When I want a good breakfast, you can keep your quiche, crepes, and omelets. All I want is some good old fashioned hash-slinging, the kind of plate John Garfield and Lana Turner would shove across the counter before they offed her husband.
Two eggs over easy. Rice if you’ve got it, hash browns if you haven’t. And save the country potatoes with sprigs of rosemary for someone who doesn’t know any better.
Give me two sausage. Not those reconstituted links that look like something a little mutt squeezes out on the sidewalk.
I mean two juicy bangers that spit grease when they hit the fry pan. A thick slice of sourdough, and a cup of honest joe. Cream served in a tin, jam in a jar.
This is for The Restless Chef, who despairs of finding anything fit to eat around Pasadena in the early morning. I think I’ve found the place – Mary’s, on the little funky winding street up the hills in Sierra Madre. If anyone knows the proprietors, tell them if they buy me and Dez a breakfast, I’ll write a good review. And if they don’t, I’ll write an honest one.
Looks like, if we don’t eat there too often, parking’s free.
40 comments:
This - "if we don’t eat there too often, parking’s free" with the accompanying photo is the funniest thing I've seen in a month of Sundays.
Could it be? Is this it? The answer to my prayers? If so, thank you Hiking Goddess---
Can we get a shout out for flannel cakes?
GG
I wanna' go.
AH, I didn't know you Northern European types ate rice for breakfast.
RIce??? Just a damn minute here Missy. Looks like you forgot all about grits! But the description of that sausage..... YUM. I"ll bet turkey sausage don't spit!
When out get out to the left coast. Let's meet at Mary's!
V
GRITS! We want GRITS, too!!
Hey, K.
Susan and Dez, let's give it a test drive some morning. It's a good place to walk off the tonnage, anyway.
Virg & Brenda, funny you should bring up grits. My dad loved them, but never put the S on the end. I guess he thought it would be like saying rices.
Looks like a good place. I'll have to check it out. Speaking of writing good reviews, I was shocked to read about several lawsuits against Yelp claiming that if businesses don't buy advertising from them, they take down good reviews, move the bad ones to the front, and even plant bad ones. Internet as shakedowh.
Gimme the grits. Cheese grits preferably. And nothing weird in them like thyme or poblano peppers.
The Lana Turner/John Garfield line is, no doubt, one of the best descriptions I've ever read.
Oh, and I love your title for this post. Reminds me of the way my old-school Southern California surfer father would order scrambled eggs on toast: "Adam and Eve on a raft, and wreck 'em." And he said Texans talked funny.
I didn't know (S)ister (W)immins of (A)merica were so tuned in to what's good for breakfast. Maybe we can all get along after all.
(Seriously, looks like a cool place--yet a happy AHiker review depends on a free meal?).
Laurie, I know our dads would have been great friends.
Earl and Banjo, as if you two couldn't be bought off for a hot meal and a towelette.
As I began reading this, I was thinking "Maybe KB should tell RC bout this joint!"
Mary's Market is an institution for Sierra Madre. Along with SM's BeanTown, a Hippie-type handout. The kinda place that tempts even Altadenites to secretly wanna be Sierra Mother's.
It's location doesn't help with foot traffic. So, it will always be an adventure to stay afloat. But, still hard to believe this is less than a mile from Downtown, SM. The old-time feel & location is the draw more than the food.
Back in 2008 it was struggling a bit to stay open & ownership issues. Even closed for a period of time. I think they still have their Taco Tues Nites w/live & deadhead music. (Cash only still??)
I'll try to remember to talk to the proprietress about your offer she dare not refuse.
Did any of you ever eat breakfast at Mr. T's bowling alley on Figueroa in Highland Park when the two sisters were doing it as The Gutter? It was really quite good. One of them got married, I think, and they gave it up. Reading about Mary's, I thought of the two sisters.
This looks like a spectacular joint. If they've got grits and pancakes I can't wait. But I would be shocked if there's anything like gourmet coffee within miles of the place.
Rice? I guess you didn't say "old fashioned" American breakfast. For me that would be Rod's in Montebello.
This is one of Dianne's favorites. We once talked about going there. Haven't made it yet but I will.
