This is a scene that is replayed in most homes each weekday morning. Despite the fact that most people are guilty of rushing through breakfast or just missing it altogether, we could not deny the fact that breakfast is the most important meal for the day, especially for our kids. After a long period of fasting through the night, it is the nutrition that we get at breakfast that will get us through our day. So yes, we do have to eat like a King.

To address the need for nutrition at breakfast, we now have a wide choice of healthy breakfast meals to choose from. We have cereals of different flavors, instant oats, instant waffles, instant everything. Even eggs now come in tetra-packages, ready to be poured onto a hot skillet for instant scrambled eggs. But then again, we can only have so much cereal and instant foods before we grow tired of it.

Luckily, we now have the option to wake up to the smell of breakfast, with a breakfast fit for a King waiting for us in the kitchen. How? Crock Pot breakfasts! When you know you have absolutely no time to make anything in the morning and you feel like you just cannot have another bowl of cereal or instant oats the next day, it’s time to take out your crock pot and whip up a breakfast casserole the night before. It will be warm, ready and waiting the moment you wake up.

Breakfast Suggestions

•Southwest Crock Pot Breakfast- With your Crock Pot you could choose to have a Southwest-themed breakfast with peppers, chilies and cheese and a whole lot of sausage. Prepare all the ingredients you want with your favorite Southwest-inspired recipes and layer them in your Crock Pot. Plug the Crock Pot in just before bed time and have sour cream or fresh salsa ready in the fridge. A hearty and hot Southwest Crock Pot breakfast could be just what you need to pick you up in the morning.

•Crock Pot Cobbler- Check out your fresh food section at the grocery or your favorite fruit market for the freshest fruits in season. Apples, peaches and pears make for great, warm, breakfast cobblers using your Crock Pot. You can use just one kind of fruit or mix it up! Combine fruit slices or chunks with granola and cinnamon, place in your crock pot and drizzle with a honey-butter mixture. The cobbler will cook through the night and will greet you with its sweet smell in the morning.

Making breakfast using a Crock Pot will actually be more than just a convenience for some. In areas where electric current charges are lower at night, Crock Pot cooking will also allow you to save up on costs.

So go ahead, eat breakfast like a king. There’s nothing better to get you through the day.

Bill is an avid home cook who loves to share his favorite crock pot recipes with the rest of us. He finds the recipes for crock pots at www.A-Crock-Cook.com to be the easiest to follow. And suggests you try on of the slow cooker breakfast recipes there.

Planning Ahead

Barbequing exists sine early caveman found out that their food tasted better after it was cooked on an open fire. Maybe one of the main memories attached to a family barbeque is what was on the menu that day. When you barbeque, you open a whole array of types of foods available. What type of food you will serve, should depend on the people you invite and the event you are celebrating. Because of the wide range of possibilities you will always find something that pleases your crowd.

There is one potential issue when barbequing: the weather. You can’t guarantee that the weather will be nice for your barbeque event, but with a certain amount of planning you will be able to avoid the days in which barbequing is just simply out of the picture. Check online for your weekly forecast or watch the weather channel, if it’s going to be cold or rainy on the day you were thinking about planning your barbeque, it might be better to wait for a better forecast.

Start the preparations for your barbeque ahead of time. About 12 to 24 hours before your party starts, you need to make sure that you thaw, prepare and marinate the meat you will be serving. Once the meat is stored away, marinating, then you should start thinking about your side dishes. If you want a traditional barbeque, you should stick to traditional side dishes. The traditional barbeque sides include potatoes, potato salad, baked beans and coleslaw.

Maintenance

When it is time to clean your barbeque grill, you will need to have some common household items on hand.

Brass wire grill brush

Steel wool pads, preferably that contains soap already.

