I ve got an open mind. I do a lot of food judging. So when I was invited to try out the Holiday Inn

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I ve got an open mind. I do a lot of food judging. So when I was invited to try out the Holiday discount travel packages orlando Inn s new award winning breakfast menu, I decided to embrace the opportunity. In fact, they were keen to throw in an overnight discount travel packages orlando stay so I could enjoy the full experience. And so I finished dinner, packed a small overnight bag and set off on the 38 bus towards Green Park and the flagship Mayfair branch.
Even at 11.30pm, the reception staff were warm and friendly: it wasn t busy, they told me, so I could have an upgrade to a King Executive room. Despite the slightly discount travel packages orlando creaky floors and swirly carpet décor, the room was huge, and spotless, with a brilliant view overlooking the Ritz.
But it was the breakfast I d come for, and as part of my exhaustive research I d even watched a video about it on the Holiday Inn website, complete with sceptical young child who is eventually won over by the special pancake making machine: NOW I m impressed.
Ben, the restaurant manager, was immediately welcoming, offering to take me on a tour of the breakfast offerings. There was the usual hotel fare: bowls of cut up melon and grapefruit, a basket of croissants and bread rolls, various boxes of cereal and some dishes of bacon, sausage, and scrambled discount travel packages orlando egg sitting rather discount travel packages orlando wanly on a hotplate. Your best bet for hot food would be the omelettes and poached eggs, which are made freshly to order. I tried some melon, which was fine - although it would be nice to see some more seasonal fruit. I liked the mini pain aux raisins, though, which was buttery and fresh.
However the real buzz was on the other side of the buffet table. There was a small queue of children forming at the pancake machine, so naturally I joined them, pressing a button on the side of the contraption while it whirred away. Eventually a couple discount travel packages orlando of scotch pancakes sort of popped out of the end and onto a waiting plate, where you could douse them in golden syrup or chocolate sauce depending on the level of sugar rush you were after. They were perhaps a little sweet for my taste, but the children in the room seemed to be enjoying the whole experience, which presumably kept their parents happy too.
I was still curious, though, so I called the trade association Midas which bestowed the best breakfast award, and asked them what made the Holiday Inn stand out. They conjured up an image of legions of secret diners, sampling hotel breakfasts across the land, heaping praise on the menu range and innovation. The pancake machine, it seems, is what won it: anything which impresses a sceptical seven year old, must be worthy of an award.
Born in Brazil to Japanese and Italian parents, educated in the UK, a true Londoner. Former investment banker turned Cordon Bleu trained chef, food, wine and travel writer, Japanophile and Supper Club host in Islington.
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