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In seemingly the blink of an eye, 'avo on toast' has gone from influencer's Insta-breakfast to a standard at any self-respecting brunch spot... but does east or west know best when it comes to the smash?
Express's secretive independent food reviewer Harry Smiles gives his irr-avo-cable verdict...
After a very successful visit earlier this year, I went back to Le Braye to try another one of their appealing gluten-free dishes. I love the many varied options you can order for breakfast.
Whatever you’re in the mood for, you’re sure to find something to your taste, and the huevos rancheros sure suited my hankering for spicy food – especially so since I ordered extra chorizo.
The spicy Spanish sausage, chipotle black beans and tomato salsa blended together perfectly. The eggs were perfectly cooked, while corn tortillas were just the right size to mop up any leftover ooze, without making you feel too stuffed.
I am definitely making this at home (my banker says I can’t go out for breakfast every day – rude!).
The Good Egg is a solid favourite for a family or friendy brunch thanks to the location, the laid-back atmosphere, their smoothies and their Beach Bum Bowl (it’s heavenly, I promise). But it was the Avo Toast, which is luckily available gluten-free, which took my tongue this time round.
I went for the added luxury of smoked salmon which made for a flawless dish from top to bottom. The poached eggs were exquisite (the perfect cooked-to-runny ratio), the salmon slices delicious (and the portions definitely a lot more generous than in most places), the avocado was fresh and perfectly seasoned and the gluten-free bagel was far from the usual dry or sandy fayre – it held its own perfectly well under everything else.
I loved the addition of the crispy seeds (apparently those are healthy for you) and of the chilli flakes, which added a welcome kick.
Both were packed with flavour, and both were also generous portions that definitely will fill you up for brunch… and possibly longer. In both cases, the eggs were cooked to perfection.
The Good Egg’s was perhaps a more traditional take on the avo toast, but it’s definitely worth a try! If you ask for any extras – bacon, halloumi, chorizo and feta or salmon – you also know you will get more bang for your buck.
If you are looking for something a bit more original, Le Braye's huevos rancheros are the thing for you (and the salsa is to die for!).
I promised you a verdict, however – and it’s this: try both! After all, there are two days in a weekend…
This article first appeared in the June edition of Connect Magazine, which you can read in full below...