Mild dish soap

Sponge or dishcloth

Spray cooking oil

Dry baking soda

Aluminum foil

The first thing that should always be done to your grill is a routine brushing. Using your brass wire grill brush (or other brush suitable to your type of grill) you should brush off all the surfaces. By routinely brushing your barbeque grill, you will prevent any type of buildup. If buildup from food is left to long, it can become increasingly difficult to remove. Once you have cleaned the surfaces of your grill, then you must focus on its racks. The racks in your grill are especially important as this is where the food touches when it is cooking. You will have to use the wire brush to remove as much buildup as possible. Once you remove as much as possible, start washing the racks with dish soap. If the racks are really dirty, you may also want to use the steel wool pads. Be sure to completely rinse off all soap and residue before cooking on these racks again.

This process should be completed each and every time you cook on your barbeque grill. If these steps are not taken, you may find it increasingly difficult to clean your grill, and may find that damage will occur.

The majority of problems that arise from barbeque grills comes from lack of cleaning and maintenance. That means if you notice something does not seem quite right with your barbeque grill, chances are it can be fixed with just a simple cleaning. Even if you clean it, and still find that it is having problems, at least you saved yourself the potential embarrassment of taking it to a professional only to find out all it needed was to be cleaned.

Finally, one method of preventing problems with your barbeque grill is protecting it from the outdoors. Covers are available for grills in all shapes and sizes, so chances are, you will find one that fits your grill. If you have a cover for your barbeque grill, then all you will ever need to do is do the regular maintenance listed above.

Make sure to visit my blog Barbeque Recipe for helpful Barbeque Tips, delicious Barbeque Recipes and much more!

DO

• Leave on time. If you’re rushed and racing to get to an appointment or meeting, you’ll be more stressed out and far more likely to ignore proper driver etiquette which could cause some serious problems.

• Let people pull in front of you. It really won’t delay your journey if you let one or two cars get into the line and you’ll save yourself and someone else a lot of frustration.

• Slow down. Going too fast means you could miss a sign or signal and end up in an accident. This isn’t just about etiquette, it’s also about safety.

• Give advance notice. If you’re going to turn, be sure to turn on your signal ahead of time, not just as you are about to make the turn. This lets the vehicles around you react appropriately.

• Dim your headlights. When coming up on another car, keep in mind that your brights can blind the other driver, whether reflecting in his rearview mirror or shining directly into the oncoming car.

• Move to one side when emergency vehicles come through. It might be tempting to race ahead, particularly if your turnoff is coming up, but keep in mind why they are in hurry and pull over.

• Let buses cut in. They are on a schedule and you’ll be able to overtake them at the next stop, which won’t take much time off your commute, but could make a big difference to those who travel public transport.

DON’T

• Expect people to guess what you’re thinking. It’s important to always let them know with signals what you are about to do. Expecting someone to get out of your way because you’re in a hurry is only going to cause problems.

• Tailgate. There is nothing more annoying than someone who just won’t back off, so move back and keep an appropriate distance between cars.

• Talk on the phone while driving. Studies have shown that you simply don’t have the same reflexes when having a conversation on the phone and using just one hand to drive. Instead, invest in a headless phone system or wait until you can pull over.

• Lose your temper. Take deep breaths or even pull over if you need to. Getting angry and giving in to road rage will only cause more trouble than it’s worth.

• Block cyclists and motorbikes. They might be annoying, but it’s not worth causing problems if they are trying to pass you on the shoulder.

• Drive too slowly. If you are going lower than the speed limit, make sure you move to one side so people can pass you. It’s rude to cause a hold up by driving too slowly.

Being polite on the road is just as important as having good table manners. How you act will affect the people around you and driving etiquette will also affect how you go through your day. Being nice to people is proven to make you feel better and boost morale, so it`s a good way to start the day off right, by letting someone move into the line ahead of you during rush hour.

CAA Auto club offering membership roadside assistance, car and travel insurance Canada. Visit our travel section to find Disney World tickets.

Mulled Wine

A long held tradition, especially on cold evenings, a glass of mulled wine is a wonderful way to greet guests after a trudge through the winter weather. Mulled wine can be bought ready-mixed such as the ever-popular Gl?hwein or you can create your own by adding cinnamon, orange, cloves and honey to a bottle of red wine and warming it by the fire in a pan. By adding orange juice you can turn the mulled wine into a punch.

