Whether you’re an early riser or more of a brunch person, everyone has their opinion on the most important meal of the day. You also know that where you eat is just as vital as what, which is why Dallas has plenty of great places to get your engine started. Feel free to make more than one of these restaurants a morning destination–you don’t want to eat all your eggs in one basket.

Breadwinners

A true Dallas staple, Breadwinners recently won the D Magazine “Best of” poll for brunch. They’ve got your basic necessities, like overstuffed breakfast tacos with Southwest migas, but also three kinds of Eggs Benedict: their traditional BW version, French ham and veggie. A must for weekenders: their homemade frozen bellini. Care to take the Sunday-Funday drinking elsewhere? Try their sister place the Quarter Bar down the street.

Breadwinners, 3301 McKinney Avenue, 214.754.4940, www.breadwinnerscafe.com

La Duni

This is not your average mom and pop shop, although La Duni is run by a married couple. Taco is known to be on the savory side, while wife Duni is on the sweet, and together the duo create a delectable, fresh menu that rivals anything in the Dallas market. Breakfast is no exception. Savory: A smorgasbord of egg dishes, like Huevos Finos (similar to a benedict with Gruyere cheese) and Huevos Gachos (scambled with Argentinian sausage.) Sweet: Orange Brioche French Toast, or try one of Duni’s famous cakes.

La Duni, 4264 Oaklawn Avenue, 214.520.6888, www.laduni.com

Screen Door

Southern cooking has never been as refined as it is at the Screen Door. Maybe this is why the menu has the gift of pleasing not only soulfoood fans, but selective Uptown eaters as well. Try their Fried Green Tomatoes, Molasses Soaked French Toast or Big Mama’s Fried Chicken, and wrap it up with a Moonpie.

Screen Door, 1722 Routh Street #132, 214.720.9111, www.screendoordallas.com

The Grape

A popular desination along the Greenville Ave strip, The Grape has been in business for almost 40 years. Chef Brian Luscher, who bought the place from the original owners in 2007, is known to cure his own ham and bacon, make his own breakfast sausage and use the finest, freshest ingredients to make his dishes. My personal favorite: the Frittata, an oven-baked egg casserole with Asiago and goat cheeses.

The Grape, 2808 Greenville Ave, 214.828.1981 www.thegraperestaurant.com

The Original Pancake House

You can’t miss the large congregation of breakfasters outside the Pancake House in Uptown weekend mornings, milling around and dreaming of omelets and French toast. It may be a national chain, but that doesn’t mean TOPH skimps on quality–or syrup.

The Original Pancake House, 2900 Lemmon Ave. 214.528.7215, www.originalpancakehouse.com

Thanks to the vast amount of California wineries, wine tasting has turned into a weekend activity for those visiting Los Angeles as well as locals. Though a typical wine tasting experience is fairly inexpensive, many companies have created unique ways to experience wine tasting on a whole other level. From helicopter rides to private vineyard tours, private wine tours are the new way to wine taste.

Helicopter Tour to Temecula Wineries

After boarding your own private helicopter for two, this winery tour takes you from Los Angeles to Temecula to enjoy a full day of wine tasting around the vineyard. Featuring limo service during your Temecula stay, this winery tour is the perfect way to spend an entire day wine tasting and exploring the coast. Once you book this winery tour, a full itinerary is sent to you to ensure that all the details will be taken care of and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.

Another Side of Los Angeles Tours
Helicopter Tour to Temecula Wineries: $4,995

The Urban Escape Tour

Though other tours may only take you to one other location, The Urban Escape Tour features a helicopter ride all over Los Angeles, flying over Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Malibu. Once you arrive in Malibu, your trip will include a tour of a private winery where you will receive a bottle of wine to take home with you. With up to four spots on this tour, this is a perfect way to spend a day wine tasting with friends or family.

