Breakfast Options Help to Rise and Shine

As the warm weather unfolds, everyone will be out and about more, shopping, running errands, and enjoying the sunshine and longer days. Mornings are no longer damp, cold and slow. This means you wake up and get out earlier to seize the entire day! 

So ladies, since your morning begins at the first light, and is filled with getting the kids up and out the door to school, why not grab a morning bite? 

: Located at 1431 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, the cafe opens its doors at 7 a.m. and closes at 2:30 p.m. You have all day to choose from several menu items, such as the Key West crepe for breakfast.

Make your palate sing with this creative egg concoction with turkey, avocado, bacon, tomatoes and Monterey Jack cheese. You can also top it with a dollop of sour cream and a side of salsa to kick this dish to the next level. 

Still playing games or reading your book on your new iPad2 at lunch? You may want to try the fruity chicken salad. This delicious dish includes a generous scoop of chicken salad atop a bed of baby spinach, sliced tomato and fresh seasonal fruits. The poppyseed dressing adds a finishing touch to this healthy choice.

These are just two of the many menu items from First Watch. But if you arrive after breakfast, before lunch and just in time for brunch, you can try a power wrap, filled with fluffed egg whites, spinach, Swiss cheese and mushrooms, all served with fresh fruit and homemade salsa.

Before heading over to for your Vinyasa class, drop by Dillweed’s Gourmet Kitchen and Café located at 3 W. Chesapeake Ave., Towson. No, you won't be in the Old West kicking tumbleweeds in the red clay desert or visiting an herb garden—but you will find some unique off-the-menu items at this Towson hotspot.

“We have three specials per day, every day,” said Larry Sagal, owner of Dillweed’s. “These are special meals that are not on the menu." Every special is served with a side. 

One day this week the special was a Buffalo chicken quesadilla. The delectable ingredients include grilled chicken, hot sauce, bleu cheese, tomato and ranch dressing—all encased in a sundried tomato tortilla. Isn’t that just mouthwatering?

Dillweed’s also serves signature panini such as its chicken pesto pomodori, with chicken, sautéed onions, spinach, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil pesto.

Or you can choose to enjoy a cup of Maryland crab soup alongside a café salad, which includes salad greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions and croutons.

This "appeasement food" offers just the right amount of fuel and energy for those sun salutations and headstands.

Whether you want to start early and just read until morning wanes into afternoon, or leave later and enjoy a late bite before yoga, First Watch and Dillweed’s have tasty and interesting menu selections.

For more information about these great bites nearby, go to www.firstwatch.com or www.dillweedscafe.net to check out the entire menu.