AHH. Who wouldn't want a touch of luxury for breakfast?

My ideal gourmet breakfast would definitely be a meaty one.

There must be excellent scrambled eggs with a dash of pepper and salt. There must be fat juicy sausages to go with fresh salad. Not forgetting the best part of the whole meal - tender bacon cooked to just the right flavour. To top it all, a nice hot cup of coffee.

You, too, can have a gourmet breakfast to start your day. And believe it or not, this gourmet breakfast will not break your bank.

BREEKS CAFE IN TERMINAL 2
Changi Airport, Terminal 2
Viewing Mall North
Departure Hall, Level 3
Unit No. 036-087-01
Tel: 6453 1339
(Opening hours: 24 hours)

The Big Breeks Breakfast is my idea of what a real gourmet breakfast should be. It is definitely luxurious at $8.50++ per person, but the generous portion makes the price worthwhile.

If you like a hearty breakfast, you will adore its double side-up, two freshly baked pancakes that are served with their proprietary lemon butter and maple syrup, baked beans, chicken chipolata sausages, chicken bacon, hash browns and apple salad.

Drink to your fill as customers who order the breakfast set get to enjoy free flow of drinks. You can choose either a hot beverage like freshly brewed coffee or tea, or a cold one like orange or apple juice.

Breakfast is served from 7.30am to 11am daily, but at Terminal 2, night owls or late flight passengers can ask for breakfast as early as 4am, on special request.

Breeks Cafe serves breakfast at two of its five outlets in Singapore. The other outlet that serves The Big Breeks Breakfast is at Harbourfront Centre. But it's a different set.

At Harbourfront Centre, the breakfast set comes with toasted muffins instead of pancake or waffle. It also has double side-up, chicken chipolata sausages, chicken bacon, hash browns and apple salad. It costs $7.50 per serving

COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF
All over Singapore

At $6.90, the Brek 'O' Day breakfast might be just the thing for you if you prefer quality over quantity.

The portion given is just right, and the breakfast set looks good enough to tempt anyone into indulgence. And no wonder; Brek 'O' Day is one of their best sellers.

The chicken chipolata sausages are specially made for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, while the scrambled eggs are fresh and garnished with sprinkles of parsley. If you like toast, you will find their Panini bread a real treat.

Or, if you are a messy eater like me, you will be glad to find that the toast goes well with the big serving of scrambled eggs and chicken sausages, so you can switch between bites.

Alternatively, if you like salad, try their crunchy lettuce with its tangy Italian dressing. The vegetables also have a dash of almonds, cranberries and cherry tomatoes, which would convert any meat lover.

Our overall verdict?

Too good to be missed.

TIONG SHIAN PORRIDGE CENTRE
265 New Bridge Road
Blk 82 Whampoa Drive, #01-973

If gourmet means something more local for you, this is the place to go. Located in the Central part of Singapore, Tiong Shian Porridge Centre has a wide range of porridge to choose from.

My personal favourite is the popular claypot frog porridge. Although it may seem a little steep with prices ranging from $8 to a whooping $16, this dish is definitely worth every cent.

The porridge is boiled in the claypot for at least an hour, so the aroma lingers in the pot, making each mouthful succulent and puffy.

If you can't get enough of frogs' legs, try the dried chili frog or the frog with ginger onion as a side dish. Both are also specially stewed and their distinctive taste will keep you coming back for more.