Egg on Toast March an April update.

                            EOT of the Year March and April update

It has been a disappointing couple of months in terms of Egg on Toast numbers with only 4 tried in March and 3 in April. There are a number of reasons but I have fallen foul of no breakfast type food after midday (or sometimes earlier!) menu restriction issue on more than one occasion. Hopefully May will prove more productive.

However the EoT I did try were some of the highest quality with some potential finalists identified.

March started well when myself and Andrew (who is still notoriously hard to pleases whatever he says about being more chilled) cycled from hard to please house in Aylsham to Bacton. No offence to Bacton but you wouldn’t expect to find such an excellent cafe as Watson’s there. It has a fabulous cake selection although today it was its breakfast fare we were interested in.

Unfortunately poached egg wasn’t an option so we both went down the fried road instead. This didn’t turn out to be a problem as they were perfectly cooked on nice sourdough bread and we both rated them highly so could be back for the end of year finals.

My next trip was with my useless so called EoT tasting team who never order egg on toast as they are always tempted away to meat based breakfast products such as bacon or sausage. The one exception being reliable Mike who is normally prepared to step up.

On this occasion we headed to the Rural Kitchen at Brooke. I had poached and reliable Mike tried the fried version. The toast was excellent but I think they had over toasted for the size of my eggs although reliable Mike felt his fried eggs gave good toast coverage. Another really good offering.

The highlight of the visit was when I was sexually harassed by a lady customer who told me I had a nice bum (which was unexpected), so to avoid embarrassment I agreed with her, panicked and nearly told her she had nice breasts, which would have been very wrong in a number of ways, especially as she didn't.

Moving quickly on then, later this year I’ll be returning to the Dolomites with a small group of cycling regulars so I thought a training ride was in order. I planned a 50 mile loop via the Angel cafe at Diss.

It soon became clear several more training rides would be needed as the peloton were in need of their cafe stop and we hadn't even cycled up a mountain. However what we had had was three punctures.

The EoT was some of the best so far with the eggs being exceptional and the toast, although from a packet, particularly well buttered.

EoT rules allow an accompany of mushrooms or tomatoes but no sauces, fish or meat, which is why mushrooms appear in the photo.

Finally in March we took a trip to Earsham Hall tearoom. Last time we went, in December, they only had room outside so this time I had sensibly booked an inside table to avoid hypothermia.

My team of egg on toast tasters mainly opted for Eggs Benedict which, as you now know from the rules, has a sauce and ham so once again they were of no use.

I’m thinking of rounding up a new team who actually will eat and rate the EoT with me.

Fortunately my EoT was a very good offering.

April started well as myself and Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) had a trip to Wiveton Hall where I had not expected to find any EoT but it was there on the breakfast menu.

The ride itself got a bit wet which made us pedal faster enabling us to arrive 10 mins before breakfast cut off.

The EoT was rather disappointing with the toast over done and eggs under done so it won’t be featuring in the end of year finals.

To be fair our tea, coffee and pastries were outstanding.

I now thought it was time to pull out one of the big guns as we headed south to the Cake Crusader number one rated stop, Earsham Street Café in Bungay.

I was obviously expecting good things until I saw EoT wasn’t on the breakfast menu. Fortunately they were happy to poach me a couple of eggs but my fellow riders were less brave sticking to only breakfast items that were official available.

Although there was fractionally too much toast I didn’t mind as it was excellent sour dough and not the packet stuff I’ve had to put up with most of the year. Definitely best toast to date.

The eggs were near perfection just needing a few seconds less cooking but I’d much rather that way round and they tasted divine.

Despite been accused of bias today’s offering has gone top of the league so hopefully I’ll be back in December for EoT finals week.

To round off April myself and Big George took on our latest gravel bike adventure, this time round Norfolk's very own Rebellion way. The first leg was from Thetford to Kings Lynn.

There was time for some EoT action in Swaffham which, unlike the ride, was a disappointing with raw toast and under cooked eggs.

Unfortunately no more EoT was found on the trip meaning I am now well behind my target for the year and will need to up my game in May.

Cafe	Month	Toast	Egg	Presentation	Overall taste/enjoyment	Total
Earsham street	April	7.8	8	7.9	17	40.7
Cannells	February	7	8.1	7.4	17.1	39.6
Angel cafe	March	7	8.4	7.5	16.5	39.4
Green grocers	January	7	8.4	7	16.9	39.3
Watsons Bacton	March	7.8	7.5	7.8	16.1	39.2
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
Earsham Hall	March	7	7.8	7.1	15.6	37.5
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
Brook cafe	March	7.3	6.8	6.7	15.3	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
Wiveton hall	April	6	6.8	6	13.7	32.5
Shellys	April	5.3	6.3	6.1	13.3	31
Sports park	February	5	7.8	4.5	12.2	29.5
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Abbeys and eggs. (The Parlour, Binham)

The Parlour,

Binham,

Tue-Fri 10:00-4:00, Sat-Sun 9-4,

Recommended

It’s been a while since I visited a new cafe as my focus has been more on Egg on Toast so far this year. However on this ride I was hoping to kill both birds with a trip to a new cafe at Binham Abbey, the Parlour.

The ride started from Hard to Please House in Alysham where Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) was waiting while hanging out the washing. As we were in his manor I had handed over route planning responsibilities to him so was more than a little nervous.

Despite it being very windy it was a glorious sunny Norfolk day as we discussed our favourite Abbey on what was actually an excellent route.

In the past Creake Abbey had always proved popular but sadly its cafe has closed down so I haven’t been there for a while. However as I recall it’s Abbey is a bit more ruined than Binham so it depends how in tact you like them as to which is better.

After a fine mornings cycling we arrived at the Parlour but sadly our battle with the wind had been in vain and cost us the breakfast menu as it ran out at 11.45 and it was now 11.50. The waitress stuck to her guns and I was only allowed eggs Royal (poached egg with sauce and salmon on muffin) or eggs Benedict which has ham as they were also on the lunch menu. Andrew, being vegetarian wasn’t even allowed a version with no ham or fish so had a mozzarella toastie instead.

I then checked out the cake selection which was ok having enough offerings if not a huge range. It was a good job I did as lurking in the background was a catering tin of the dreaded cadburys drinking chocolate. As you may recall in these circumstances I give the hot chocolate a rating of 5 and have a cup of tea instead rather than endure a cup of milky sugar drink.

Inside was very pleasant, if a little dark, and there was a nice outdoor seating area which was a bit too cold for use today. 

I must admit at this stage of proceedings I was a little disappointed with the Parlour.

However from here things started to pick up as the waitress delivered our food and drink and we exchanged a light hearted conversation.

My tea was excellent and Andrew liked his coffee. Our cakes, lemon sponge and raspberry crumble slice type thing, were delicious and my opinion of the Parlour greatly improved.

The eggs Royal were also very nice and although I couldn’t include them in EoT ratings, due to the strict no sauce rule, I felt it was worth another visit, before the Breakfast curfew, to check out standard EoT.

I would certainly recommend a visit. Especially if you like slightly less ruined Abbeys.

Next week I’m going to test out some of Norfolks new Rebellion way gravel route on a 3 day trip with Big George where hopefully we will also get some EoT action.

Scores

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
5	7.2	6	7.8	6.45	6.49

Route to be published shortly 

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Egg on Toast February update

 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