Ian McKellen’s Breakfast
Little tomatoes take center stage
The Wall Street Journal Celebrity Q&A interviews in their Sunday review are always a fun read. They offer an unfettered view of a celebrity’s thoughts. When the conversation turns to food, I’m even more interested —then it feels like an invitation to give it a whirl in the Fischer Kitchen.
In the Saturday/Sunday, September 14-15, 2024, edition, Ian McKellen was asked what he eats for breakfast. He skipped coffee and tea – I don’t drink much of those either – but enjoyed sautéing little tomatoes in butter and having that along with scrambled eggs and toast. Simple but with a twist. Got it.
On Saturdays, I typically make brunch, with eggs over easy for Phil. After reading the article I said, “How about scrambled eggs today?” and then tossed in, “And how about pancakes too?” He eagerly agreed, and I wondered if it was his love of pancakes or just his agreeable personality. Either way, I was off and running, making Ian McKellen’s breakfast.
Luckily, I had a small container of colorful, small tomatoes—yellow, red, and orange—waiting for the perfect meal (Those tomatoes would have gone bad if I hadn’t used them soon, and I hate throwing out food.) Already this breakfast was a good idea. I halved my little marble-like tomatoes and placed them in a small fry pan with virgin olive oil on low heat. I seasoned them with garlic pepper and za’atar, which always adds a nice flavor. I was already tweaking the recipe, making the recipe my own. The aroma filled the air in the kitchen as I turned on the exhaust fan.
I cracked two organic eggs in a bowl with two hands, thinking about the first chef in the Fischer Kitchen who could do this with one hand. After scrambling the eggs and adding a splash of milk, I poured them into a pan bubbling with melted plant butter on low heat so they wouldn’t burn. While the eggs were cooking, I got the pancakes going. By the time the eggs were nearly done, I had two pancakes ready to come off the griddle (note: griddle must be very hot to avoid sticking, at least that’s what I’ve found).
The result was a fairly large brunch: tomatoes, eggs, and pancakes. Still, I felt we needed a bit more protein, so I added some salmon. The warm, juicy tomatoes were soft and full of spices, and most importantly, added our much-needed veggies to the plate.
Thank you, Ian McKellen, for a lovely breakfast idea!