Breakfasting in Tucson

Before Chuck’s cousin Dora’s visit to Tucson ended, we had the chance to join her and her grandson for a couple of early morning breakfasts. Now I admit that I was not present for this first meal so am relying on my Favorite Traveling Companion to fill in the blanks.

The first visit was to a small local favorite—BoBo’s. As a writer at azstarnet.com wrote: “Even 'small' is really big at Bobo's. Bobo’s Restaurant isn't flashy. Neither is the menu. But well into its 30s (the restaurant opened in '75), this nondescript joint—“joint” seems the right word—…still draws a crowd waiting outside on weekends.

“This is comfort food at its finest—and biggest. The humongo pancakes flop over the plate. Many a person has treated a hangover over Bobo's massive breakfasts, which can surely soak up the ill aftereffects of too much alcohol. At least, that’s what we’ve heard. Not that we have any first-hand knowledge.”

“…You'll find the usual suspects of pancakes, omelets and sides, as well as an assortment of house specialties. Sweet tooths will want to try the banana pancakes, French toast or chocolate chip pancakes, enormous, fluffy and sweet. For an out-of-this-world breakfast plate, try the Flying Saucer pancake. Of course, no matter what you order, you'll want to try Bobo's famous fresh-baked buttermilk biscuits. A great place to rub elbows with locals” (10best.com).

Dora chose an order of two eggs, a sausage patty, home fries, and toast.

It was two eggs, bacon, home fries, and toast for Dora's grandson.

I didn't order the Flying Saucer pancake with spinach, spices, and two cheeses, but one blueberry pancake couldn't be much smaller. It was light and fluffy, but I still had to put a portion of it in a take out box for the next day.

Maybe it was the order of home fries that took up stomach space.

The day that Dora was to return to the Phoenix area to catch her flight the following day back to the frigid and snowy Midwest, the four of us gathered for breakfast at The Good Egg.

Let’s say that you want to find a good breakfast in Tucson. “You’re not in the mood for the commercial stuff, but would prefer something that tastes like it was made at home by that visiting aunt you’d wish would come by more often. We understand and you’re in luck; there are several locations throughout the greater Tucson metropolitan area… The quality of the food is perfect for those traveling or customers in need of an upscale breakfast at very affordable rates. It literally feels like a five-star meal without the big ticket at the end. Traditionally the servers are young people or students from the University of Arizona who are full of energy and very friendly from start to finish” (tucsonbestrestaurants.com).

We had eaten at another of the Tucson-area Good Eggs during our visit last year and while there were some hits (Chuck’s pancakes) and some misses (my corned beef hash), we felt comfortable recommending this for Dora’s final meal during her visit with us and her grandson.

As befits a young male college student (In my over twenty-five years experience as a college administrator, they usually have big appetites.), Dora’s grandson ordered the Lumberjack Skillet that was built on either a base of hash browns or home fries (he chose the hash browns) and then buried under a mound of melted Jack and sharp cheddar cheeses, two eggs, and a choice from the following: bacon, ham, sausage, mushroom, onion, and bell pepper with a sausage gravy bath for good measure.

He must have been hungry since this disappeared in record order.

Chuck, still full from his monster burrito the night before at El Charro, opted to go “light” with the Day Starter of two scrambled eggs, a ham slice, and home fries. Instead of the English muffin that comes with the meal, he swapped out for a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese.

He spent the entire meal raving about the home fries and we learned from our server that the recipe had changed since our last visit. When he told me to take a taste I made the big mistake of reaching for one of the larger pieces. Did I get my hand slapped (figuratively speaking, of course)?

After much deliberation, Dora selected My Berry Amor—granola crusted pancakes with dried cranberries, blueberries, strawberries with a cran-raspberry reduction substituting for syrup and accompanied with a vanilla cheesecake batter and powdered sugar.

She found the vanilla cheesecake batter too sweet and that was eased off to the side of her plate. After Dora finally admitted defeat, her grandson ate some of the remainder, but it seems that his Lumberjack had sated his appetite to the point that even he couldn’t quite finish. So I took what remained home for breakfast the next morning and can attest that they were delicious even when reheated.

I am always on the look-out for interesting takes on the traditional eggs benedict and The Good Egg has a couple choices that might fill the bill. There was the Florentine with sautéed spinach, mushroom, onion, diced bacon, and tomato. There was the Sunrise with turkey breast, grilled tomato, and avocado. And also the Pesto and Parmesan Benedict with fresh spinach and basil, sautéed mushrooms, grilled shaved ham, pesto sauce and Parmesan cheese.

But what I really wanted was the Farmhouse Benedict with a split buttermilk biscuit (instead of an English muffin), shaved ham, two slices of bacon, two turkey sausage patties, and sausage gravy. Oh, it also came with hash brown or home fries. But there was no way that I could eat all of that and I have learned that eggs benedict doesn’t reheat well.

But wait! There at the bottom of the menu is the notation that all of the benedicts could be ordered as a half order. Perfect! And not just the size. So was the food.

The egg was poached perfectly with a firm white but liquid yolk. The bacon was peppery as was the sausage patty. And the sausage gravy was one of the better versions that I have recently tasted. And the hash browns were cooked crisp to order.

Last year I awarded The Good Egg 4.0 Addies but this year, based on both Chuck’s and my potatoes and my Farmhouse Benedict, I am going all the way to 5.0 Addies.

To review the role of Adler and the Addie rating system, read the November 14, 2011 blog.