Apples and bananas

by Tilly

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I still don’t know who ‘they’ are, but ‘they’ might have something there. Everyone has their favourite breakfast spot, whether it be the little table in your garden (my Gran) or the sunny spot next to the fridge (my cat). It’s unfortunate that my favourite breakfast spot is also the favourite spot of all the up-and-comers and ladies who brunch, but there you go. Whoever ‘you’ are.

Tashas has become somewhat of a Joburg icon. If you breakfast at Tashas, you are clearly in the know about the hippest places. Either that or you’re a fraud like me and you really just enjoy their breakfasts. First place for ‘most excellent breakfast on the Tashas menu’ is shared between the Banana Breakfast and the Granny Smith.

Shall we compare apples and bananas? The Banana Breakfast is a healthy banana split. Two bananas carefully arranged on a plate and smothered with whipped yoghurt, halva, pistachio nuts and syrup. It’s heavenly. The bananas are always fresh. The yoghurt is always deliciously light. The pistachios are carefully included so that the meal isn’t too crunchy. The halva is divine and is new to me this year (I thought it was meringue at first). The syrup is strategically poured over the plate for beautiful presentation. Mmmmm.

The Granny Smith, on the other hand, is a green apple and oats creation. Seriously, it’s impressive. So what they do is they soak oats, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit and shredded coconut in apple juice. Then they make a neat little tower with it and top it with finely chopped green apple and yoghurt. I always add a generous portion of honey and y-u-m!

So how do I choose between the two? I don’t have to, thankfully. I only go to Tashas if Tara-Zee is with me. If she isn’t, I then politely recommend another breakfast venue where I know I only really love one item on the menu. I’m selfish like that. I compare it to asking a mother to choose between her two favourite children. Which might actually be easier because isn’t there always a favourite? I, however, love both breakfasts equally and being forced to choose between them would be damaging to my soul.

So what Tara-Zee and I do is order one of each, eat half and then switch. It’s the perfect arrangement, really! And, from past experience, we’ve realised that it’s futile to even look at the menu. There are two breakfast rules in our world:

Rule #1: If you have breakfast with someone the morning after you’ve had dinner with them, you’re dating.

Rule #2: If you love it, why order something else?

‘Trying something new’ at Tashas involves ordering a Skinny Cappucino rather than a Skinny Latte, or choosing a yet-untried flavour of freshly-squeezed juice. Never ever trying a new breakfast. Never ever.

PS. Don’t tell Tara-Zee but I did once order poached eggs at Tashas.

PPS. They were okay.