Some like it hot. Maybe that counts for all of us who dare to live in the manicured jungle we call Southwest Florida. While we don't have gusts of wind escaping from subway grates to cool us down, we have better: soft breezes that come off the water. No little patio is better situated to attract the wild's natural AC than EJ's Bayfront Cafe. The vaulted space in a breezeway at Bayfront is a delightful setting to devour the day's newspaper with a simple, hearty breakfast. When you have such a lovely little spot a stone's throw from a mangrove-lined bay (but don't expect real views of the water unless you take a stroll), you can forgive that your coffee, on the weaker side, doesn't instantly jolt you awake. On my recent visit, the decadently cheesy hash brown casserole—jack and cheddar dance with each other in a memorable way—made up for the fact that my eggs were a tad dry in the signature Bayfront Scramble that mixes up diced tomatoes with avocado, bacon and more cheddar. But catching those breezes while reclining in a patio chair took the (coffee) cake.
