Katy's Cafe, Ellicottville, NY

It Was the Best I Ever Had: Breakfast

Breakfast is one of my favorite meals, and for not ever having honored this meal before — this is pretty rarified stuff.

I had been driving up US 219 through the mountainous gut of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, the ecologically stressed country that lies in the triangle between I-77 and I-81 — once coal and oil and charcoal production country — country with not much to get excited about anymore except side-by-side riding on public lands. For almost 500 miles of that highway I had not seen a single “diner, drive-in or dive” to brake for until Ellicottville. The first one in town had four or five cars out front but the limbs of ornamental trees were hanging over the parking places so my 11’ 6” rig kept moving. A block down the street I spied Katy’s on the left with a full parking lot and street side parking on the right for my rig.

Providence!

The dining room was pleasant and busy, seat yourself, and the service was prompt. I chose the Breakfast Combo — eggs over easy, bacon, English muffin, and “home fries.” The home fries were not like any anywhere else. They were redskin new potatoes sautéed with onions and red peppers.

Every item on the plate was seasoned and cooked to perfection — fresh to the point of pristine. And, . . . that’s not easy with potatoes — which means they were cut and cooked a very few minutes before serving — or they fooled me.

It was the best breakfast I ever had, and in the running for the most delicious meal I ever had.