Private Luxury Tours
The Urban Escape Tour: $3,750

Beverly Hills Wine Tasting Day

If you are looking to wine taste without hoping into a helicopter, the perfect tour was created for those looking to stay local while indulging in a day of pampering and tasting. The tour includes a visit to the spa filled with indulgent treatments and ends with a visit to Le Chateau at the Beverly Hilton to wine taste. If a day at the spa and evening wine tasting wasn’t enough, the tour includes limo service as well as your own personal assistant to embark with you on your tour.

Another Side of Los Angeles Tours
Beverly Hills Poolside Cabana Spa Day with Wine Tasting Too: $3,398

You’ve been told over and over again that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so you might as well do it up right – right? Here are the Haute 5 places in the Valley for a smashing morning meal.

The Breakfast Club

At the Breakfast Club in Old Town, the ingredients are high-quality, the eggs benedict and juevos rancheros with chorizo are perfect and the many panckaes – especially the blueberry – are beyond fulfilling. Also, for those who are health-conscious, the kitchen can substitute eggs whites and you can even order several items a la carte style to minimize calories. P.S. Try the granola.

The Breakfast Club is located at 4400 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale  480.222.2582

The Good Egg

The Good Egg’s menu showcases, yup, you guessed it – eggs. And while you may have trouble deciding just how you want them cooked, there really isn’t a bad choice to be made. But don’t think eggs are the only thing on the menu. Guests can also choose such dishes as skillets, fine omelets, biscuits and gravy, granola, berry-filled smoothies, yogurt and whole-wheat flapjacks.

The Good Egg has a number of locations throughout the Phoenix area

Matt’s Big Breakfast

Matt’s Big Breakfast can charm anyone out of the morning grumps. A cozy little space with a retro feel in Downtown Phoenix, Matt’s serves super fresh, high-grade ingredients, including cage-free eggs and mouthwatering thick-cut bacon and ham. Breakfast is served Tuesday through Sunday, from 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., but be prepared to queue if you go first thing in the morning – this place is ultra-popular with the downtown crowd.

Matt’s Big Breakfast is located at 801 N. First Street in Phoenix  602.254.1074

T.C. Eggington’s

We can’t keep the secret any longer: We’ve found the absolute best French Toast in the Valley and it’s here, at T.C. Eggington’s in Mesa. (Actually, they call it “English Toast,” but we didn’t think you’d know what we were talking about.) Their secret for the melt-in-your-mouth dish? They use cinnamon bread dipped in a divine custard batter. Go try it immediately!

T. C. Eggington’s is located at 1660 S. Alma School Road in Mesa  480. 345.9288

Over Easy

When you name your restaurant after a particular dish, suffice to say you had better make sure your kitchen can deliver and deliver big in that area. Well, Over Easy hits this one out of the park, easy. There are many over easy entrees on their menu to choose from, too, but we find the Loretta particularly delicious: sliced ham steak, Swiss cheese and bell pepper with spicy aioli on a French roll and potatoes. Mmm …

Over Easy is located at 4037 N. 40th Street in Phoenix  602.468.3447

I love that double shot of espresso in the morning as much as the next caffeine addict, but some days call for a warm, delectable breakfast. Start things off right with a quick pit stop at one of these downtown dining destinations, our picks for the hautest in Philadelphia. Mom would be so proud.

Lacroix
Overlooking the park from within The Rittenhouse Hotel, Lacroix makes mornings modern. The sleek dining room matches muted tones with sparkling glass fixtures, and the leafy green view outside shines. But what brings you to the tables here, though, is the award-winning food. Weekday diners can choose from tempting plates of smoked salmon or challah french toast. Brunch on Sundays is a feast for all senses, including three appetizer stations, raw bar, dessert table and live music.

Lacroix is located at 210 West Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, 215.790.2533, www.lacroixrestaurant.com.

