I've been a bit distracted by life recently, so sorry to all my loyal readers about the hiatus. I'm sure you've all been weeping in your paltry, lame meals without my fabulous guidance! Actually, I really am sorry. I try to write at least once a week, but sometimes life just gets away from me.

Happily, the past couple of weeks have been chock full of tasty foodstuffs, so I have some entries stored up in the back of my brain. Let's start with our trip to Portsmouth last weekend to enjoy Mother's Day at the Friendly Toast.

Otis and I make this trip fairly regularly as a way to visit with my mom without going all the way to Boston. It's a quick 45-minute jaunt for each of us, and we get to eat at the Friendly Toast as well, which is always a pleasure.

If you've never been there, the FT provides a great breakfast at a reasonable price, all in a fabulously kitschy atmosphere featuring more stuff from yard sales and the Salvation Army than you can shake a stick at (and probably the stick came from Goodwill.) The menu is huge, and includes lunch and breakfast. While I was in line for the ladies' room I talked to a woman who swears by the grilled cheese-- however, I've always gotten breakfast, and it's always simply delicious. Sunday my mom got the breakfast burrito, which I've had before and is yum--eggs, avocado, and a cilantro sauce wrapped in a tortilla. I had the Greek scramble, which has spinach, feta, black olives, and sundried tomatoes. All the breakfast foods come with home fries, which are soft and thin slices of potato with a little bit of a crust and an oniony flavor. There's an enormous mound of them which I can never get through, but I do my damndest every time. Someday. Otis had eggs too, with his favorite, anadama bread.

The service is always fine, delivered by semi-friendly, competent tattooed artist-types. The food comes out fast, which is good for the turnover-- especially considering that there's always a line of people waiting outside for a table. It was especially fun Sunday, since the people-watching of moms and kids is always fascinating. I especially enjoyed noting family resemblances.

The Friendly Toast is highly recommended, especially if you really need to get out of Portland for a while. You can stop at the le Creuset outlet in Kittery on the way back, too!

121 Congress St, Portsmouth NH. (603) 430-2154.