Breakfasts of Champions

If you are on your way to the airport and you need a great breakfast stop, The Coffe Co. is the perfect place! Of course, we weren't on our way to the airport, but it's not that far away from us. Should you find yourself on La Tijera Bouleverd, do stop in, It's fantastic! From the Espresso Bar try a Hot Chocolate ($2.75), Caffe Latte ($3.25) or a Caffe Mocha ($3.50) All are made with Gevalia coffee, so you know they're rich and flavorful. For breakfast Eggs Benedict ($11.50) is at the top of the list. Served on a toasted split English muffins with ham, two poached eggs, and lemon Hollandaise; they're simply marvelous! The skillets are huge and bursting with flavor. The Skillet Delux ($12.75) starts with Potatoes O' Brien, mushrooms, tomatoes, bacon, avocado, and cheddar cheese. Two scrambled eggs are added on top. This dish is out of this world. The wait is long, so come before 10 a.m., but know, you will have one of the best breakfasts in LA! The Coffee Co. 8761 La Tijera Blvd, Westchester. (310) 645-7315. Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Sat-Sun 7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Recommended Dishes: Skillet Delux, Eggs Benedict

It seems like everyone who lives in LA has at one time or another lived in Palms. I did way back in the early 80's. There definitely was nothing as good as C&M then but fast forward 30 years and lucky Westsiders now have a great place for breakfast! The culinary team at C & M  (short for Chicken and Monkey),  Kalissa Krejcik and Ivette Rodriguez, cook up some marvelous treats, and yes, the line is out the door. Note to Kalissa and Ivette: I hope you are looking for a bigger place...soon! But do come and enjoy Sunday brunch, as this is one eatery you definitely do not want to miss! Start off with a bottle, and I do mean a glass bottle of orange juice. ($7) It's cold and delicious and freshly squeezed. New Frontier Coffee (fair trade and organic from Culver City  ($2.75) is falvorful and tastes even better with half and half and brown sugar. Hot chocolate ($2.50) is not too far behind. Order up at the friendly counter, grab a table inside or out, then wait for your food to arrive. While you wait, make sure to have some baked goods. The Coffee Cake ($3.50) with huge chunks of brown sugar is moist and buttery but the "Crack Bun" ($3.50) is for sure one of the best things I've ever eaten. Buttery, with cinnamon and sugar, I didn't want to share. But I did. And the line was too long to get another one. Oh, well, maybe my bikini will fit after all! For breakfast one of us I'll let you guess who) had The B.A.M.! ($7.95) This includes cinnamon roll French toast, organic crispy fried eggs, applewood smoked bacon, sausage, cream cheese, and a tin of maple syrup. Oh, and it also comes with a cardiologist on the side! It all works together and I'd eat it again, right now! It's that good! Oh, and it might have been me who ordered it!  We also had the EggSential Breakfast Sandwich ($4.95) with sourdough, organic eggs, havarti cheese, applewood smoked bacon, ham, sausage, or avocado. It's grilled and stamped with the C&M logo and is one of the most popular sandwiches on the menu. Finally we tried Only The Chosen ($6.95), an everything bagel, lox, caper lemon cream cheese, organic greens, red onion, and house pickles. It too tasted fresh and was bursting with flavor. We can't wait to go back next weekend for the Enjoy Guys!, the Scramlet and more "Crack Buns." This time we're getting two! C and M Cafe 3272 Motor Avenue Los Angeles (310) 694-1516. Hours: Breakfast and Lunch: Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Curbside Service Available

Recommended Dishes:Crack Buns, Pastries, Fresh Squeezed Juices, Coffee, Eggsential Breakfast Sandwich, B.A.M!, Only The Chosen.