XIX
Located on the, you guessed it, 19th floor of the Hyatt at The Bellevue, XIX wins their wow-factor as soon as you step off the elevator and get a glimpse of the city below. That is, of course, until you are seated. Weekday breakfast is in the cafe, a soaring rotunda boasting original plaster reliefs and a menu of classic treats like crab cakes Benedict and ham and white cheddar panini. Brunch opens up in the dining room with its massive pearl-like chandelier and includes raw bar, sushi station and dessert selections. (Try the champagne cream and strawberries. Heaven.)

XIX is located at 200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215.790.1919, www.nineteenrestaurant.com.

Sabrina’s Cafe
Stop someone on the street in Philly, ask them where to grab a great breakfast, and you are going to hear the name “Sabrina.” A South Philly staple, the cafe is known for heaping portions of food that somehow blend downhome with decadence. Blue Cheese Frittatas, Sabrina’s Huevos Rancheros and their famous Stuffed Caramelized French Toast will have you wondering how you ever made do with a Nutri-Grain bar. Casual and cozy, the restaurant is also well known for being vegetarian- and vegan-friendly.

Sabrina’s Cafe is located at 910 Christian Street, Philadelphia, 215.574.1599, and 1804 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, 215.636.9160, www.sabrinascafe.com.

Parc
There’s something about a good cup of coffee, the early edition of the paper and an outdoor table that makes you feel like you’re in Europe. Grab one of the two-tops lined outside French bistro Parc and dive into the experience head first. With a prime people-watching location on Rittenhouse Square and the trendy yet comfortable vibe owner Stephen Starr is known for, it makes early mornings more than manageable. Order up Polenta and Eggs Basquaise and a cafe au lait and watch the world wander by.

Parc is located at 227 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, 215.545.2262, www.parc-restaurant.com.

Morning Glory
If it’s a lazy morning and you are wishing your Mom were around to cook you up something sinful, the next best plan is to head to Morning Glory. The “local” for those in the Italian Market neighborhood, the diner does simple dishes with quality ingredients and special touches. After the requisite wait for your booth (no reservations here), tuck into the Neighborhood Frittata (red peppers, provolone and spinach) or blueberry-smothered Glory Cakes.

Morning Glory is located at 10th and Fitzwater streets, Philadelphia, 215.413.3999, www.themorningglorydiner.com.

Mom always said you should start your day off with a complete breakfast. Was she ever right. When you just don’t feel like making breakfast yourself, check out these Haute 5 restaurants that make eating your first meal of the day a real treat.

Tableau

Every hotel has a cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, but at Wynn Las Vegas, the term cafe doesn’t do justice to the food within at Tableau. Rising star chef David Spero creates elegant breakfasts with his American cuisine with French influences. You’ll feel like you’re dining in a private dining room surrounded by gorgeous poolside and garden views. Look for huckleberry buttermilk pancakes and white chocolate and orange bread French toast at this quiet respite tucked away in the Wynn’s Tower Suites. Each is the perfect way to start the day.

Tableau is located at Wynn Las Vegas, 702.248.3463.

Verandah
Create your own doughnuts. Need we say more? Breakfast at Verandah at the Four Seasons Hotel includes tasty dishes such as the citrus ricotta pancakes with cranberry compote, huevos rancheros with black beans and chorizo or a health-conscious entrees such as low-carb omelets, Atlantic salmon and tofu dishes. Request one of the outdoor tables overlooking the pool area and you’ll feel like you were whisked away from Vegas. But do insist on making one of your own doughnuts.

Verandah is located at the Four Seasons Hotel, 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702.632.5000.

Hash House A Go Go
You imagine that co-founders Craig “Andy” Beardslee, executive chef, and Johnny Rivera grew up on farms in Indiana among Paul Bunyon-types. The portions are massive at Hash House A Go Go. The pancake takes up an entire plate. Scrambles make you wonder just how many eggs you can cook at once. But the lines waiting to get in let you know that the twisted farm foods within are going to leave you wishing you had brought along a wheelbarrow to cart yourself out. Now the westside favorite has a location at the Imperial Palace and soon at M Resort.