Traditional Ales

Although largers are always popular, traditional ales still hold an important part of the drinks market and are always one of the top ten drinks for Christmas. With hundreds of microbreweries up and down the country, there are plenty of ales to choose from. Some breweries also produce speciality ales for the Christmas season and these are often beautifully presented with specially designed labels, making them a perfect Christmas present for an ale lover. Kernow Gold Ale, for example, is one of the most popular and well loved of the traditional ales.

Brandy

What better way to finish off Christmas Day dinner than with a glass of fine cognac? A warming, palate-cleansing drink, fine cognac has been traditionally the perfect way to round off a good meal. Classics such as Hennessy Fine de Cognac always go down well at Christmas.

Alcohol free larger

Although Christmas is a time of celebration, you may be entertaining guests who have to drive after the party. A selection of alcohol free beers will mean that they can join in the toasts without running the risk of drinking and driving afterwards.

White wine

The drier, lighter white wines such as Pino Grigio have become more popular over heavier, sweeter wines, and are perfect for mixing with soda water or lemonade to make a refreshing ‘spritzer’. White wine also makes a perfect accompaniment to fish or white meat dishes, helping to cleanse the palate in between courses.

Red Wine

Heavier and more full bodied than most white wines, a good red wine such as a Merlot or a New World Shiraz makes an ideal gift for your party’s host. Red wines tend to have richer bouquets and prices range from just a few pounds for a perfectly drinkable bottle of Merlot to hundreds of pounds for a vintage bottle for a true wine connoisseur.

Rose wine

Rose wine became popular in the 1970’s with the iconic Mateus Rose. After dropping out of fashion for a while, Rose has made a comeback in the past year, with new varieties available, particularly from the New World producers such as Australia and Chile. They are often slightly sweeter than most white wines.

Cocktails

A combination of stronger spirits and either fruit juice or carbonated mixers, cocktails are an ideal way to get a party really jumping. Do remember though, that cocktails can actually be much stronger volume-wise than they first appear, particularly if the fruit juice or mixers mask the taste of the spirits. If you’re mixing cocktails this Christmas, why not go for some exotic additions such as Rodniks Absinthe, for a truly unique flavour?

Spirits

Spirits are always high on any list of the top ten drinks for Christmas, mainly because there is such a huge variety available, catering for all tastes. From superb malt whiskeys such as Glenfiddich, Irish whiskeys such as Jameson’s or Bushmills, through to the more exotic like the coconut rum mix of Malibu or the warming orange flavour of Cointreau, a selection of spirits (including the old favourites such as Vodka and Bacardi) is a must for any Christmas celebration.

Champagne

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a glass of Buck’s Fizz on Christmas morning. The refreshing mix of champagne and orange juice is a classic and sets the tone for a day of celebration and fun. Champagnes are available to suit all pockets, from the indulgently expensive Dom Perignon to the cheaper Cava. Remember that to call itself Champagne, the wine has to come from the Champagne region of France. A quick check on the label will tell you if your Champagne is genuine.

Visit Drink Finder for the Top 10 Drinks for Christmas.

Who - No explanation needed. I mean, come on, what is an invitation if you could not even give out the name of the bride and the groom?!

What - What is the occassion? For the clueless, this is extremely essential. Your guests might bring in tons of gifts for a baby.

When - The date and time of the occassion. Make sure you got the date and the time right. Should you have any changes prior to the distribution of the wedding invitations, inform the guests immediately.

Where - Note down where the wedding ceremony will be held, and where the dinner reception will be. You may opt to post in a map, should you feel the vibe that your guest have the tendency to be, uh, lost.

You do not need to put in the other details such as the brand of your wedding dress, your wedding store, the size of your wedding ring or the name of the store where you ordered your wedding cake in Mississauga. You get my drift, right.

The physical size of the wedding invitation matters - believe it or not. It does not have to be the same as the wedding cakes in Mississauga. What I mean is, if your ceremony has very few guests, you may opt for a more personal feel — think smaller, hand written, or calligraphed invitations. For a more extravagant wedding, you may use a larger, grander stationery.

