7 minute read
Get the day off to a good start by eating out for breakfast
TASTE IT
T H E B R E A K F A S T CLUB
Linger longer over the first meal of the day at one of our restaurants. We look at some of the delicious reasons to go out for breakfast
WORDS: Laura Shack
reakfast like a king” – at least that’s the advice. But unless you’re actual royalty, it’s unlikely you’ll have time for a family feast before the morning commute has to begin. Yet when you’re on holiday, what could be better than getting out in the fresh air and kicking off your day with a scrumptiously social breakfast?
In fact, more of us than ever are eating out for breakfast in our free time. Across the UK, bookings for breakfast or brunch have more than doubled, with a 65% increase in the past three years. And with more than 89.6 million Instagram posts hashtagged #breakfast, it’s clear we love to share our morning meal with others – online and in real life.
One of the UK’s biggest Instagram foodies, Kar-Shing Tong (@KS_Ate_Here), believes breakfast is the most important meal you can eat. “It really sets you up for the rest of the B”
OUR VILLAGE BREAKFAST PICKS
SPORTS CAFÉ: Champion’s Breakfast If you’re feeling hungry, the Champion’s Breakfast at the Sports Café is the perfect choice. Enjoy a double helping of sausages, grilled back bacon, free-range eggs and hash browns. All served with a grilled tomato, mushroom, baked beans and toast. Plus, a glass of orange juice to wash it down.
SPORTS CAFÉ: Smoked Salmon Hash When you’re craving a taste of luxury, why not try the Smoked Salmon Hash at the Sports Café. It’s melt-in-the-mouth breakfast heaven, with diced potatoes, soft caramelised onions and pieces of smoked salmon in a creamy béarnaise sauce, and topped with a fried freerange egg.
THE PANCAKE HOUSE: Blueberry, Banana and Granola Pancakes For something nutritious, the Blueberry, Banana and Granola Pancakes from The Pancake House is your dream combination. It’s soft blueberry pancakes piled high with sliced banana, granola, blueberry compote and natural yoghurt.
AQUA SANA SPA: Vitalé Café Bar menu If you’re enjoying a day of pampering at the Aqua Sana spa, start your morning with a sustaining breakfast at the Vitalé Café Bar. Choose from a freshly prepared selection of goodies, including fruit smoothies, granola yoghurt with red fruits, croissants, fresh fruit salad and baked eggs.
CARA’S KITCHEN AND BAR*: Irish Breakfast Brioche Roll Fries for breakfast? Well, we are on a break! Streaky bacon, pork sausage and fried egg are encased in a fluffy brioche bun and topped off with a delicious dose of home fries. Once you’ve tasted this, breakfast back at your lodge just won’t have the same appeal!
*Longford Forest only
day,” he says. And when he gets the chance, the London-based dad-of-two loves the luxury of going out for breakfast or brunch – regularly sharing photos of his favourite finds with his 110k followers.
“Something like sweetcorn fritters or thick French toast with bacon, banana and maple syrup always hits the spot,” he says. “I love satisfying comfort food. It has to be something you don't eat everyday – a real treat.” His guilty breakfast pleasure? “Anything with truffle,” says Kar-Shing. “Truffle oil, fresh truffle, you name it. I adore salmon
Above: with every dish imaginable on offer at our restaurants, step outside your lodge for breakfast
with truffle-folded eggs on freshly baked sourdough or a muffin. Basically, a really luxurious eggs royale. Yum.”
In Britain we annually spend around £11.6 billion on breakfast foods – and that figure is rising faster than you can say, “I’ll have an extra rasher, please.” So, what is so wonderful about the first meal of the day? From Instagrammable avocado on sourdough, to a traditional fry-up or veganfriendly banoffee pancakes, you’ll be hardpressed to find a dish that can’t legitimately be eaten as breakfast. Even more wonderful is that word ‘brunch’, which allows you to squeeze two meals into one and get away with eating pretty much anything you like after 10am.
When you’re eating with family and friends, the biggest divide can be whether to opt for a healthy breakfast or an indulgent treat. At Center Parcs, you’ll find our breakfast menus offer something to keep every tummy happy.
Vi age insider
BRUNCHING OUT Keith Greenwood, Kitchen Supervisor at the Sports Café, says: “My absolute favourite dish from the Sports Café menu is our Bacon, Egg & Avocado on Toast. I love how the fresh tomato salsa complements the salty taste of the bacon. It’s a colourful brunch that tastes just as good as it looks.”
If you’re heading to The Pancake House, for example, you can tuck in to our ever-popular New Yorker Stack, with smoky streaked bacon and lashings of maple syrup. Or try our Butternut Squash, Sweet Peppers, Sweetcorn and Feta Pancake for a nutritious veggie hit. Over at the Sports Café, opt for Steak and Free-Range Eggs for a satisfying protein boost. Or go for a freshly prepared Fruit Platter, if you’re craving something light and colourful before your morning plunge at the Subtropical Swimming Paradise.
1Sip something new Wake up and smell the co ee… just make sure it's hot and freshly roasted. You can’t beat a classic – especially when it’s made by someone else – but one of the best things about going out for breakfast is shaking up your morning drink routine.
Sure, you can order a traditional breakfast tea if that’s your favourite way to start the day. But if you fancy something out of the ordinary, you’ll discover a delectable range of drinks at all the Center Parcs eateries. From freshly prepared smoothies and juices, to luxury hot chocolates and creamy milkshakes – there’s plenty to whet your appetite. And if you’re seeking a change from the usual background of news headlines and tra c reports, just imagine sipping your favourite co ee to the sound of birdsong and the sight of trees. It’s your wake-up drink made better.
2Make a plan of action Our best-laid plans are often made over a hearty breakfast. When you go out for the fi rst meal of the day, your body and mind are rested, your favourite people are with you around the table and you’re kick-starting your brain with mouthfuls of pillowy pancake. It’s the perfect moment to plan the day ahead. Perhaps you’ll draw-up a cycle route to explore every nook and gnarl of the Center Parcs forest, work out how to fi t a Wildlife Walk and a High Ropes Challenge into one afternoon, or plot a Twilight session at Aqua Sana spa.
Whatever plans you make, a breakfast strategy session over a perfectly poached egg will help you maximise your holiday fun potential.
3A sociable way to start your day We all know that sitting down together for family meals is important. But with the inevitable morning dash (after just one more snooze), how often do we get quality time to talk at breakfast? That’s what makes going out for breakfast so smile-inducingly brilliant: there’s no washing up, no holding a piece of toast in one hand and an iron in the other. You just get up, get dressed and step into the forest.
As life barrels past, it can be hard to fi nd time for those meaningful, face-to-face conversations with the people we love. But going out for breakfast makes us slow down and gives us a chance to just enjoy being in the moment together. Yes, the food is important – it's very important. But the experience of going out for breakfast is about so much more than just the food. And who knows… it may become the start of a delicious new family tradition.
3 0 Plan your activities over a relaxed brunch
BOOK IT There’s no need to book at The Pancake House or Sports Café, just turn up. For more information, including menus, on all Center Parcs restaurants, visit centerparcs.co.uk/restaurants
On the grid
Out for breakfast? Don't forget to tag us! #MYCP #CPfoodie
@lucyvroberts
@blondegaleats
@swvegan
@jade.tubbs
@rainbowallbrite89 @joannawills
@selinaroseeats
Whether it's a traditional full English, an indulgent stack of pancakes or more virtuous avo' and tomatoes on wholegrain toast, we'd love to see what you've been tucking into for breakfast on your break. Check in on social media or use the hashtag #MYCP and #CPfoodie on Twitter or Instagram.