Hash House A Go Go is located at 6800 W. Sahara Ave., 702.804.4646 and at Imperial Palace, 702.254.4646. The M Resort location opens in October.

Society Cafe
Frosted Flake French toast with carmelized bananas and chocolate cream. Oscar Benedict with poached eggs, crab cakes, asparagus and Hollandaise sauce. The ultimate steak and egg sliders on bacon cheddar muffins. If these menu items don’t get you in the mood for breakfast, you can hold out for lunch or dinner at Society Cafe at Encore Las Vegas. Executive Chef Kim Canteenwalla keeps diners on the edges of their seats with his culinary creations that keep changing with the seasons. Not enough for you? Esquire magazine dubbed this one of the best new restaurants in America in 2009.

Society Cafe is located at Encore Las Vegas, 702.248-3463.

Canyon Ranch Grill
We had to include one healthy option on our list. Canyon Ranch Grill at the Palazzo offers up dishes made with organic ingredients including dairy, grains, oils and greens. Stay svelte with dishes such as the frittata del giorno with veggies and cheese at 285 calories or the sweet potato hash with natural ham and a poached egg for 230 calories. Even the Caribbean French toast with rum-flavored French toast, banana, pineapple and maple syrup only has 315 calories. Your waistline will thank you.

Canyon Ranch Grill is located at the Palazzo, 702.414.3600.

A simple way to start the day? Not on your life! Breakfast may be the most hotly debated meal in this early-rising city. I could weigh-in on who’s got the best omelettes, pancakes, chicken-and-waffles, coffee, but much of that is a matter of taste. Instead let me offer a Haute 5 of fine places to have a morning meet.

Huckleberry Bakery and Café

This side-business of the husband and wife team behind Rustic Canyon Wine Bar has endeared nearly everyone since the day it opened. Organic and market-driven whenever possible, the menu is highlighted by their green eggs & ham (with La Quercia proscuitto and pesto), Niman Ranch brisket hash, maple-bacon biscuits and Vahrhona chocolate croissants. Phew!

Huckleberry Bakery and Café is located at1014 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, 310.451.2311

Barney Greengrass

Atop the Barney’s New York store in Beverly Hills sits a power-meeting outpost of Manhattan’s storied Sturgeon King. Naturally, smoked fish takes up half the menu, but you can also get matzoh brei, a bialy, apple pancake, cheesecake (why not?), or if you insist, a tofu scramble.

Barney Greengrass is located at 9570 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, 310.777.5877

Musso & Frank’s

Perhaps because they never open before 11 AM, few people think of this historic Hollywood haunt for breakfast. But for the creative types who venerate this place (myself included), their Swedish-thin flannel cakes (above), char-crisp bacon and simple omelettes—best enjoyed at the grill counter—are as good as it gets. An enduring classic.

Musso & Frank’s is located at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard, 323.467.7788

Lamill Coffee

Set in ground zero of the Silver Lake neighborhood, the mid-century regency-recalling café is obsessive about everything from their coffees and teas to their Michael Cimarusti-created menu. Vegetarian hen eggs, Niman Ranch bacon, fingerling potatoes, cinnamon-vanilla brioche French toast…you get the idea.

Lamill Coffee is located at 1636 Silver Lake Boulevard, 323.663.4441

Bob Morris’ Paradise Cove Beach Café

Nothing whets the appetite like an ocean breeze, and the classic Paradise Cove Beach Café certainly has that. With a menu offering carrot cake waffles, macadamia coconut pancakes, house smoked salmon and Ramos gin fizzes, you’ll have a memorable repast…and beach access, to boot.

Paradise Cove Beach Café is located at 28128 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, 310.457.2503

Being that breakfast for dinner is one of my favorite meals, finding amazing brunch spots is one of my secret passions. There’s nothing better after a long night out on the town to dissect the weekend’s activities over a mimosa. After all, Top Chef did teach us that the mark of a great chef is how perfectly he could cook an egg. Just don’t forget the side of bacon.

