Continental Breakfast

🥗 Ingredients

For the Eggs:

• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon crème fraîche or heavy cream
• Fresh chives, finely minced
• Flaky sea salt and white pepper

Accompaniments:

• 4 oz premium smoked salmon (Scottish or Norwegian)
• 2 fresh croissants (from a good bakery)
• Quality unsalted butter, room temperature
• Selection of preserves (fig, apricot, berry)
• Fresh berries and sliced melon
• Fresh-squeezed orange juice
• Double espresso or French press coffee
• Capers, red onion, and lemon for salmon (optional)

📋 Instructions

1. Prep your mise en place: Like a professional (or an assassin), have everything ready before you begin. Slice the fruit, arrange the salmon on a plate, set out the butter and preserves. Organization is key to an elegant breakfast.
2. Warm the croissants: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Place croissants on a baking sheet and warm for 5 minutes until slightly crispy on the outside but soft inside. The aroma should fill the room.
3. Perfect the scrambled eggs: In a non-stick pan over LOW heat, melt the butter. Crack in the eggs and immediately begin stirring with a silicone spatula, scraping the bottom constantly. The key is patience—low and slow creates creamy, custardy eggs.
4. Finish the eggs: When the eggs are almost set but still slightly wet, remove from heat (they'll continue cooking). Stir in the crème fraîche, season with salt and white pepper, and fold in the chives. Transfer immediately to a warm plate.
5. Plate with precision: Arrange everything with Continental Hotel-worthy elegance. Use white plates, fold the salmon artfully, fan the fruit. Presentation matters when you're dining at an establishment of this caliber.
6. Serve immediately: Present with a cloth napkin, polished silverware, and fresh-brewed espresso. Enjoy in silence, contemplating your next moves. No business at breakfast, those are the rules.