6 New England Food Experiences to Start Your Day Right

Yankee Magazine went on a mission to discover a favorite breakfast spot in each New England state. Did we make it to your favorite?

Stack of Pancakes with Blueberries

Yankee Magazine went on a mission to discover a favorite breakfast spot in each New England state. Did we make it to your favorite?

There’s a certain feeling of contentment when you sit down for the perfect breakfast at your favorite café. The sounds of a busy kitchen mingle with the aroma of hot coffee and the relaxation that comes with knowing you’re starting the day off right. We New Englanders do love our breakfast traditions. Sometimes, though, you find an extra special place where the pastries are baked just right, where the coffee is smooth, and the atmosphere is like no other. We set out to find these places; one specialty dish, in one café in each New England state. First up? A stack of pancakes. You can find pancakes at any breakfast joint worth its salt. But just outside of Boston, a small cafe is the go-to brunch spot for some of the best pancakes in New England. Traditional pancakes with butter and maple syrup are always on the menu, but the real treat is the café’s rotating menu of specialty pancakes. Chocolate chip pancakes with caramel butter are popular, but our favorite is a plate of blueberry pancakes with cardamom sugar: light and moist, rich with plump berries, and finished with a hint of cardamom. For something more savory, head to Rhode Island and you’ll find a fresh take on eggs Benedict. This dish starts with tender, aromatic rosemary biscuits, and gets dressed up with peppery arugula and seared tomatoes. The only thing better than enjoying this breakfast with a cup of hot coffee is taking it to the café’s second-floor deck where you can enjoy a view of Narragansett Bay with your breakfast. Jar of Homemade Granola Not every breakfast is hot, though, which works out well for one restaurant in New Hampshire. Their homemade granola is so well-loved that they ship it all over the country. The honey-based recipe is a perfectly flavored blend of sweet and nutty and has just the right balance of crunch and chew. Of course, you can also have a seat and enjoy the granola served in a big bowl with milk. If you prefer pastries, we found unbelievably good popovers at an all-volunteer bakery in Maine. The staff bakes 400-500 hot, golden popovers every day from mid-June through early October. Add a dollop of house-made blueberry jam and head to the patio for live music. There’s no charge for the popovers, either, but you’ll want to donate. The café uses proceeds from summer sales to fund a soup kitchen through the winter. Ready to find out where to get these breakfast delights? Wondering where to go in Connecticut or Vermont? We’ll give you all the details, in Wake Up, Dig In: Best Breakfasts. As part of the Yankee Places to Eat Collection, we’ll tell you where to find each one of them, and give you a few tips on what to order, all in Wake Up, Dig In: Best Breakfasts, which comes as part of your Yankee All-Access Charter Membership. You’ll also discover more of our favorite clam shacks, seafood markets, and the best pancake houses throughout New England. When you’re ready to sit down to the best breakfast, lunch, or dinner in New England, check out our Yankee Places to Eat Collection! The Yankee Places to Eat Collection is your key to unlocking the culinary wonders of New England. Explore hidden lobster shacks, find out where to get the best comfort food, learn where some of New England’s top chefs eat, and discover where you can get the best pies in the country. From Bar Harbor to Burlington and Allagash to Aquidneck Island, your Yankee All-Access Charter Membership takes you across New England to explore our own backyard. You get immediate access to everything in the Places to Eat Collection, including:
Down Home Kitchen - Montpelier, VT
©Yankee Magazine/Mark Fleming
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