beyond cinderella

I LOVE them!

When we go out to breakfast I always order pancakes. When we go on vacation I eat pancakes everyday. I just love, love, love, pancakes. But, the absolute BEST pancakes I’ve EVER had in my entire life, are the cobble stone trail pancakes I can only get at T. C. Eggington’s in Mesa Arizona.

Tucked in the corner of a small strip mall, this little gem is not only my favorite place for breakfast, but was also voted best in the New Times, as one of the top places to eat. Our family, and extended family, have been eating there for years.

Tom, the owner, knows us by name, and always welcomes us at the door and seats us himself. He is always there, and oversees the entire operation from kitchen to the cash register. He wants to make sure your experience is pleasant from start to finish so his restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch which allows him to be there during hours of operation.

There is a little open air patio if you care to eat outside.

You will usually find a bit of a wait on Sunday mornings if you’re not there by 8:30, which is why when we go we leave right after 7:00 a.m. mass. If you do have to wait, Tom has a coffee/tea cart he has his staff bring outside the front door and offers free coffee or tea while you wait. And in the summer he has misters on to help keep you comfortable.

Inside the restaurant is just charming. Immaculately clean and decorated with a farm-house feel.

Check out the sinks in the restrooms.

The menu is even covered with chicken wire. How cute is that?

Speaking of the menu…Tom has a huge selection to choose from making it hard to decide what delicious temptation you want…

But, I can’t get past my all time favorite, cobble-stone trail pancakes.

The cobble-stone trail pancakes have a blend of pecans, cashews, real shaved coconut, raisins and silvered almonds, all baked right into the pancake batter… YUMMERS!!!

But, be careful, they come two huge pancakes to an order which even though they are to die for….is too much for me, so I always order a half order. That, and a side of his delicious, thick cut bacon, that really has a lot of meat, is just perfect for me.

Speaking of bacon, if I’m going to splurge and have bacon, I don’t want something that looks like a Band-Aid…I want the meat, and lots of it. T.C. Eggington’s never fails to deliver. 🙂

My husband, Bill, almost always orders his favorite which is called “The Crack of Dawn”, It has potatoes, ham, mushrooms, and cheese, topped with eggs any way you like them, and served with fresh English muffins. On the table is a container of fresh apple/cinnamon jam. Oh my!

When we were walking through the parking lot to go into T.C. Eggington’s this morning, I wasn’t paying attention, because I was trying to take a picture, and got in the way of a car that was trying to park. When I noticed my error, I said to Bill “OMG, don’t let me get killed before I get to have my pancakes!

Because, my guilty pleasure is, Cobble-Stone Trail PANCAKES!!!

Now, none of this wonderful breakfast food is Weight Watchers friendly… But, hey, I try to keep to the 90/10 theory. Eat right 90% of the time and have what you want 10% of the time, and just keep exercising!

Life’s too short to not have PANCAKES!

Stay Tuned!