EOT of the Year February update
It's been a super busy month in my search for Egg on Toast of the year as another seven have been sampled meaning I'm well on track for my 50 target.
I started out at Cafe Verdi in Mattishall which I hadn't visited for several years but was pleasantly surprised with what was on offer with the cake selection looking good.
I have trained a crack team of EoT testers to help with my mission but despite taking seven with me on this trip only one other joined me as the others were all tempted by bacon butties. This was a theme that continued throughout the month.
In terms of the egg on toast then mushrooms were included, which was a nice touch, and the eggs were perfect but it was let down by too much thin packet toast (or over toasting as us experts call it). However it made it into my current top 6 so could still make the end of season EoT playoffs.
My next trip was with the same crew of experts out to Aldi and sons cafe and farm shop near Poringland. They offered an all day breakfast option so no issues with arriving off menu. However only scrambled or fried were on offer.
It was a very good offering with the toast being pre buttered which is always a nice touch. The eggs were slightly over cooked so didn't make it to the top but still a very enjoyable visit.
I like to spread my search wide so myself and Big George headed to Suffolk and the Good, the bad and the hungry near Stradbroke.
Fortunately Big George has been doing extra indoor training so we went a a descent pace which was a good job as we arrived just before midday when the breakfast menu stops.We just got our order in in time. It was a good honest EoT and as good as you could expect with packet sliced bread. We both very much enjoyed it as it moved up towards the top of the table.
Every Monday morning I like to go for a swim at the UEA sportspark and as I cycle there it meant their EoT could be rated. It wasn't the best as eggs were small, toast thin and you had to butter it yourself. I don't want to miss any EoT opportunity as you never know (although I probably did).
The next day I set off with my crack testing team out to a Piece of Cake at Coltishall. Once again they were all tempted by the breakfast bap leaving me to EoT on my own.
Apparently they don't do poached anymore as people are too fussy about how they like them cooked (if only everyone was as flexible as me) so I had fried.
It was a fairly standard offering so didn't trouble the leaders
I was back with Andrew (who is notourisly hard to please even if he claims he isn't anymore) for a ride to OBrennans Cafe at Great Walshingham where I had unexpected EoT as I hadn't expected to see it on the menu.
Admittedly there was only scrambled on offer but it was still EoT. It was a very good standard with the toast being particularly well buttered.
February finished with a 42 mile outing to Cannells at Reedham Ferry. It was Mrs Crusaders return to the bike after a few weeks off with various niggles. I got into big trouble as apparently the bike ride was too long (I didn't even know this was a thing). Even two trips on the ferry didn't get me off the hook.
Of our group of four then three of us had EoT while Mrs Crusader opted for a full English. It turned out to be excellent both in taste and presentation. The only criticism was the lack of butter on the toast. However this didn't stop it from leading the ratings after the first two months.
Eleven EOT have now been tasted so I'm back on track to hit my 50 target. Remember the top 6 will be revisited during December when the winner of EOT 2023 will be crowned but until then my search continues.
Cafe |
Month |
Toast |
Egg |
Presentation |
Overall taste/enjoyment |
Total |
Cannells |
February |
7 |
8.1 |
7.4 |
17.1 |
39.6 |
Green grocers |
January |
7 |
8.4 |
7 |
16.9 |
39.3 |
Good, bad and Hungry |
February |
7 |
8.3 |
6.7 |
16.3 |
38.3 |
Cafe Verdi |
February |
6.2 |
8.1 |
7.5 |
16.4 |
38.2 |
Gardeners kitchen |
January |
7.5 |
8.6 |
5.6 |
16.1 |
37.8 |
Obrennans great Walsingham |
February |
7 |
7.4 |
6.8 |
16.2 |
37.4 |
Byfords |
January |
5 |
8 |
7.9 |
15.8 |
36.7 |
Reepham station |
January |
6.1 |
8.3 |
6.7 |
15 |
36.1 |
Piece of cake |
February |
7 |
7 |
6.5 |
15.2 |
35.7 |
ALDIs &sons cafe |
February |
7 |
7 |
6.2 |
15.1 |
35.3 |
Sports park |
February |
5 |
7.8 |
4.5 |
12.2 |
29.5 |