Consider how formal or informal the occasion is. For formal affairs, do away with bold, bright wedding invitations, instead, opt for subdues and elegant tones. Classic does it for these more formal occasions. If you’re having a non-traditional celebration, go ahead and pick out that neon green-themed wedding invitation that your heart desires.

Traditional or modern? It is up to you. If your wedding celebration is more on the traditional side, then it would be wisest to go for traditional off-white, gold or ecru wedding invitations. Contemporary invitations are much more fun, though. Instead of the usual rectangle-shaped wedding invitations, the new ones come in square, hear-shaped, rounded corners with a wider choice of colors.

Ah, the theme, of course. The cover of your invitation should reflect your wedding theme at a glance. A beach wedding invitation should have a loose, fun feel. Choose the right colors to bring out your theme. Bright colors are perfect for beach weddings, classic whites are for traditional grand weddings. For garden weddings, you can choose earth tones or subdued colors. The fonts play a part too. Choose the right font to complement both your wedding invitation and your theme.

Did you know that each season has a color? If you did not, here are some more tips for you. For winter weddings, choose deeper colors. For spring and summer weddings, go for pastels.

Best for Bride Bridal Store

5359 Dundas St. West (at Kipling)

Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9B 1B1

For wedding invitations and wedding cakes in Mississauga, look for a wedding store that has it all. Visit BestForBrides.com today.

What can happen when you binge drink?

Binge drinking, also known as heavy episodic drinking, is the massive consumption of alcohol in a short amount of time. An average person is said to have binged, when their blood alcohol concentration reads 0.08% or more. For the blood to reach this level males consume 5 or more drinks quickly, a female 4 drinks. This is known as the 5/4 rule. Height, weight, and other factors can alter this rule. Extreme drinking has been defined as the rapid consumption of 10 or more drinks for males and 8 for females.

In the United States, although the legal drinking age is 21, most individuals are likely to binge drink in college. Studies show over half of male college students and 40% of females have participated in binge drinking in the past few weeks. Nearly one-third of freshman in college have experiences with binge drinking before returning home for the holidays. Unfortunately, excessive drinking is not limited to the over 18 crowd. It was been reported that a quarter of high school students have binged in the last month.

Some methods of binge drinking are shots, shooters, chugging, shotguns, funnels, and drinking games. In the United States, two popular games are quarters and pong, where failure to get one of these objects in a glass after bouncing it off a table leads to chugging beer or the consumption of a shot.

A common Canadian drinking game is Wizard Stick. After finishing a beer, the empty is stacked and taped underneath the current one. In New Zealand, Edward Wineyhands and Scrumpy Hands is a drinking game in which a 40 or 80 ounce can is duct taped to the hands and cannot be removed until completely consumed. The Pub Crawl first became popular in the United Kingdom where drinking establishments close by Midnight. Drinking from pub to pub, by the end of the evening, the binge drinker is crawling home. Botellon, passing a big bottle amongst a circle of friends in a public place, is common in Spain.

Regardless of the method, on the average, those who binge drink miss more classes, get lower grades, are sexually irresponsible, have been accidentally injured or date raped, and have or developed health ailments. In addiction, most alcoholics or addicts at one time were binge drinkers.

After binge drinking, a person is likely to

1) Have an argument or altercation

2) Fall or Pass out

3) Vomit, perhaps choke to death

4) Get into an automobile accident or fatality

5) Overdose (Alcohol poisoning)

During a blacked out state, urination on oneself is common. In extreme cases, however, a binge drinker’s bladder can rupture and cause septic blood poisoning.

When asked about his binge drinking experiences The Unknown Drunk replied, “I used to drink hard and fast… If I got drunk fast, I thought everyone would think I was cool. Thinking back, I just looked like a drunken idiot.”

Today, there is a movement in the United States to return the legal drinking age back 18.

