Photo by Andrew Fabian

If the last few years have proven anything, it’s that a dish can always be improved by putting an egg on it. Hamburger? Put an egg on it. Fries? Put an egg on it. Stir fry? Put an egg on it. Most often fried, an egg just adds a richness and heft that cannot be attained any other way, especially when the yolk drips into every nook and cranny to bind everything together. But an egg can also turn anything into a breakfast food, from tacos and burritos to shakshouka and pizza. At Sunnyside Cafe, on special days when conditions are just right, The Great Egg Experiment even makes its way into chili.

The cafe’s vegan chili comes chock full of kidney beans, faux sausage and all the tasty spices that make chili such a savory soup to eat like a meal. But what if the chili is topped with two eggs your way and two slices of buttered toast? Breakfast. Chili. Though people prone to heartburn might worry that a bowl of chili might have too much acid or spice for the morning, those of us less inclined to painful hot burps find a rich, filling breakfast to start the day. There is a touch of heat in the broth, to be sure, but between the familiar flavor of the egg and the absorbent qualities of bread, this breakfast will inspire little regret or confusion. When in doubt, put an egg on it.

Photo by Andrew Fabian

Sunnyside Cafe, 4900 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-359-9500.