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“Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper” - Nutritionist Adelle Davis was right when he said that in the 60s, not that the advice seems to be getting through to those dashing through the Pollet before work with a snatched dry croissant, a takeaway coffee, and their faces buried in their mobile phones.
That’s not the Harry Smiles way though, and fortunately the door to Cafe Emilia was open when I descended with friends shortly after 08:00.
Hunting for breakfast in St Peter Port before work is a chore, too many cafes are shut, and those that are open have people bumping elbows.
Cafe Emilia provides something of a sanctuary.
It’s unpretentious, it’s friendly, and those are the kind of qualities that makes the food taste all that much better. As does the efficient speed at which it arrives. But that speed does not mean the chef has rushed.
Breakfast should be simple and a surprising amount rests on the quality of the eggs.
No problem there. The poached eggs did exactly what they should, the yokes oozing out on the first cut, a very generous helping of avocado to the side, an equally generous serving of smoked salmon and some tasty sourdough.
No skimping on portions here. Eat like a king, remember?
One dish arrives with scrambled instead of fried eggs and they quickly offer to sort it with no fuss.
Feeling hungry? The traditional breakfast comes with eggs to your choice, gilled bacon, local pork sausage, black pudding, hash browns, beans, pan fried mushrooms, toasted malt bread and Guernsey butter.
It sets you up for the day, but maybe save your body by only having this as a treat.
There are pancakes, warm croissants with a choice of fillings if you want, a take on a Croque Monsieur that serves it open. There are vegan and vegetarian options. Baps, baguettes, a few spicy twists on different breakfast options too if that takes your fancy.
But what of the coffee. The crown of any king’s breakfast.
Here we came slightly unstuck. It was ‘OK’.
Better than the empty soulless slime served up in some establishments where you’d be better off drinking water, but not up there with the smoother, fuller offerings in a couple of other cafes.
A deal breaker? No, not least because no one consistently does coffee brilliantly in Guernsey - and if you think you do send the Smiles an invite.
Coffee aside, everything served was excellent - in appearance, taste, and value.
Harry will be back.
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