“I was legally allowed to drink at 18,” the Unknown Drunk continued. “Maybe that’s why I started drinking heavy by the time I was 12.”

No Need To Do It Alone

Sometimes it can be tempting to just call the nearest pizza place and order in. While this is good for a movie night once a month, it is unhealthy to let this become a habit. If you are a working mom, turn meal planning into something interactive and fun. This way, you are actually hitting two birds with one stone. You get help with the menu and you do away with the frustration of scrunched up faces when you serve something your family doesn’t like.

Set a day of the week for meal planning and grocery shopping. Younger kids would probably find being allowed to say what they want to eat on certain days as a treat. Planning ahead will not only allow you to save by buying only what you need, it will also allow you to organize your meal preparations, and you get things done in half the time.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

Getting things done ahead will save you a lot of time. Check your work schedule and identify which days you have more free time. Use these days to prepare for multiple meals. You can cook some meals through and just store while others can be half-done then finished on the day the meal is to be had.

Still, you can use this time to do all the chopping and the slicing you need for the other dishes you have planned for the week. Do you need chopped carrots for a stew and grated ones for carrot soup? Prepare them all at one time, storing the chopped ones in the refrigerator for later. If you take this route, make sure that you have plastic containers in a variety of sizes on hand to use for storing your food or prepared ingredients.

Make Technology Work for You

On days when you simply do not have the time or the energy to get it all done, make your kitchen equipment work for you. Your best bet would be to have a Crock Pot on hand. When used correctly, a Crock Pot can be a safe and convenient way to prepare healthy, wholesome, home-cooked meals that will stay warm and be ready for you and your family when it is time to eat.

Since Crock Pots use slow cooking technology at lower temperatures, it will allow you to simply prepare the food in the morning and leave it in the Crock Pot, ready for you by dinner time. Once the cooking is done, it will automatically reset itself to just keep your food warm until you are ready to eat.

There are recipes for chicken, beef and vegetable dishes and even desserts that can be cooked in a Crock Pot. You can incorporate ‘Crock Pot’ days in your meal planning and let your family choose their ‘Crock Pot’ meal for the day. Eating healthy never sounded so easy!

Bill is an avid home cook who loves to share his favorite crock pot recipes with the rest of us. He finds the recipes for crock pots at www.A-Crock-Cook.com to be the easiest to follow. And suggests you try on of the slow cooker vegetable recipes there.

When everything seems so down and out though, indulging your sweet tooth can perk you up better than anything else can. A simple scoop of ice cream or a bar of good milk chocolate can soothe away the day’s troubles. This is why dessert nowadays is just as important as our main meals. Now, more than ever, we need comfort and solace and dessert is the ultimate comfort food.

In the same breath, we also have to remember that in order to cope with the demands of our careers, it is important to stay healthy. So, how do we put two and two together? The secret is to indulge but never to over-indulge. Just keep in mind that most things in this world are inherently good. It is when things are done in excess that good things become bad.

Stock up on Desserts

The easiest comfort foods to reach for are chocolates and ice cream. You can stock up and keep them in the freezer, ready anytime you need a quick fix.

You can actually save by looking out for specials at your grocery store, where ice cream quarts of good name brands can be had at a huge discount if you catch them on sale at the right time. Buy the smaller containers in a variety of different flavors, so that you can have the illusion of having something new each time.

Do the same for chocolates. Stock up on a variety of brands and flavors so you can always reach for something new.

Make Your Own Desserts

A healthier alternative would be to indulge your sweet tooth with more natural foods such as fruits. You can actually drop by the fresh food section and ask for the best fruits in season. A simple dressing or syrup can jazz up fresh fruits and you have instant, homemade dessert.

If you are not much of a baker and don’t have the time but would like to have something homemade that is still fancy, you can try making desserts in your Crock Pot. A lot of people instantly associate Crock Pots with stews but it is actually so versatile that it can satisfy your sweet tooth in a lot of different ways.

