Breakfast for Dinner?

And so,breakfast options outside home are ever-increasing. Those ready to splurge can go for a big breakfast at any of the five-star hotels in the city. “Breakfast is the most popular meal period in our hotel,the main reason being greater awareness of having a healthy breakfast to kickstart the day. There are more and more requests for including healthy breakfast options. With hotels always ready to fulfil the customers’ demands,breakfasts as a dining-out option is gaining wider acceptance,” says Rajesh Wadhwa,executive chef,Taj Palace.

Agrees Michael Schlauss,executive chef,Pullman Gurgaon. “For us,breakfast is extremely important since almost all guests have this meal in the hotel. Usually,it is also the last meal that guests have here — and so,it is the last food and beverage experience which they carry back with them. In India,I see more guests from outside (non-residents of the hotel) coming in for breakfast as compared to other countries,” he says.

In fact,those with more modest budgets have no less options. Sarvana Bhawan for South Indian fare and Haldiram’s/ Nathu’s for North Indian — those have already been there. Beyond McDonalds and Barista,other food conglomerates have gotten into the act and have (finally) introduced breakfast in their menus. Subway,Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf,even the spanking new Dunkin’ Donuts,all have breakfasts options. Maheshwari says,“A lot of eateries are responding well to this new trend by focusing on getting more variety in the morning offerings. We have recently introduced pancakes in our stores and have got a good response from our guests.”

The variety in foods in India also contributes hugely to breakfast’s popularity. As Schlauss remarks,“Back in Europe,breakfast would be a bread roll,a piece of sausage and jam; in China,it would be rice porridge and dumplings; in India,it would be idli,dosa and parantha. A hotel tries to cater to all guests,offering them a bit of everything at breakfast.”

Washwa agrees and adds,“Top picks include sprouts,tofu,vegetable juices,steamed idlis,high-fibre cereals,low-fat milk and other dairy products,and egg-white preparations. It also differs according to the nature of the guest’s stay. For instance,if he/she is on vacation,the choice is more towards comfort food such as waffles with honey,paranthas and milk shakes. However,freshly baked breads are quintessential to any breakfast and are forever the first choice of any guest.”

Besides,the lines between breakfast and other meals are blurring. You can grab all-day breakfasts at restaurants as diverse as All-American Diner at Lodhi Road,Mrs. Kaur’s Crepes in Khan Market and the Subway outlets. Wherever you eat,pancakes,waffles,bowls of muesli are now kosher at any time of the day.

So go ahead and have a great breakfast. Morning,noon and night.