(I swear I saw a Golden Eagle perched in a tall pine somewhere in this neighborhood)
Are the cakes feather lite or substantial and yeoman-like? This is important to know.
(Might you have a dusty moon photo, or something you feel is appropriate? Muddy moon?)
This place looks like it has a stick-to-your-ribs goodness.
In defense of rice: I believe rice and eggs were first introduced to California during the old railroad days, when the Chinese often hired on as cooks.
The food is gonna stick somewhere in your body 4 sure. Everything in moderation.
PA, isn't there another Rod's besides in Montebelllo?
My dad would've gotten along famously with yours and Laurie's..."Greasy grimey gopher guts"..."slicker than deerguts on a door knob"...and my personal favorite...answering the phone with "you stab em', we slab em'" ....
This spot reminds me of the Halfway Cafe on Sierra Hwy off of the 14...
Hmmmm...I smell bacon...the Hubman's making breakfast this morning!!!
But sourdough over bisqits & gravy? Ia sourdough a California thingy or a sister-woman grown up breakfast?
WF: cruella
Great breakfast joints are priceless, and hard to find. Thelma's Twin Pines in Big Bear before Thelma retired and they cut down the twin pines. They had "Carl's Hobo" which caused a quick trip to the hospital - eggs, greasy sausage, potatoes, onions, and cheese all scrambled together with just a big of country gravy on top. Closer to home is the City Hall Cafe in Montrose. Food is just average, but Wanda has been running the morning show for over40 years. There's a wall of customer coffee cups and Wanda determines when you're entitled to bring your own mug. When you walk in, you get greeted with "Hi Kids - coffee?" Great local hangout that hasn't changed in 50 years.
Eating at a place that monitors tonnage is a serious commitment, KB. But when you're done, maybe you can just roll down the hill to home??
Maybe we should all head up there to wait out the tsunami advisory today.
They don't make 'em like that anymore.
As long as it tastes ...., but why only breakfast?
Looks like you have spotted a nice place there.
Anyway, potatoes for breakfast are not my taste! Eggs (fried or boiled) and coffee on the other hand work out well.
Rice for breakfast? Why haven't I ever thought of this? Oh wait... probably cause I'm from the Midwest.
This place sounds pretty darn near perfect. Any chance you can find one in the SFV for me?
Great breakfast places are legendary. I once drove quite a ways outside of Nashville for breakfast at the famous Loveless Cafe and Motel. Definitely worth the drive.
http://www.lovelesscafe.com/
So Mr. E., you got all the way to Tennessee and couldn't drag yourself to Birmingham? Your loss. We have grits you know!
V
Oh, V. I didn't know you then. I was in Atlanta in 2008, and we had a party catered by Wolfgang Puck which featured shrimp and grits!
Hush your mouth!
V
AW! Mary's Store. My kids grew up just behind and a jog up the hill in the weirdo recycled bottle house my husband built. No longer my husband and no longer my LITTLE kids,, and no more sweet old Mary, Irish Mary from County Clair or is it Clare or Clere?--had her entire family living on Brookside Lane-- three generations.
I've never had breakfast there but I know of a fine breakfast place closer to where you live that has the best grits anywhere. It's called The Red Hen. I love that place. Go there with a big appetite.
As I was reading your post, KB, I could almost hear the voice of Humphrey Bogart speaking those lines. No idea why, but I liked it.
Mr Earl: whenever you wanna say more about when you went down south, we're all big dog ears here. Did you she give you a macaron to eat?
Could I get a clarification on "flannel cakes" s'il vous plait? And y'all think grits are weird.
V
Yes, the rice surprised me too. Personally, I'll take potatoes, but then I'm Irish.
I'm sorry...I can't help it...I have to one up y'all...we've been in Santa Cruz this weekend, and were treated to two great breakfast joints with all of the above amenities (except grits) and an awesome view of the Pacific ocean to boot!!! If you're ever in Capitola...Zelda's is the place for breakfast!!!
Don't have my calendar with me...but I will bust my b--- to clear it so I can be there...
You're right. You win Chieftess. I'm jealous.
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