It’s fascinating to me how prices widely considered outrageous are, by the second or third time around, deemed almost normal. This applies to the current war-time gasoline price, which has been bouncing above $1.70 a litre, with little evidence of motorists curbing their mileage. Similarly, many folks no longer even blink at hotel room rates of $200 or $300.
Fabulous bennies at Sweatered Hen worth the $24 price
For Marathon Mouth, the tipping point has been the $20 breakfast. I fondly recall the overflowing bacon-and-eggs platters, which for about $8 (U.S.) kept me nourished till supper on long road trips south of the border.
Those days are long gone, (as are my American visits). Somewhere along the way, I went from “a bridge too far” to a shrugged “cost of doing business.”
Which perhaps explains why, in the space of a week, I three times indulged in Calgary breakfasts costing an average $23.50, plus coffee, plus tip. To be honest, I’d rather pay more for a quality meal than face a steady “shrinkification” of portion size and substitution of inferior ingredients.
My first breakfast was a fabulous benny bowl at The Sweatered Hen on the Beltline’s 17 Avenue SW. (click above for my review). The second was at ZCREW Cafe, an Asian fusion joint on the eastern edge of downtown Calgary.
ZCREW a hopping joint in Victoria Park
The latter’s eclectic breakfast menu ranges from overnight oats to brekkie wraps and bowls. But I was here for a spicy Korean twist on a fried chicken benny ($23). Lovely stuff, with nicely runny eggs, a cone of hot breakfast potatoes and a sensible amount of hollandaise.
Korean take on a chicken benny
My third stop was at long-time Bridgeland stalwart Blue Star Diner. It’s a personal go-to breakfast joint for three reasons.
Blue Star Diner one of the best breakfast hangouts in Calgary
First, it has a busy yet cozy neighbourhood vibe that’s unequalled in Calgary. You just want to hang out with friends here.
Second, the breadth and creativity of the breakfast menu. Fried chicken and pancakes anyone? Or breakfast poutine? My breakfast bowl came loaded with poached eggs, chorizo, cured bacon, house potatoes and a boatload of roasted veggies.
Third, you certainly get your money’s worth, even at over $20 for all the above dishes. And at $20, the monstrous breakfast burrito might be the best morning deal in the city, a true two mealer.
In sum, there’s a lot of great breakfast places in Calgary. Just don’t look too closely at the bill.
Marathon Mouth 