breakfast in chicago...

It's not easy to eat when you travel, at least not for me (or those travelling with me).  Being a vegetarian with celiac disease has not been that difficult, at least not when eating at home.  You give up certain things completely and go through great pains to find ways of re-creating your old favorites in some fashion or another.  Now, navigating the world of food outside my kitchen, that's another story.

While on vacation, I ate scrambled eggs with hash browns for breakfast every day.  I don't mind, I like eggs and how can you complain when you're on vacation with 3 of your most favorite people in the world in a city like Chicago, I mean really.  Will admit, I did start to get sick of potatoes (didn't know that was actually possible) because several days in a row it was my only dinner option as well.  Scrambled eggs with hash browns for breakfast, baked potato with side salad for dinner - such is my life.  

Directly across the street from our hotel was this welcome sight.  The Original Pancake House has a location not far from our home here in Phoenix and we do enjoy breakfast there.  Usually, when travelling, we like to try new local places, but the convenience of this being across the street and knowing the food is always delicious, took us there several times.

There was a line out to the street and a local gal informed us it was much shorter than usual.  I guess some things are the same everywhere.  The Original Pancake House in Arizona always has quite a wait.

Andrew Henry ordered one of his favorites - the dutch baby with a side of strawberries...

and Katherine ordered one of hers...

 I had the eggs.  In case you ever visit, the best thing on their menu is the apple pancake - it's decadent and might as well be on a dessert menu, but if you're feeling glamourous...

 Ann Sather.  Not much else need be said to anyone who has ever been there.  We were first introduced to this lovely lady about 14 years ago on a trip to Chicago.  We have since eaten breakfast there every time we go to the windy city.  Lucky for us, we went late morning on a weekday - we were seated right away.  I've heard on the weekends the line can stretch around the block.  I have found it worth the wait each time.


Look at the ceiling...

and the floor (I love these old floors)...

and the adorable design of the menu - swoon...

Oh, they have food too.  Lots of great Swedish food.  I ordered scrambled eggs.

I ordered the eggs, but see this very tempting crepe with lingonberries...

Now, if you gross out easily, skip down to the next photo.  I couldn't stand the smell of that crepe in all it's Swedish smelling goodness, so I took a bite and chewed and gave my tastebuds a little party, then I discreetly spit it into my napkin so my stomach wouldn't revolt against the gluten.  Worth it.

Then there's this, this is the reason people come back.  This is the smell that keeps you waiting in line.  The best, very very best cinnamon rolls ever...

This one little bite I did not spit into my napkin.  This one little bite made me a bit sick later.  This one little bite was worth it.

Tomorrow we'll take a look at a dinner in Chicago that I've been waiting years to have.

What is your all-time favorite thing to eat for breakfast?