Monterey Breakfast

Every time we come to Monterey, we have a breakfast routine that necessitates three stops. It's a routine we look forward to, the drive into Monterey, Tyler Street where we always park, walking past the shuttle stop to the Bagel Bakery, walking back to East Village coffee shop, then driving down to Pacific Grove to Pavel's. Whether the weather is foggy or sunny, the trip allows us to move through beautiful landscape. On sunny days, the first view of the ocean from Highway 1 is spectacular. And on foggy days, the ethereal forest on the way to Pacific Grove looks haunted. Monterey has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Yesterday morning we had the perfect breakfast run. Because it was a sunny day, we could see the big waves as they crashed to shore. And because it was a Saturday morning, we didn't encounter much traffic. Our first stop was the Bagel Bakery. Johnnie always gets the New York bagel (lox, red onion, cream cheese), but I try different things. Yesterday, I ordered the sesame bagel with walnut olive cream cheese (today I tried the superseed bagel with veggie cream cheese, a choice that just may become my regular order). Bagels from the Bagel Bakery are perfect--just the right size, texture, appearance, taste. And we enjoy seeing the brother and sister team that are usually working in the morning.

Next, we walk to East Village coffee shop. The stone walls, wicker furniture, dark colors, and rich woods create a pleasing ambience, one I'm enjoying right now as I write this entry. Johnnie's been coming here for years and swears by their coffee. Unfortunately, the last couple of days the coffee hasn't been quite right. My hot chocolate yesterday was quite good, though, and I think J's coffee this morning was back to its normal quality.

Last, we drive down to Pavel's Backerie in Pacific Grove. The pastries here are beautiful. Johnnie always gets the enormous chocolate croissant, and he sometimes gets a bear claw, as well. I generally try the fruity pastries, but yesterday I wanted a chocolate macaroon. One thing I like about the pastries here is that, although they are obviously rich, they aren't super sweet. They balance the flaky crust with the fruit/fillings/chocolate in such a way that one can savor all the tastes involved instead of being overpowered by sweetness. Our one complaint is that Pavel's isn't open on Sundays, which means we have to have inferior pastries on that day. Painful, all too painful.

I don't get tired of our Monterey breakfast run. It's a lovely beginning to what are always enjoyable days in a beautiful city. And when we return to Fresno, I like bringing a couple of bagels home in order to prolong the pleasure for a couple of days, eating them toasted with gruyere and fresh tomato.