You can have crock pot cheesecake, bread and rice pudding, fruit pies and cobblers. A lot of special recipes for crock pot desserts are available, sometimes in the recipe booklets provided by your manufacturer. Certainly there are a lot that can be sourced online. Crock Pot desserts are very convenient. You can put the ingredients into the Crock Pot dish, put it on, leave for work and you will have dessert ready for you when you come home.

Treat Yourself

Nothing beats a romantic ambience and delicious, gourmet desserts at the end of a busy work week or on your payday. Remember, your work supports you – don’t let it run your life. So, indulge yourself occasionally; you deserve it! After all, you have worked hard for it.

Bill is an avid home cook who loves to share his favorite crock pot recipes with the rest of us. He finds the crock pot recipes at www.A-Crock-Cook.com to be the easiest to follow. And suggest you try on of the crock dessert recipes there.

Let’s learn a bit about what these similarities and differences are and just how they can help start you on the path to a healthier, more energetic lifestyle.

Both black tea and green tea come from the leaves of the same plant, Camellia sinensis. However, it is the way the leaves are processed that determines the outcome of the final product.

Green tea is very high in antioxidants and out of the two, it’s processed the least. Unlike its darker, more full-flavored cousin, it isn’t allowed to ferment or oxidize at all.

This part of the process ensures the final product still retains most of its beneficial antioxidants and polyphenols.

The phytochemicals present in tea leaves are highly sensitive to the oxidation process.

During oxidation, the leaves are exposed to air which allows “fermentation” or oxidation to take place. This increases caffeine levels as well tannins, whilst lessening some of its other phytochemical components such as catechins - the antioxidant powerhouses responsible for green tea fame

Fret not, even though black tea is fully fermented, all of its free-radical scavenging antioxidants are not lost. It still has a variety of health benefits associated with its consumption as well and studies have shown the theaflavins found in a fermented leaf may be just as powerful an antioxidant as those inherent in unfermented leaves.

The catechins found in fermented leaves are simply converted into theaflavins during the oxidation process. This means that black tea, although offering different beneficial properties than green tea, still delivers a wealth of healthful properties.

Aside from processing, these two possess two different flavor profiles and brewing methods.

Due to its minimal handling, green tea has more of well, green flavor. It has been described as having a flavor profile ranging from a grassy and herbaceous taste to light and slightly sweet. Indeed, green tea came from different countries, hence, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, India, and Vietnamese.

Be aware that green tea from different parts of Asia varies as far as the quality, taste, and benefits are concerned. It is because of the soil, climate, and processing that makes the huge difference.

The flavor of a fully fermented black tea is cherished the world over. In fact, outside of Asia, this beverage is enjoyed second only to the consumption of water!

It is full-bodied, yet also described as sweet or even nutty.

Its robust taste, rich, dark color and moderate caffeine content makes it the perfect choice for coffee drinkers seeking a healthier alternative to their morning cup of coffee.

As an added bonus, the caffeine found in the fully fermented leaves not only gives your body a much needed midday energy boost, but you won’t endure that jittery coffee feeling afterward.

So now you see, whether you’re in the green corner or the black corner, there is no loser in the Black Tea vs. Green Tea battle!

Rose is a tea enthusiast and a health advocate. Find out more about green tea and black tea. Visit her online store at www.theteaavenue.com where you can find organic tea and fine tea accessories. She also would like to share with everyone her passion and knowledge on tea and its effects on your overall well-being.

Sure, Madrid’s smoky tapas bars filled with old men have their appeal. But for some really posh tapas, check out the new spot in the NH Hotel Paseo de Prado. Paco Roncero, winner of the 2006 Best Future Chef award from the International Gastronomy Academy and chef at La Terraza del Casino in Madrid, has opened Estado Puro to bring tapas back to their “purest state.” Roncero, who studied with Ferran Adri? and is considered the most outstanding of the famous chef’s prot?g?s, opened Estado Puro to combine classic tapas using the highest-quality ingredients and his signature creative touch. He hopes to open more, similar bars throughout Spain and internationally.

