Check It. Chocolate Easter eggs.

One of the best Easters of my childhood was one spent in London. Every friend and family member that came 'round brought me a chocolate Easter egg. I must have ended up with at least ten, of all different kinds! This year, I'll be about a month away from my twenty-sixth birthday on Easter, but am still looking forward to my kiddie-style Milkybar white chocolate egg.

There is definitely something different about chocolate from the U.K. It's sort of more full-tasting and creamier. Try some this Sunday.

Imported chocolate Easter eggs are available at three shops I know of in Santa Monica: The Continental Shop, Ye Olde King's Head Gift Shoppe (on the corner of 2nd and Santa Monica next to the pub) and the Tudor House Gift Shop (next to the tea room, on 2nd Street between Santa Monica and Broadway). They range in price from about $5 to $15 dollars each.

Happy hunting!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat In. A full English breakfast.

An English breakfast is more than just a type of tea. It's a satisfying hot meal always served with Heinz Baked Beans (above). The beans aren't like American Heinz beans, they have no BBQ flavor whatsoever, simply that of sweet tomato. The March 2010 issue of Bon Appétit had a great story on the food of Ireland, and that was the inspiration for this post. Much like how English breakfast and Irish breakfast teas are similar, so are the actual breakfasts.

Aside from the beans--fried eggs, bread (toasted or fried), sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomato, and sausage (or "banger") and/or bacon are also part of the feast. The beans and English sausages can be found at specialty shops (such as the Tudor House or Continental Shop--both in Santa Monica), imported, and the rest of the ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! This breakfast is not a formal tradition, like an afternoon tea, so as long as it's all served hot, you're doing it right. Like brunch, it can be served through the early afternoon.

Tea is the drink of choice of course, and the hearty meal is enough to sustain you for hours of hard work (or weekend lounging).

If you'd rather go out than make this at home, the King's Head in Santa Monica does it very well.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: britishpages.org