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THERE used to be a very famous TV advert with a clever catchphrase when I was small lad back in the UK in the early 1960s, which simply stated: ‘go to work on an egg’. It was a brilliant piece of marketing starring the comedian Tony Hancock and actress Patricia Hayes.
The slogan worked wonders in the Szecowka household with my mum, Edith, religiously making me a soft boiled egg every morning with ‘soldiers’ (regimental thin slices of toast) to dip into the yoke before setting off to school.
All was well until some health expert in the 1970s suggested all egg lovers would be struck down by heart attack-inducing cholesterol. Later other nutritional scientists found out that there was good and bad cholesterol and researchers found eating one egg daily was, in fact, not associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.
A recent study also found that subjects felt fuller and less hungry and had less desire to eat after an egg breakfast than those who had cornflakes with milk and toast, or a croissant and orange juice. They also ate less at lunch and dinner after having the egg breakfast as opposed to the other breakfasts.
So the great egg is back on the Szecowka menu and where better than to celebrate this great source of amino acid, and the first day of Eid, of course, than at the new Crust & Crema Café in Galleria Mall in Zinj?
The mall would best be described as a ‘work in progress’ but this classy café is a shining example of what to expect in this complex of shops when completed on the other side of the covered car park from the star attraction of Lulu Hypermarket.
It must be one of the most modern, stylish coffee shops on the island and much-inspired, it appears, by some of the minimalistic, gleaming new building designed concepts I spotted on my last visit to London.
The shining pipe works and sense of space upstairs married to comfort and coffee-related decoration is a delight to behold, and there’s also the buzz of the serving area and kitchen downstairs and outside tables too for all the visiting sun-worshippers.
This really is a haven for the coffee-loving community with full profiles of the coffee producing countries offerings such delights as Columbia Supremo, Ethiopia Sidamo, Kenya AA, Costa Rica Tarrazu and Equador Microlot 2, amongst others.
Its Espresso Bar offers freshly-roasted blends or single origins and the Brew Bar offers customers the chance to experience the ‘100 per cent pure Arabica coffees in various slow brewing methods to taste unique flavours’.
I started my day in normal fashion with a double espresso (BD1.400) and was not disappointed. With a wake-me-up boost I was able to concentrate on the task at hand … ordering breakfast, which is available from 8am until 1pm.
I remember attending the recent launch event of this venue, a sister operation to a successful setting close to Saar cinema which is also famed for its in-house roasted coffee, breakfasts, bakery and gourmet desserts.
Company director Chorok Cyrus Woo told me: “With our chefs, we have tried to establish a menu that befits a café, nothing too heavy but a light bites choice that encompasses sandwiches, salads and soups.
“We try to put our own unique take on them rather than to emulate other competitors. We are pretty versatile, from having a good range of breakfast, light menu, gourmet and rustic bakery items on offer.
“The whole food menu is good value for money considering the portion sizes, and almost all our items are prepared in-house. Our breakfast, with a cup of freshly-roasted coffee, is the true champion’s combo!”
With that, the decision was already set in our minds, although the good lady wife, Kathryn, was very tempted by the Egg Benedict offering … but that will have to wait for another day. The C&C Breakfast was a real bargain at BD3 as, true to Chorok’s word, it included an Americano in the price, or an orange juice for anyone insane enough not to drink coffee!
Two eggs cooked to your liking served with white or brown toast (four slices, no less!), chicken sausage, grilled tomato, mushrooms and herb-roasted potatoes.
Senior Chef de Partie Pushkar Singh and his team of chefs in the kitchen impressed us with their prompt delivery as I went for scrambled eggs and Kathryn settled for fried. Altogether filling, full of flavour and a fabulous way to start the day.
Just time for one more coffee, I thought, and to settle down to complete the cerebrally crust & crema puzzle page. I’m still trying to work out the third ‘just so’. Unfortunately, another customer was deep in thought pondering over the page having grabbed a copy of GulfWeekly from the newspaper stand. (Note to self: send more copies to outlet and drop them off on when you call in for breakfast tomorrow).