Bongo Room

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, whether you are craving sweet or savory, there is absolutely no better brunch spot than the Bongo Room. With staples like white chocolate caramel pretzel pancakes and seasonal favorites like banana bacon pancakes, four berry brioche french toast and red velvet pancakes, if your sweet tooth isn’t satisfied here, you’re just doggone out of luck.

1152 S. Wabash Ave. www.thebongoroom.com/

Hot Chocolate

If you haven’t tried Mindy Segal’s Mexican Hot Chocolate with homemade marshmallows (or any hot chocolate there for that matter), this should seriously be your next stop on the delicious dining train. Recently featured on Martha Stuart, her homemade donuts and pastries are to die for. And we all know the way to a woman’s heart is chocolate.

1747 N. Damen. 773.489.1747. http://www.hotchocolatechicago.com/

Rockit

With a gourmet build your own bloody mary bar featuring 40+ accoutrements, how could you not make this a regular part of your weekend rotation? Though the food’s good, you could make a whole meal out of the bar. So model chic too.

22 W. Hubbard St. 312.645.6000. www.rockitbarandgrill.com/

Orange

Made famous by their weekly changing pancake flight and frushi (aka fruit sushi), this innovative brunch spot offers delectable little bites like chai tea French toast and jelly donut pancakes. Obviously the OJ is fresh, as well.

738 N. Clark St. 312.202.0600. http://orangerestaurantchicago.com/

Bull & Bear

Normally a hoppin’ Friday night spot, Bull & Bear’s Pajama Jam (yes, the servers actually wear pjs) is the new see and be seen breakfast haute. With make your own mimosas and a playful take on Pop Tarts, if you feel like getting dolled up for breakfast, B&B’s your best bet. Bonus: they play ’80s cartoons while you dine. Aaah nostalgia.

431 N. Wells St. 312.527.5973. www.bullbearbar.com/

Prepare to indulge.

Tonight is Miami’s Taste of the Nation event at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort. More than 40 local restaurants are set to gather at the grand event to help raise money for No Kid Hungry, the charity, Share Our Strength’s campaign to end childhood hunger in the community.

Among the participants of the event is the famed Fontainebleau Hotel’s Gotham Steak restaurant in Miami Beach. The award-winning steakhouse will debut the newest item on its menu, its signature Cote de Boeuf. This over-sized, double cut, two-boned rib-eye is cooked on the restaurant’s special charcoal grill that has been enhanced with hickory chips and rosewood. Yet perhaps the best part of this dish is its use of the old French tradition of carving meat tableside and being served family-style.

And as if this wasn’t enough, Executive Chef Alfred Portale has also decided to offer his guests the option to order the Gotham Boeuf, the whopping eight-bone rack of Cote de Boeuf, also cut at the table, and meant to be shared eight to 10 people. The Gotham Boeuf will come with a homemade Béarnaise sauce, creamed corn, and Parmesan truffle fries. The entire presentation of the meal is grand enough to make you wonder, “Are you boeuf enough?”

For more information on Miami’s Taste of the Nation event, which begins tonight at 6 p.m., visit the official website.

Morgan Hotel Group’s celebrated trio of Miami Beach spas – agua Spa at Delano, The Spa at Shore Club, and agua Spa at Mondrian in South Beach – is enticing local spa enthusiasts with the Relax and Repeat appreciation program. Starting now through the end of October, Florida residents can rejuvenate and reenergize for 30 percent off at any of South Beach’s three esteemed locations.

Relax and Repeat extends hotel pool access before and after treatments, $10 valet parking, complimentary surprise add-ons, and retail specials. Set your sights on breathtaking views of the Atlantic and breathe in the ocean breeze as your body is pampered with lush signature treatments, including aqua Spa at Delano’s famous Milk & Honey Body Treatment, The Spa at Shore Club’s Wild and Zesty Scalp and Body Massage, and aqua Spa at Mondrian’s legendary själ Blue Kashmir-Saphir Facial. agua Spa at Delano and agua Spa at Mondrian in South Beach are the only two spas in the United States to carry själ eco-chic skin-care products.

