In Good Taste: Great local spots for the most important meal of the day

One of my favorite meals to eat out is breakfast. I am usually in such a hurry in the mornings that it seems I am living on cereal and breakfast bars. A delicious breakfast that someone else cooks is an affordable indulgence for me.

I really love to take in the golf course view at Mallard's at Empire Ranch Golf Course while enjoying a traditional breakfast of bacon and eggs. Other menu choices include omelets, biscuits and gravy, steak and eggs, and corned beef hash; all served in generous portions. Breakfast is now served all day. This restaurant is also a great place for lunch. Try their Indian Summer salad: chunks of chicken served with raisins, cucumber, crunchy chow mein noodles, mandarin oranges and tomatoes. They also have a great selection of sandwiches and burgers, and you can't beat that view. You can check out their menus at empiregolf.com/mallards or call 885-2100.

Heidi's has been a family favorite for many years. We love the French toast, the freshly baked muffins and spectacular home fries. The egg dishes are always perfectly prepared and the coffee is delicious. You can find them at the corner of Carson Street and Highway 50 East. Call them at 882-0486.

I have also recently treated my staff to a collection of pastries from the new Sugar Plumb Bakery housed in the former Long John Silver's at 1280 S. Carson St. We tried the apricot and plumb scone, the crumb bun, a lemon tart and a cherry apple turnover. The lemon tart was the favorite by far. It was beautifully presented on a small gold tray, with a delicate crust and perfectly flavored lemon custard. It was gone before our meeting was over. The rest of the pastries were gone by the end of the day. Sugar Plumb also serves other breakfast items such as a ham and cheese scones, and specialty coffees. They have a drive-through, but I prefer meeting my pastries in person. The Sugar Plum also serves lunch. You can give them a call at 887-8900.

I was hoping to get a lot of recommendations from you, Dear Readers, but since you are a bit shy about recommending restaurants, I asked some of my friends and colleagues about their favorite spots for breakfast. Here are some of their responses:

For a classic coffee shop breakfast, Linda Macauley recommends the Carson Station Casino. She says they serve great food at an affordable price that will keep you going all morning. Linda also likes Mom and Pops cafe at Third and Carson Streets because the "food is good, it's cute inside and on sunny mornings you can sit outside." The Cracker Box at 402 East William St. has been locally owned and operated by Jerry Masaad since 1980. This is Janet Jones's favorite place for the first meal of the day. She loves their omelets. Joy Evans heads for Grandma Hattie's when she is in the mood for a good breakfast. She enjoys the home fries and the variety of omelets available.

I did receive a reader recommendation from Glenn Nisidio, who states that the best breakfast in Carson City can be found at Mustang Sally's in Cactus Jack's Casino, very good food with a very low price. "If you are lucky," Glenn states, "Sally will be there cooking and the side show is great." I am definitely going to have to check that one out, Glenn. You can find out if Sally will be there by calling Cactus Jack's at 882-8770.

I am still on my quest for great places to dine in Carson City, so don't be shy. The next time you go out to eat and have a tasty experience, let me know!

• Candace Duncan is executive director of the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Contact her with local dining recommendations at 687-7410 or candace@visitcarsoncity.com.