waited, the staff were attentive and masked up.
The food came out remarkably quickly. It looked lovely on the plate and for the briefest of moment I coverted G’s scrambled egg on toast with a side of mushroom medley.
Mine was exactly what it said on the menu. Toasted English muffin, spinach, bacon, eggs and HOME MADE SAUCE!
Halle-fricking-lujah!
I’m not sure what I’d have done if I’d been presented with an overabundance of packet sauce after so long away from the fold. Well, actually I do. I would have eaten it. This offering was just so much more delightful.
Maybe it was because it HAD been so long since my last, mayby it was because it was genuinely good.
The sauce was lovely. Vibrate yellow in colour with a citrus tang and the acidity of the vinegar just on the edge.
I sliced into the egg.
The rich orange yolk flowed out slowly, flowing across the bacon and cutting its way through the sauce, before reaching the dark grey glazing on the plate. I watched it in awe.
Oh how I have missed this.
The generous helping of bacon was salty and absolutely delicious.
Spinach and pea shoot garnish helped provide the balance to all the flavours.
I admit to cleaning up every morsel.
G. finished her meal about the same time as I, leaving a tiny triangle of egg atop an equally tiny bite of toast. I chuckled and that prompted us to start talking about childhood modelling around eating.
Shortly afterward we discussed grants, accounting and where too next in the comfortable surrounds. The other clientele chatted, laughed and ate. It was all over seemingly before it had even really begun, but as usual my clients were calling.
We parted ways with the hope of doing it again sometime after we’d been told the next booking was coming soon. In all the excitement of a great meal and successful meeting I forgot to take more pictures.
I know I’m very tempted to go back and try the ‘house cured salmon’, as I suspect that my feelings about this are because it was actually really good.
Location: A bite to Eat
Address: 8 Chifley Pl, Chifley ACT 2606
Website: https://www.abitetoeat.net.au/
Price: $19 (+$2 for salmon)