The place is decked out with upscale, cosmopolitan d?cor from architects and designers James & Mau featuring 1,000 kitschy white peinetas, decorative hair combs, covering the ceiling and a wall, adding a bit of an ironic twist to touristy tapas traps. Estado Puro also features an area where patrons can see the chefs cooking, a merchandising area with cookbooks from Roncero and aprons along with a selection sauces from the tapas to take home. There’s even a terrace with a tree surrounded by a small garden of tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. The menu features cold and hot tapas such as croquettes, potatoes with alioli sauce and mini hamburgers as well as sandwiches, salads, desserts and some bigger dishes of rice, meat and fish.

Dinner with a side of celebrity

Javier Bardem, Hollywood’s latest It Boy, comes from a very talented family of directors, producers, artists and actors. But what they should be most famous for are their croquettes. That’s right, La Bardemcilla, owned by the venerable acting7/producing/directing family, cooks some of the best melt-in-your-mouth, falling-apart-at-the-touch croquettes in Madrid. Aptly named “Jam?n, Jam?n,” a plateful of these will cheer you up on the coldest of Madrid winter days.

The cozy place also offers delicious entrees such as Huevos de Oro, scrambled eggs with chorizo and potatoes, and Entre Las Piernas, scrambled eggs with morcilla. The grilled vegetable plate is also scrumptious. On a weekend night, it’s best to call ahead for a reservation. The menu del d?a is a cheaper alternative to enjoy some of their house specialties. Make sure to bring your camera, it’s a great place for celebrity spotting!

A Taste of Home

Burger bars don’t necessarily mean junk food — something that’s abundantly clear at Home Burger Bar. The wood-paneled diner boasts booths, little frilly lamps at each table, authentic chunky cutlery, and menus printed on brown-paper grocery bags, like the ones you see in American movies — all that’s missing are waitresses in gingham aprons. The menu features creative choices such as La Especial, with cream cheese, nuts and onions and the Caprese, with sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese as well as staples such as La Cl?sica, a burger served with lettuce, tomato, pickles, bacon and cheese.

The 100 percent organic meat is fantastic, and is perfectly accompanied by the extras. This month, they are expanding from Malasa?a into Chueca with a second location. Good thing, too, because during lunchtime the place is bursting with hungry diners.

Get your just desserts

It’s a venerable Madrid tradition: stay up all night dancing, then refuel with some sickly sweet churros con chocolate. There’s no better place than the Chocolater?a San Gin?s, where madrile?os have been going since 1894, right in the center and open all night. Order a few cups of the thick, rich chocolate to share among a group and a few plates of churros, which are basically sticks of fried dough, and lean back in the plush green velvet chairs to watch the hordes come in about 4am when the clubs close. Chocolater?a San Gin?s, Pasadizo de San Gin?s 5, (Metro: Sol)

Brunch in Style

Madrile?os are just now catching on to the amazing concept that is brunch. And though it’s taken a while to catch on, new spots are springing up all over the city and established restaurants are moving away from the traditional to try something new. Some of the best options include Bristol Bar, (c/Almirante, 20), which is a hip gin bar by night but a relaxing brunch spot on Saturdays and Sundays, when you can choose from a traditional English breakfast to an American-style brunch, complete with eggs, sausage, toast and mimosas. Or head over to Toma, (c/Conde Duqe, 14) where American owner Mack Kern certainly knows what he’s doing.

It’s often cited as the best brunch in Madrid, because it combines tasty Spanish ingredients with classic brunch recipes. Try eggs Benedict, or omelets stuffed with your choice of delicacies ranging from asparagus to goat cheese. Wash it all down with a tasty Bloody Mary. For a buffet-style brunch, try Nina (c/Manuela Malasa?a, 10) which offers bagels alongside classics like bacon and eggs.

This and lots more are among the hundreds of restaurants that madrid has to offer, its often said, to test it, you have to visit the spanish capital!

The Author is a contributing writer a travel guide to madrid. We carry a lot of useful information about Madrid restaurants, bars, nightclubs, Hotels, and shopping centers. Visit us today and bookmark us for your return visits!