DINING OUT

Annie Bettelli

LA CRESCENTA -- ‘Tis the season to be jolly, not stressed out over

what to give as a present for the holidays. I can’t think of a more

welcomed gift than one that would get me off the hook from cooking.

Breakfast In Bed, delivers the gift ofsmiles as well as beautifully

appointed, custom-made breakfasts right to your home. Owner and chef,

Juli Jenewein prepares hearty, four-course homemade breakfasts which also

include juice and coffee that are cooked to order. The meal arrives in an

oversized wicker basket complete with attractive floral china and

matching mugs, silverware and linen napkins.

I live 10 to 15 minutes from her kitchen/office in La Crescenta, and

the food I ordered traveled pretty well. The bacon stayed crisp, the eggs

and pancakes were still nice and warm. The Belgian waffle softened up a

bit due to hot moisture inside the sealed plate, but it still tasted very

good.

The freshly squeezed orange juice and full pot of Starbuck’s coffee

delightfully rounds out the meal. The hardest part is deciding what to

order among the 21 choices that include eggs cooked any style, potatoes,

muffins, breads and cereals, plus bacon, sausage or ham.

The part I like best next to actually eating this wonderful treat of a

meal is the cleanup. Simply gather all the dishes and utensils, put them

back into the basket, and leave it in front of your door where it will be

retrieved later in the day. Extra delivery charges do apply if you

live outside of her immediate transit area, but if you consider the

exorbitant cost of many food delivery services you’d find in the pages of

Los Angeles Magazine, Breakfast In Bed, at $30 to $40 for two people, is

an exceptionally affordable and delicious luxury.

ANNIE BETTELLI welcomes requests. Send correspondence in care of the

News-Press/Leader to 111 W. Wilson Ave., Suite 200, Glendale 91203 or

contact her directly via e-mail at BERIES@aol.com. Her column appears

each Wednesday.

IF YOU ORDER*WHERE: Breakfast In Bed, 3640 Foothill Blvd., La

Crescenta.*PHONE: 951-8362 (by reservation only).*HOURS: Open seven days,

6 a.m. to noon deliveries.*PRICES: $30 for two people; children’s plates

$4.75; continental breakfasts also available. Modest price increases

effective January 2000. Visa/Mastercard/Discover accepted; gift

certificates available.