I Suddenly Want to Eat All My Breakfasts Out of Eggcups
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
I first saw it on the breakfast menu atJoseph Leonardin Manhattan’s West Village.Soldiers and eggs, which, on paper, is a fancy way of ordering two soft-boiled eggs with toast. And though I’m usually wary of dishes that sound like something I could make at home, I left breakfast that morning feeling satisfied. The expert preparation certainly helped; the eggs were served with still-oozing yolks, which complemented the fatty sticks of brioche I slathered with butter.
But the presentation is why this otherwise-basic dish has stuck in my mind, specifically the white, porcelain eggcups that stood tall above my plate. These eggcups turned my otherwise simple breakfast into both a novelty and a luxury, and I took an unreasonable amount of joy in watching the yolks slowly drip down the sides of the ceramic, as I haphazardly dunked the so-called soldiers into the yellow sea, whispering to my breakfast companion in the otherwise quiet restaurant, “I love playing with my food!”
Since then, I’ve been keeping an eye out for soft-boiled eggs on restaurant breakfast menus, always in hopes of getting that eggcup, and it’s been showing up more often than you might expect. I found it on the menu atSant Ambroeusin Soho. A single egg, uncracked, in a white eggcup, this time served alongside a ramekin that contained a sliver of Parmesan cheese. Between the two porcelain dishes was sandwiched a single slice of sunflower toast. Simple? Absolutely. But that white egg balanced on matching ceramic made the whole thing feel fancy, even though it was, quite literally,justan egg and a slice of toast.
My eggcup sightings haven’t been limited to restaurants, though. Eggcups are having a moment on film. Take the porcelain ones that make a cameo inCall Me by Your Name; a sweet, brief moment where Elio expertly eats a soft-boiled egg from one, while Oliver, Armie Hammer’s character, must ask for help to crack his egg open. InPhantom Thread, you can spot eggcups on the table of Daniel Day-Lewis’s character, a fashion designer with anow-legendary breakfast habit, including a couple of unique-lookingmetal ones. In both these scenes, the eggcups signify a certain amount of elegance, though that sentiment also sums up the appeal of the eggcup in real life.
An eggcup takes something as mundane as a soft-boiled egg and elevates it to the centerpiece of a meal. They’re, almost by definition, a luxury, since you don’t need one to eat an egg. Plus, they’re often so uniquely shaped that they can rarely be repurposed for another use. But to own and use an eggcup is to be the kind of person who could, hypothetically, leisurely enjoy a soft-boiled egg for breakfast under the Italian sun, or host elaborate brunches at the drop of a hat.
That’s what makes it aspirational, but it’s still entirely, blissfully achievable. After all, boiled eggs are easy to make, and handsome eggcups are surprisingly affordable — and once you start eating your eggs out of a cup, I promise you’ll never want to go back to the way things were before.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This simple, white, ceramic eggcup is most similar to the one I was served at Joseph Leonard — and for only $2 each, it’s the most affordable one on this list.
New! You can now save this product for later.
These eggcups from Anne Black have an even more minimalist design, without a decorative foot, though they also come in light pink and sage green.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This minimalist porcelain eggcup has a delicate etched pattern.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Hen-shaped eggcups have become something of a kitschy classic of the genre.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The painted blue pansies on this eggcup give it a vintage feel (and would also look gorgeous against a brown shell).
New! You can now save this product for later.
For a more abstract paint job, try these dotted eggcups.
New! You can now save this product for later.
These stoneware Le Creuset eggcups come in a variety of colors, including blue, green, and red, so don’t feel obligated to get a full set in the same color. This is a time when mismatched sets work, especially if they’re all the same style.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This set of terra-cotta eggcups with different colored borders is a picture-perfect example of mismatching colors in action.
New! You can now save this product for later.
These marble eggcups will contrast nicely against a plain white shell.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This modern-looking eggcup from Italian design company Alessi comes with its own spoon and mallet for chic shell-cracking.
New! You can now save this product for later.
If you like the modern look but want something with a lower profile, try these platelike eggcups.
New! You can now save this product for later.
If you’re serious about channeling thePhantom Thread, here’s a solid pewter eggcup.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For a more affordable metal eggcup, try this stainless-steel one from Walmart, then bring the hungry boy.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Another vintage-feeling material for eggcups is glass, like this duo that mimics the style of Depression-eragreen glass.
The Strategistis designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include thebest dining room decor items,coffee makers,knife sets,Japanese coffee brewer,charcoal water filter, anddrinking glasses for water and more. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links,New Yorkmay earn an affiliate commission.
