Cafe Medina, Vancouver

Breakfast is often said to be the most important meal of the day. But every now and then you find somewhere that makes you think it can also be the best meal of the day. Medina is one of those. Superb waffles for a start - mine with maple syrup (yes, this is Canada so it's the real stuff, not the maple flavoured crap you get at Denny's et al which is mostly corn-syrup). The lavender chocolate sauce was lovely too. I followed my waffle with fricassee. Now I thought I knew what fricassee was - stewed meat in gravy. This was what I got, braised short rib with caramelised onion gravy - but also lots of arugula salad leaves and two fried eggs sitting on melting cheddar too. I seldom eat quite such a green breakfast but this was excellent. Great coffee, nice juice, swift service, crowded, pact atmosphere. Well worth a visit.