Hotel breakfasts.

Unless you are staying in a 5 star hotel, their breakfasts (and other meals) are best avoided. Much better to take a short walk down the road, and find a pukka restaurant.

Kimbo was staying in a rather 'posh' hotel in Istanbul over the weekend, and was horrified by the extensive breakfast buffet on offer. He said it was the worst he'd ever seen. Dozens of unidentifiable, or unwholesome looking dishes, that made him turn-tail, and even immediately change hotels.

Would you eat this pink sliced 'product', that obviously came direct from a can? Turkish Spam???

The restaurant at the hotel we used to stay at in Orléans, was dreadful. The last time I (reluctantly) ate there, my choice of meal even had a label still stuck to the bottom of the dish. Their breakfasts always contained one or two edible bits, but otherwise I think they were employing the same kitchen staff as Kimbo's hotel in Istanbul. 

A nice pile of warm locally made Croissants, some good butter, and plenty of quality Apricot jam, is easy enough for any hotel 'chef' to offer. Coffee, Tea, and fruit juice, should also be plentiful. Does it really take a genius to understand that? Not only would their customers be happy, but it would also save the hotel kitchen a lot of time and money.

OK, Kimbo is something of a gourmet, but looking at those slices of pink, round, 'meat products' makes my stomach turn. I would also have found another hotel in disgust.

p.s. As requested, Kimbo brought me some Fruit Leathers from the Istanbul market. I haven't tasted Apricot Fruit Leather since I was about 14, when a school friend brought some back from Persia. I love it. Thanks K.

He's off to Slovakia in a week or so, then to France for a short stay at the cottage. His two boys (my UK Grandsons) are presently in Rome. As they are both university students (Oxford & Nottingham) they tend to sleep a lot, and they missed their flight. Anyway, they managed to get there!

I'm staying at home.