Coffee Breakfast

By: Emily Hoover

I have a love-hate relationship with winter in northern Arizona. One week, I’m wearing a cardigan and flats, enjoying the cloudless, breezy, sunny days; and the next, because of a cold front producing snow, sleet, and/or freezing rain, I’m donning an Icelandic beanie, pea coat, and boots, trekking to class through fresh powder or on a sheet of ice.

No, this is not a fashion piece. I like to write about what I know. And if there’s one thing on this earth I know, it’s breakfast. I’m lucky I can get dressed in the morning sometimes, but I’m forever hungry. You can count on that.

With the bipolar weather we’ve been experiencing, I’ve had to sacrifice my morning green smoothies for something warmer. Luckily, my little mountain town of Flagstaff, Arizona has a lot of options. Options far more consistent than the weather forecast lately. I rarely do this: invite the world into my private breakfast realm. But because I believe breakfast is a powerful force that unites us all—regardless of diet, morning routine, or cultural customs—I thought maybe, just maybe, you’d appreciate it. I’ve attached an atypical food journal of mine about the top 5 Flagstaff breakfast restaurants–one crafted especially for those of us out and about, looking for hearty noms on these cold Flag mornings.

1. Biff’s Bagels

I love Biff’s for two very obvious reasons. First of all, the place is crazy cheap. I’m talking $0.95 for a bagel and another $1.55 for homemade plain cream cheese, or $2.00 for flavored (I recommend Spinach Artichoke Parmesan, Tomato Basil, Green Chile and Cheddar, and/or Nutella). My vegan friends out there should know they have non-dairy spread, too, like Tofutti’s, and other favorites such as jam, peanut butter, Tapenade or hummus as well as fresh veggies. Omnivores can add meat, cheese, and/or eggs to a bagel for similar cost-effective prices. And there’s coffee, lots of strong coffee as well as lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas for the fancier types out there.