ROSIE’S BREAKFAST CAFE
By Duncan
There are some great places to eat all over the country. As a lot of you know, I have been known to travel a fair distance to find the “best of the best” mom-and-pop culinary delights. The operative word here is “mom and pop.” The best of the best might mean a place that has been in business for a long time. If they've been in business long, they must do something right. Whether it’s pasta, steak, hamburger, or breakfast, seeing what other people rave about is always interesting. And there is a lot of positive buzz about Rosie’s.
I’m in North Fort Myers, Florida, for a couple of days, staying with Tom Morookian; he and others have told me I had to try Rosie’s. Let’s put it this way: Gerry and Danielle Lecavalier were more excited about Rosie's than Tom. Tom doesn’t get excited about much of anything these days. I’m not saying Tom is a bore. I wouldn't say that, seeing how I’m staying with Tom. I need to watch every word I use. Tom is a level-headed, mature man who has seen it all. That should get an extra day.
Anyway, at Mark Robinson's birthday party the other night (you may remember, there was wine, lots of wine), we laughed and talked about all kinds of things. The idea of breakfast came to light.
What about Wednesday Morning? We agreed to meet on Wednesday morning and give Rosie’s a shot.
Gerry Lecavalier (Black shirt) and Tom Morookian (Blue Shirt)
Rosie’s is in a strip shopping center, next door to an AMC movie theater and a place selling Wigs. The parking lot was jammed. We had to park at least 20 cars away from the restaurant. I thought, “Wow, are all these people inside the restaurant? Or are they in the theater?”
Tom Morookian - Gerry Lecavalier
I took a quick shot of the restaurant with my cell phone as we were being seated. We had to wait for a booth for about ten minutes. The walls are painted soft peach with oxblood-colored leather booth cushions and maple-colored wooden tables. (I’m almost sure the fabric on the booth seats is not real leather.) But I was impressed with the general look of the place.
Very professional looking for a mom-and-pop. My first reaction was that I wondered if they had an interior decorator to help them with the layout. Either that, or they had a carpenter who had his/her act together. If they did it themselves, which I wonder if they did.
They might have known how they wanted the place to look. The place's color scheme and general look are pleasing to both sexes. The deep, rich color of the imitation leather in the booth is acceptable to a male’s eye, and the soft peach color on the walls is more than likely pleasing to a woman’s eye. So far, so good.
As I was standing waiting for a table, I was trying to count the number of ceiling tiles painted black. I was calculating the square footage of the restaurant. A ceiling tile is normally two feet wide by four feet long.
After a little math, the place is about two thousand five hundred square feet. (2,500 Sq Ft) That’s what old mortgage bankers (like me) call a SWAG! What’s a SWAG? (A Sophisticated Wild Ass Guess.)
Now for the rent. They did not buy this space; they are renting it. Wouldn’t you agree? So, at $20.00 a square foot, the rent would be $50,000 a year! Divided by 12 months, or about $4,166.00 a month.
I opened my trusty cell phone and asked Google for the average square foot cost of renting retail space in North Fort Myers. Google said the middle range for retail space in North Fort Myers is about $16.00 a square foot. If that’s the case (which I think is low), then the monthly cost of doing business for this retail space is $3,300.00. Again, all these numbers are a SWAG.
I always find it fascinating when entrepreneurs decide to start a business and believe their ideas will make them a living. Goodness, starting a business is a real crap shoot. As suggested in other posts, there are normally three reasons a retail business fails. Poor Location, Poor Service, Poor Product.
The National Restaurant Association estimates a 20% success rate for all restaurants. About 60% of restaurants fail in their first year of operation, and 80% fail within five years of opening. This place looks like it can go the distance.
Now is the time to sit back, be seated, and see what the menu offers. Michelle came to our table with the menus. Normally, I stick with my tried-and-true breakfast (Two Over Easy, Bacon, Hash Browns, English Muffin). I noticed Rosie’s has a selection of Eggs Benedict.
What I know about Eggs Benedict is limited. I think it’s a toasted English muffin cut in half. Next are a couple of pieces of Canadian bacon and soft poached eggs. What makes this taste treat sing Hallelujah is the Hollandaise Sauce. Some critics in the culinary world use the words “Decadent French Sauce” or the “Classic French Emulsion” for Hollandaise. Hollandaise is whipped egg yolks, melted butter, and a little lemon over medium heat. Hollandaise Sauce is a little tricky to make. Perfection when it’s done right! I’ve tried making it at home a couple of times. But my Hollandaise would not meet Delmonico’s standards.
Some believe Delmonico’s in New York City, during the Golden Age (1894), was the first to introduce Eggs Benedict. But then there is the story across the street at the Waldorf Hotel, which, as the story goes, had a very rich, hungover guest for breakfast. He stumbled into the dining room and ordered buttered toast, crisp bacon, two poached eggs, and a pitcher of Hollandaise Sauce. A pitcher?
Whoever or however the Eggs Benedict craze started is unknown. Eggs Benedict has been presented in countless ways. And, of course, the best kitchens in New York, New Orleans, Chicago, and Paris have their own versions of eggs benedict. What I don’t understand is this, was Hollandaise perfected by the French? If not, why do food critics refer to the Hollandaise as a “Decadent French Sauce,” or they will say “Classic French Emulsion.” One of the mysteries of life. Where did Eggs Benedict really start?
Eggs Benedict Royal: Add smoked salmon.
Eggs Benedict Florentine: Add spinach with butter.
Duncan - Tom Morookian - Gerry Lecavalier, and Mrs Lecavalier
Well, as I looked at the menu, I decided to put Rosie’s to the test. I’m going with Eggs Benedict Florentine. Michelle came back to the table to take our orders.
(By the way, Danielle did not want her picture online. She is still on the witness protection program. I have performed poorly blurring her face, but I’m not a Photoshop expert.)
I asked Michelle (waitress) a little about the place. The Breakfast Cafe started in February 2023 and has been open for about a year. The cook and Rosie own the place. (I don’t remember the name of the cook). I asked Michelle if Rosie was a real person. Michelle looked around and said,
“That’s her standing in the aisle.”
Rosie
I asked Michelle to ask Rosie if she would come to our table. Then we order our food. Again, I went with Eggs Benedict Florentine.
Duncan - Eggs Benedict Florentine with Hash Browns
Mrs Lecavalier - Omelet
Gerry Lecavalier - Over Easy - Ham - Hash Browns.
Tom Morookian - French Toast & Sausage.
Don't you hate people who take pictures of their food? I remember a story about a customer and a waitress. The waitress delivered the meals to the table, but the customers were talking and had yet to begin eating.
Waitress: Is anything wrong with the food?
Customer: No, it’s fine, why do you ask?
Waitress: You haven't photographed it yet!”
Rosie never reached our table, and I did not get to introduce myself or ask questions. I understand I’m retired and not the least bit important in any way. I left the restaurant knowing this place would continue to be a success. Michelle indicated there might be a second Rosie in the works.
Rosie is on the floor, serving people and watching what the other servers are doing. The service was good. The product, my meal, was excellent. I very much enjoyed my eggs benedict. And it came out of the kitchen quickly.
Remember we had to wait ten minutes for a table, and Rosie’s has been open for a year. It is snowbird season in southwest Florida. The demographics of the restaurant looked to be a mature clientele. The atmosphere is complimentary with people who have the time and money to spend. Our meals were all priced a shade over ten dollars. ($10.00-$13.00.)
My rating system for most restaurants is this: As I walk from the restaurant to “Mean Yellow,” I ask myself the following question: Would I eat at this place again? And my answer for Rosie’s is “YES!”
