I’m not a morning person and after spending thirty plus years on this planet I’ve come to the conclusion that I never will be. If I haven’t found the ability to wake up as the sun rises with a song in my heart for the last three decades I think it’s safe to say that I won’t be doing that anytime within the next decades to come.

But I’m ok with that.

Since I tend to sleep through my alarm and have separation anxiety when leaving my bed, I realize the best way for me to anticipate the arrival of a new day is to be excited about something that is set to come within in it. On a particular night not too long ago I was looking over the day that would follow. It was going to be a busy one at work as I would be driving from home in Altadena to Oxnard to South Los Angeles and then back home. If you’re unfamiliar with any of those cities and their proximity to one another, just know it’s an excess amount of driving—upwards to 120 miles. To say I wasn’t looking forward to it would be a grotesque understatement.

The only thing that had me remotely interested in it all wasn’t the mileage I would later be reimbursed, but the breakfast. It may sound a bit crazy, but I added a destination to that day of driving because I knew it would have me up and out of my bed early than expected. Leaving my house in Altadena and before hitting the road for work to Oxnard I made a stop at Pitchoun in Downtown Los Angeles.

At 7:30am I walked into the French bakery and saw the glowing face of the location’s PR maven, Abby. She was so bright and bubbly for and it could either be that it’s in her personality naturally or she’s excited about Pitchoun. Whatever the reason, I was in love with her energy. After a few introductions and pleasantries, we ordered a few items, grabbed a table, and as moments gently passed our food arrived.

Let me say this: Abby ordered a quiche, voluntarily.

If you know me then you know there are a few things I hate: Satan, Serena Joy from The Handmaid’s Tale, getting sick in the summer, and quiche. Granted my levels of rancor for each one of those varies, but they all still fall in the category of “Oh hell no”. While I don’t like quiches, I can’t be mad at a person who does. I did give Abby the look of death when I saw it arrive to the table, and without a care in the world she smiled as she sliced into it. I shrugged and moved on because honestly, who am I to tell her how to live her life especially if the dish makes her happy. With that said, I didn’t photograph it and she understood. What I did photograph were the items I ordered. An Espresso Croissant ($4.75) and the DTLA Sandwich ($12.95).

Starting with the croissant, it is safe to say that it was exactly what I would like to have prior to the long drive ahead of me. It was buttery and light with just the right amount of espresso running across its exterior and resting inside of it to give me the sugar high I would need. Without getting too jittery like a toddler trying soda for the first time, I was so happy to break it apart in my hands and watch the thin slices of almonds hit the plate. Picking them up with the soft espresso cream and the bread felt like this was the reason I woke up. Well, getting paid to do my job was the reason I got up, but we can pretend like this croissant had a part in it too.

After bites of the pastry I dove into the sandwich. It may be odd to have a lunch item this early in the morning, but I had no concerns about it. The sandwich came with roasted turkey, brie, avocado, butter lettuce, tomatoes, and a honey chipotle mayo. Biting into the sandwich was so delightful. The crisp from the lettuce, the burst from the tomatoes, the weight of the turkey, and the creaminess from the brie was perfect. While it was a weighted sandwich, it didn’t come off too heavy as if it would make me tired throughout the day. It felt filling to the point that after the croissant, this half of the sandwich would suffice for now. Packing the other half alongside what was left from the croissant would serve as a great lunch while on the road, most likely driving with my knees. Don’t judge me.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t sit with Abby for more than an hour as I had to head out on the road. Regardless of the amount of time we chatted and had with one another, it ended up being a great way to start what would be an extremely long day. Sitting in Pitchoun with such great company over delicious bites at the bakery made the start of the day perfect. If every morning could feel as sweet as the croissant and satisfying as the sandwich, then I would have no problem waking up before my alarm.

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