Open since 1974 in the heart of Marina del Rey, this family owned upscale diner/coffee shop is a happening place any day of the week. But come Sunday morning watch out; you'll wait 25 minutes or more. The food is terrific and this family run eatery makes it from scratch using the finest ingredients. Service is friendly and we're happy to call it home! Though J. Nichols Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we just go for the breakfast. The Eggs Benedict ($12.50) is to die for! Served on a homemade English muffin are two perfect poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and lovely, creamy Hollandaise. My favorite is the Bacon Cheddar Scramble ($13.50). Yes, I get extra bacon, applewood smoked bacon to be exact, plus scallions, Tillamook cheddar, and avocado. The scramble comes with the crispiest (is that a word?) hash browns and a homemade English muffin along with homemade jam. The traditional Corned Beef Hash and Eggs ($12.50) is homemeade with peppers, potatoes, and onions and served with two eggs any style. We also love the Fried Egg and Arugula Sandwich ($11.50). Two sunnyside up eggs, gruyere cheese, applewood smoked bacon, black pepper mayo, arugula, and vinaigrette are served between two slices of crisp rustic bread. Wash it all down with Santa Cruz's Verve coffee ($3) and you're good to start your day. Oh, don't forget to pick up a bag of English muffins ($8.99) to eat all week long! We love 'em!  J Nichols Kitchen 4375 Glencoe Avenue, Marina del Rey. (310) 823-2283. Hours: Daily 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Fri-Sat: open til 10:00 p.m.

Recommeded Dishes: Verve coffee, Corned Beef Hash, Fried Egg & Arugula Sandwich, Bacon Cheddar Scramble, Eggs Benedict, hash browns, English muffins, homemade jam.

Open since 1974 in the heart of Marina del Rey, this family owned upscale diner/coffee shop is a happening place any day of the week. But come Sunday morning watch out; you'll wait 25 minutes or more. The food is terrific and this family run eatery makes it from scratch using the finset ingredients. Service is friendly and we're happy to call it home! Though J. Nichols Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we just go for the breakfast. The Eggs Benedict ($12.50) is to die for! Served on a homemade English muffin are two perfect poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and lovely, creamy Hollandaise. My favorite is the Bacon Cheddar Scramble ($13.50). Yes, I get extra bacon, applewood smoked bacon to be exact, plus scallions, Tillamook cheddar, and avocado. The scramble comes with the crispiest (is that a word?) hash browns and a homemade English muffin along with homemade jam. The traditional Corned Beef Hash and Eggs ($12.50) is homemeade with peppers, potatoes, and onions and served with two eggs any style. We also love the Fried Egg and Arugula Sandwich ($11.50). Two sunnyside up eggs, gruyere cheese, applewood smoked bacon, black pepper mayo, arugula, and vinaigrette are served between twqo slices of crisp rustic bread. Wash it all down with Santa Cruz's Verve coffee ($3) and you're good to start your day. Oh, don't forget to pick up a bag of English muffins ($8.99) to eat all week long! We love 'em!  J Nichols Kitchen 4375 Glencoe Avenue, Marina del Rey. (310) 823-2283. Hours: Daily 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Fri-Sat: open til 10:00 p.m.

Recommeded Dishes: Verve coffee, Corned Beef Hash, Fried Egg & Arugula Sandwich, Bacon Cheddar Scramble, Eggs Benedict, hash browns, English muffins, homemade jam.

Main Street has always been one of my favorite places to eat and to play and since I live so close now, one by one, I am trying lots of new places. My friend Vicki and I were trying to decide between Sauce on Hampton and Novel Cafe and this time Novel Cafe won. Don't worry though Sauce; next time we'll visit you! The Novel Cafe definitely has something for everyone, not to mention the library of books and mis-matched furniture that makes it feel so warm and homey. Servers are super friendly and make excellent recommendations too! All dishes are prepared using only the freshest and most delicious ingredients from the eggs to the gourmet coffees. The Breakfast Burrito ($10.95) blew my socks off! Three scrambled eggs with black beans, homemade pico de gallo (ask for more), guacamole ,jack cheese, and your choice of bacon (tons of it) or Mexican chorizo are stuffed inside a massive flour tortilla. This is enough to split and comes with roasted potatoes or fresh fruit. We also had Magical Meyer's Breakfast Tacos. ($10.95) Three corn tortillas with scrambled eggs, potatoes, veggie sausage, jack cheese, guacamole, sour cream, grilled onion, and homemade pico de gallo are served with your choice of potatoes. I'll let you guess who had what. But both were fantastic! House Blend Coffee ($2.50) is rich in flavor, and refills are plentiful. So take a friend or a novel and sit back and enjoy some delicious food and amazing service. The Novel Cafe 2507 Main Street, Santa Monica (310) 396-7700 Hours:M-Sun 10:50 a.m.-8:05 p.m.

Recommended Dishes: Breakfast Burrito, Tacos, potatoes.