Faced with a fairly long period of leisure over the holiday season, I did what, perhaps, many in my position would. I drank. Merrily and frequently. Ah, good times those were. Very, very early in the morning (by vacation standards, mind you — about 9:30) after a very, very good time, I had agreed to meet a friend for a tasty Mitzi’s breakfast. This, alas, was not meant to be, as everyone there was on holiday as well. The nearby Easy was also closed. The situation was becoming ever more desperate as the creeping pain from the previous night’s debauchery began to encroach on my brain. Our only choices were a greasepit of despair or make a chilly walk up to Alternative Grounds. We made the walk.

The main reason for doing this is the fact that Alternative Grounds has really good coffee, all fair trade and roasted there, and much of it organic. Even though I moved out of the neighbourhood a while back, I still go there to get my coffee. Really, the right thing to do and a tasty way to do it. I usually get the organic Dark Horse; it’s full and powerful without the burny-bitterness that many dark roasts have.

They were unfortunately out of the breakfast thing that they have, so I got the veggie delight, a bagel topped with a very full-flavoured hummus (which is occasionally too dry, but not often). This, plus one of those wee expensive bottles of juice, did more for my post-alcohol fatigue than any greasy breakfast would have.

It really boggles the mind that people actually go to the nearby Second Cup or Timothy’s when there’s such a classic, homey, friendly little spot right here. People, what are you thinking!?

I left satisfied, refreshed, and ready for another taxing day of vacation.