It's not often that someone tells you that breakfast was a "spiritual experience." But when they do, you listen. That's how we at The Food Channel heard about the Breakfast Klub in Midtown Houston. Here's the story:

The restaurant opens at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. When we arrived about 8:45 there was a line already forming. On most Sunday's you'll have a one hour wait and the line goes around the block.

We were greeted outside by Mary, who explained how everything works, including where to get our silverware. One of our party remarked to Mary that we were skipping church, but this was like going to church because we were greeted with a hug, and they were playing gospel music. Mary smiled and said, "Hallelujah."   

It was a spiritual experience to eat the Belgian waffles and Wings. Yes, fried chicken wings. Upon my request, they put pecans in my waffle, and brought hot syrup.  Another one of us had catfish and grits--a little spicy for some tastes, perhaps, but perfect for my taste buds. Others at our table had French toast, eggs, and bacon.  They offered a variety of different coffees that ranged from mild to strong.  

On Sundays they close the parking lot in front of the Klub and set up tables and chairs for overflow.  We chose to eat outside, though it was a little cool. Fun was had by all and definitely a place we would want to take family and friends.

--Excerpted from information submitted by Dr. Daryl Eldridge

We share this since it fits well with our current Breakfast Trends. If you have a great breakfast restaurant experience you'd like to share, send it to us at editor@foodchannel.com.

Picture yourself in a garden where melons, apples, lemons, pears and gardenias are in full bloom. Then imagine holding all that in a glass--specifically a wine glass. That's the idea behind wine sensory gardens, currently springing up in wineries in California and other wine growing regions. These sensory garden showcase plants commonly smelled and tasted in wine.

As reported on FoxNews.com, that is exactly what the Kendall-Jackson is offering to visitors of its wineries. You can stroll through the cabernet/merlot wine garden there and experience black currant and black cherry, or unexpectedly an oregano or bell pepper, which are also notable in other red wines.

According to Matthew Lowe, a chef at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates, they refer to it as the “scratch and sniff” garden.  Because the idea is to correlate the scent of a flower or the zing of a berry with what is tasted in the wines. The winery encourages visitors to bring a blueberry or a strip of bell pepper into the tasting room and correlate it with the wine you're sipping. 

The vintners suggest this is not something for only large wine estates. Even hobby gardeners can create their own sensory gardens.  As Katrina Frey of Frey Vineyards can attest, gardening is a form of relaxation for wine growers, but also has some benefits in that it helps with the natural control of pests. 

Whether you go with a chromatic feel, red garden or white, all the plants and aromatics will have to depend on individual climates.  So with just a little research and a touch of spring fever, why not plant something with a little “Sensory Appeal”™ Because we here at Culturewaves® believe “When you add a new sensation, it all seems new”™. Targeting the senses with new textures, colors, tastes and sounds...I’ll drink to that!

For more insights and innovations check out CultureWaves®, the place to go for the latest observations in the World Thought Bank – events, ideas, trends and more. Add your own thoughts about anything in life – entertainment, design, technology, well-being and, yes, food. And, take a look at a few of our other Hot & Cool Trends.

Enter to Win Our Israel Fruits of Galilee Giveaway

To help celebrate the launch of our new online Store and World Market, The Food Channel is giving away a very nice gift-pack of assorted Fruits of Galilee preserves that will go to one lucky Food Channel Facebook fan. The winner will receive a 4-pack containing jars of Fig Preserves, Pink Grapefruit Marmalade, Pomegranate Delight, and Mandarin Orange Marmalade. Just visit our Facebook page for the details. Or see rules below.

The World Market is currently featuring specialty food products made in Israel. Fruits of Galilee's preserves and marmalades are made by a devoted group of Christians living in the hills of Mt. Carmel, Israel. They are deeply dedicated to living their lives based on the principles of modesty, harmony and equality, and supporting their Jewish friends and neighbors. They use time-honored family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation to make their products.

Made from fruits grown and harvested from the sacred soil of the Holy Land, Fruits of Galilee preserves are very special indeed.

To enter the sweepstakes giveaway, apply at www.facebook.com/foodchannel. But don't delay, deadline to enter is Friday, March 25. For complete rules, see below.

ISRAEL FRUITS OF GALILEE SWEEPSTAKES RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  The Food Channel “Israel Fruits of Galilee Giveaway" (the “Sweepstakes”) is open only to individuals who are legal residents the United States, its properties and territories, and at least 18 years of age at time of entry.  Employees of Sponsor and its affiliates are not eligible. Void where restricted or prohibited.  Sweepstakes begins on March 21, 2011, at 12:00 noon. Central Time (“CT”) and ends on March 25, 2011, at 11:59:59 p.m. CT (the “Promotional Period”).  TO ENTER: During the Sweepstakes Period, apply on-line at www.facebook.com/foodchannel. Limit one (1) entry per person, per household, per e-mail address.  All entries must be received by March 25, 2011. PRIZES: One (1) Grand Prize Winners will receive a 4-pack assortment of Fruits of Galilee preserves.  Approximate retail value of prize: $20.  Acceptance of a prize constitutes winner’s consent to use of his/her name and/or photograph without further compensation for advertising, promotional and publicity purposes by Sponsor. Sponsor: The Food Channel, 2215 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Springfield, MO 65807. ©The Food Channel  All rights reserved.