All-Day Breakfast

There are plenty of elements about life in London that I've already come to like or dislike, but there's one on the way-positive end of the spectrum that's already worth singling out: the All-Day Breakfast. It's somewhat of a literal concept - typically all the basics of the classic American diner breakfast in one: fried egg, bacon, sausage, ketchup, sometimes potato, sometimes bread. The joy of the ADB is how it is realized across so many different situations. The "classic" (labeled as such because it's where I first encountered it) is at sandwhich shops, Pret-a-Manger in particular, that have the ADB sandwich. I fondly remember my first Pret version on Pall Mall about a year ago. I so thouroughly enjoyed it, though I do regret that the site and smell of it nauseated my colleague Julie Hawkins. Fast forward to now, I've had my fair share of ADB sandwiches at Pret, but have encountered it at different venues as well. I'm pleased that my London business partner John has worse taste than Julie as he and I both relished an early Friday afternoon ADB plate (not sandwich) a couple weeks ago at the King's Head pub in Mayfair. As the pub filled up with locals clearly having no intention to returning to work that day after their liquid lunch, John and I wolfed down our massive plates, teeming not only with the eggs, bacon, and bangers (i.e., sausages), but in this version baked beans. And tonight, I encountered the ADB burger at Hache , where Tracy and I ate dinner. Gotta admit that I did not order it, instead opting for the basic cheeseburger as that was what multiple reviews recommended. (Good lord, does this place make a great burger.) The guy at the table next to me did and it looked excellent. Long live the All-Day Breakfast.

PS. I saw advertised on the BBC yesterday that they're going to start broadcasting Flight of the Conchords sometime soon. So glad because Tracy and I are going through withdrawal on this one. If you're not already watching this series on HBO, you're missing something. Most original comedy series in ages.