Ottoman Breakfast

Photo © Anne-Marie Minhall

It's not often that I get a chance to have a relaxed & sumptuous repast to start the day.

Time away from work provided just such an opportunity .. A Middle Eastern treat.

https://www.cafebeam.co.uk

What they tell you about themselves via their menu ..

'Family owned cafe serving brunch dishes inspired by our Middle Eastern heritage.

Kahvalti, which literally translates to “before coffee”, are social occasions dating back to the Ottoman Empire.

Today family, friends and whole communities continue to gather at their local kahvalti house, where they connect over a spread of the finest breakfast dishes from the Middle East.

We’ve sourced the best ingredients to recreate the occasion for you.'

On a humid June morning I managed to find myself in one of their four branches in London. 

Just me with an hour to kill. I've got a good book on the go & I’m in the mood for a good brekkie.

A really interesting menu. Great choices to start the day. Among the offerings .. 

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Beam Benedict

Shawarma spiced patty, homemade pickled red cabbage, crispy eggs, muffin, harissa hollandaise 

Shakshuka

Free-range organic eggs slowly cooked in a fiery tomato sauce, with peppers, spices and cheese, served with artisan bread (add chorizo or sucuk) 

Turkish Eggs

Garlic yoghurt, medium poached organic eggs, browned butter with pul biber chilli flakes, diced spicy beef sausage, served with artisan bread

**

In the end I went for ..

Avocado on Toast 

Crushed avocado, hazelnut dukkah and chilli flakes on artisan multigrain bread 

There was a pot of fresh mint tea & a pear juice to help everything go down.

A friendly, smiley staff in this establishment with prompt service & really tasty, spicy, exotic plates of food.

There's me busy doing nothing at the start of a new day with a full tum, a few pages turned & a smile on my face, too.

AMM