The three luxury relaxation retreats are highly acclaimed and lauded by locals and celebrities alike. The Mediterranean-style retreat of aqua Spa at Delano features ten treatment rooms, manicure/pedicure stations, and private outdoor cabanas where state-of-the-art treatments are aimed at rejuvenating body, mind, and spirit. Housed within the serenely beautiful and peaceful pristine white setting, fans such as Eva Langoria, Jamie Foxx, and Kevin Spacey have received the ultimate spa experience at the Delano.

agua Spa at Delano, 1685 Collins Ave., 305.674.6100, www.delano-hotel.com/default.aspx#/explore/?id=aguaspa.

The Spa at Shore Club is 8,000-square-feet of facilities, including eight treatment rooms, and several ocean view terraces designed for lounging, sun bathing, and decompressing in seclusion. The Spa’s Zen-like atmosphere inspires balance and synergy on the rooftop of the famous Miami Beach hotel. Choose from a vast selection of massages, facials, body, and nail treatments, and shop The Spa’s exclusive products from Eminence and Pure Fuji.

The Spa at Shore Club, 1901 Collins Ave., 305.695.3292, www.shoreclub.com/default.aspx#/explore/?id=spa.

Winner of Travel + Leisure’s 2010 Design Award for Best Spa, aqua Spa at Mondrian in South Beach boasts signature services and stunning design from Marcel Wanders. Jessica Szohr, Macy Gray, Maureen McCormick, and Wilmer Valderrama have all opted for specialty services within aqua’s peacefully beautiful space, complete with dry sauna and private outdoor terrace.

aqua Spa at Mondrian in South Beach, 1100 West Ave., 305.514.1950,  www.mondrian-miami.com/default.aspx#/explore/?id=aguaspa.

The Trapiche Room at JW Marriott Hotel Miami has done it again. The hotel’s fine dining restaurant has been awarded the Wine Spectator’s 2010 Award of Excellence for the fourth consecutive year.

Wine Spectator magazine is the premier publication on wine and fine dining. Recipients of the distinguished honor are recognized for their exceptional wine lists. In order to garner the Award of Excellence a restaurant must offer interesting selections that are cuisine appropriate and appeal to a wide range of wine aficionados.

“We take great pride in our restaurants, and are honored to have The Trapiche Room recognized once again with the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence,” Florencia Rotemberg, General Manager of the JW Marriott Hotel Miami, says. “We constantly strive to provide a top quality experience to our guests and that includes offering an award-winning wine program.”

Oenophiles can dine in satisfaction knowing that The Trapiche Room is critically acclaimed for its hundreds of wine selections. The unique fine dining restaurant experience features wine-inspired Mediterranean cuisine in a beautiful intimate setting. Its imaginative menu offers a choice of contemporary international dishes using ingredients that are of the freshest organics and highest quality. Culinary excellence and impeccable service aside, The Trapiche Room’s wine selections awaken the senses and complement signature plates, such as pan-seared Patagonian sea bass and herb-crusted rack of lamb.

“For us, fine wine is a passion,” Carlos Rodriguez, JW Marriott’s director of food and beverage, says. “To understand the relationship of food to wine is an art that we are committed to share with our guests. This is why we work hard in assembling a well-balanced wine list of great depth and interesting offerings.”

As one of Brickell’s most respected luxury hotels and Miami’s preferred business destination, JW Marriott Hotel Miami blends timeless elegance, thoughtful amenities, and award-winning service. 296 guest rooms and suites are tastefully furnished with attention to the finest details. Spa 1111, the state-of-the-art fitness center, and the rare stainless steel pool extend ultimate relaxation to guests.

For more information on The Trapiche Room and the JW Marriott Hotel Miami, call 305.329.3500, or visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/miajw-jw-marriott-hotel-miami/.