Desayuno con Diego en the Manor

June 15th.

Kemp Town F.C. is a truly cosmopolitan team. As a member of the club, I have had the pleasure of playing with people from all over the world. The following nations have all at one point or another been represented on the playing field in a competitive fixture by the Pink Turtles:

Australia

Austria

Cyprus

France

Hungary

India

Indonesia

Ireland

Italy

Malta

Portugal

Scotland

South Korea

Spain

Switzerland

Uganda

Yorkshire

It truly is a testament to how international a city Brighton is.

One nation that appears to be particularly well represented in Brighton is Spain. I can remember the morning after Spain’s world cup win in 2010 quite vividly; upon arriving at Old Steine at 7.10am to catch my bus to work that Monday, I was greeted by a sea of empty cans and bottles and a sizable crowd of 20 or so revellers dressed in the rojo of the newly crowned world champions.

I would dread to think what the mess would be like if Scotland were ever to win something.

We have had a number of Spaniards turn out for Kemp Town F.C. One of the first members of the club was Juan Serra, possibly the most laid back individual I have ever met as well as the most stylish. Recent team sheets have been graced by Luis Herrera, someone who played under the bright lights of Elche many moons ago. But possibly the most beloved and dedicated Spaniard would have to be Diego Corbalán Muñiz.

Diego found the club when he spied us playing down the road from his house after moving to the area. We invited him along to train and, several hundred nutmegs later, he had become a regular with the team.

Diego is both one of the friendliest people I have ever met, and perhaps one of the most adventurous. During his stay in England he would try to explore as many different places, landmarks and customs as possible, and it’s plausible that in the few short years he lived in Brighton he probably saw more of Sussex than I have (mostly via bicycle).

One thing that Diego had not sampled though was the English breakfast. This was a matter that needed to be rectified before he returned to Spain, and so we headed down to The Manor in central Brighton one Sunday morning to right this wrong. We were accompanied by the ever-present captain of Kemp Town F.C., Louis Browne.

As could have been expected, we had a lovely time chatting about Diego’s time in England and Game of Thrones. Both Diego and Lou are big fans of the programme, and the wait for our food was filled with lamentations of *SPOILER ALERT*the fate of Prince Oberyn Martell.*SPOILERS END HERE* The brutality of his death scene *ACTUALLY THEY KIND OF END HERE* was not something that any of us would be forgetting in a hurry.

I was supposed to play a game of chess with Diego that day, but unfortunately I had to dash off prematurely after our meal as I had a hungover little brother to see to. The breakfast would have to suffice as the centrepiece of our day.

And so, the breakfast:

Veggie Works

2 x veggie sausage, mushrooms, beans, fried egg and toast

Veggie Works - £6.75

As I looked over at Diego’s plate opposite mine, filled with hash browns, bacon and black pudding, I hoped that Diego would find the experience pleasant and fulfilling. The regular-sized breakfasts at the Manor were traditional in their make up, and would provide a decent entry to the world of the full English.

The best thing about the breakfast was probably its texture. Each component had a solid texture to it that was both pleasing and interesting. The sausages were full-bodied and meaty, the beans were velvety and the toast was thick and nicely chewy. Each of these items was enjoyable to mull over in the mouth.

Ser Diego and Ser Louis visiting King's Landing

Unfortunately, a couple of the items could not back up their textures with flavours that could sustain interest. There was certainly not much body to the flavour of the sausages, and the mushrooms were plain with only a hint of saltiness.

The egg and tomatoes mixed things up just enough, providing moisture and little bursts of smooth sweetness to provide contrast with the rest of the dish. They were fairly standard in what they brought to the meal, however, and could perhaps have done with some additional seasoning in order to lift the dish out of the ordinary.

My main criticism of the breakfast therefore, would be that it was rather plain. Each of the components (apart from the toast, perhaps) felt as though it had simply been heated up and that was that. No additional care, love or seasoning had seemingly been bestowed upon them.

What this led to was a cooked breakfast in the most basic of senses. A very standard dish. It may have served as a good entry into what a cooked breakfast is comprised of, but it did not serve to illustrate the dizzying heights that can be achieved by a breakfast with a little bit of homely love and panache.

Diego did enjoy his breakfast which was the main thing, but I feel as though there is some unfinished business. Now that The Manor has opened the door to the breakfast kingdom, I feel as though the next time our paths cross I should be able to guide him towards one of the many landmarks or tourist traps. That, plus we still have a game of chess to play. Pero cuando?!

Function: Adequately heartening - 3/5

Adherence to Canon: Yes

Value: On the cusp of being a fair price - 3/5
Taste: Decent but nothing special - 3/5

Presentation: Sprawling toast could have done with a bigger plate - 2/5

Venue: Cosy little cafe with pleasant service - 3/5

Overall: Very standard fare. Larger breakfasts here offer more options - 3/5