DOORKNOB MENU

 It is a type of room service menu place in the guestroom, which is list the
time of breakfast can be served with a limited number of breakfast items.

Guests select what they want to eat and the time they want the food delivered, then
hang the menu outside the door on the doorknob. The menus are collected and the
orders are prepared and sent to the rooms at the specified times.

1.) CON·TI·NEN·TAL BREAK·FAST

  a light breakfast, typically consisting of coffee and rolls with butter and jam, cheese,
meat, croissants, pastries, rolls, fruit juice and various hot beverages. It is served
commonly in the continental Europe, North America, and elsewhere, as opposed to the
English breakfast served commonly in the UK.

A continental breakfast is a light morning meal that is provided by many hotels and motels. It
traditionally includes bread products, fruit juice and hot beverages. Some lodging facilities also
include other types of food, such as cereal, fruit, meat and eggs. The meal typically is presented in
a buffet, from which guests can help themselves, rather than being served to the guests like it would
be in a restaurant. The quality and amount of food that is provided can vary widely and often
depends on the quality of the establishment, with high-end hotels that attract business travelers
typically providing better continental breakfast food than roadside motels that attract families who are
vacationing on tight budgets.

Origin of the Term

The term "continental breakfast" refers to the continent of Europe and distinguishes this simple
breakfast from an English breakfast, which typically consists of more food and often includes meats,
cereals, fruits and even vegetables in addition to bread products, juice and hot beverages. Light
breakfasts such as those often enjoyed by people in Europe, especially France, are considered
easier, cheaper and quicker for hotels to provide to their guests. It also is convenient for travellers
who might not have time for a sit-down meal in the morning before needing to continue on their
journey.

Serving Procedure

A continental breakfast usually is provided in the hotel or motel lobby, or in a room near the lobby,
for a specified period of time during the morning. The food typically is placed on a large table or
counter, and amenities such as plates, bowls, forks, spoons and knives are made available. There
might be tables and chairs where guests can sit and eat, or they could take their breakfast back to
their rooms or elsewhere.

Breads

The bread products that are included in a continental breakfast might include toast, doughnuts,
pastries, croissants and rolls. Pancakes or waffles are less likely to be included, although toaster
waffles might be offered. Butter, assorted jams and jellies or other toppings, such as syrup for
waffles, usually are available.

Beverages

Juices and hot beverages are almost always included in a continental breakfast. Orange juice, apple
juice and grapefruit juice are common. Various types of coffee and tea usually are provided.
Hot chocolate might be available for children or for guests who do not drink coffee or tea. Milk also is
available sometimes.

Fruits and Cereals

The other foods that are included in a continental breakfast can vary widely. Some hotels provide
fruit such as bananas, apples, oranges and grapefruits. Cold breakfast cereal and milk are often
provided. Hot cereal, such as instant oatmeal, is sometimes available as well.

Rare Fare

It is more rare for cooked meats or eggs to be included in a continental breakfast, but it does
happen. For example, large containers full of scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage links might be
placed out for guests. Hash browns — fried shredded potatoes — are another cooked breakfast item
that is sometimes available.

Tips for Guests

Most hotels that offer continental breakfasts will tell guests the time period when the food will be
available. Many times, a limited amount of food will be provided each day. For this reason, guests
who wait until near the end of the availability time period should expect that the supply of some items
might be gone. Also, it is considered to be poor etiquette for a guest to take very large portions of the
food that is provided. This type of breakfast is meant to be quick and light, not a full meal that will
satiate a person's hunger for many hours.

Source: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-continental-breakfast.htm

2. ) American breakfast
An American breakfast can include almost anything, as Americans generally base their choices of
breakfast foods on a variety of factors. Family habits and cultural influences frequently play a major
role for many breakfast eaters. Other issues that normally affect their selections include health
concerns, economics, time constraints and personal tastes. Common breakfast choices include egg
dishes, cereals, oatmeal and yogurt dishes with fruit.

Adults seeking to start their day on a healthy note often opt for low-fat, high fiber and high protein
foods. These frequently include a selection of fresh or canned fruits, yogurt or cottage cheese and a
whole grain bread such as wheat toast or a bran muffin. Breakfast smoothies are popular choices,
as they incorporate fruit and dairy and can be quickly prepared and consumed.

Children and teens are commonly served hot or cold cereal with milk for breakfast, based on the
presumed vitamins and minerals contained in these items. Cold cereals are commonly made from
crunchy pieces of corn, wheat, bran and rice. Oatmeal and cream of wheat or rice are popular hot
cereals. Granola and fruit are often added to the cereals to add variety, texture and extra nutrients
and fiber.

Some American breakfast choices are significantly affected by time or money. Late risers in a hurry
to get out the door in the morning may grab a granola bar, doughnut, toaster pastry or piece of toast
before they exit home. People with limited incomes often eat leftovers from the night before for
breakfast if their budgets prohibit the purchase of traditional breakfast foods.
Eggs accompanied by meat and bread used to be the breakfast of choice for many Americans. A
few decades ago when the cholesterol in eggs was touted as a health risk, many people eliminated
eggs as part of their American breakfast. The health risks of bacon and sausage caused some
diners to drop those items from the menu as well.

While a number of people simply changed their breakfast eating habits when these issues arose,
others opted for egg and meat substitutes for their first meal of the day. One commonly chosen
alternative to the meat-and-eggs menu was bread products. English muffins, quick breads such as
bran or corn muffins, bagels and toast gained favor with many as acceptable breakfast foods, as
did pancakes and waffles. Popular toppings for these breads include butter substitutes, real butter
and cream cheese as well as syrup, apple butter, peanut butter, jams and jellies.
Most American breakfast food choices are accompanied by a beverage. Coffee, tea and hot
chocolate are generally preferred for warm breakfast beverages. Juices such as tomato, grapefruit
and orange are popular cold selections at breakfast time. Milk, either plain or chocolate flavored, is
often the beverage of choice among children and teens.

3. English breakfast
An English breakfast is a cooked hot meal that, for many English speakers around the world,
represents the quintessential breakfast. There are numerous variations on the breakfast, most of
which are named for the regions they borrow from; a Scottish breakfast, for example, includes
traditional Scottish foods in addition to the standard components. People may also hear this meal
called a fry up, and fry ups tend to be especially popular during the weekends, when people enjoy
taking time to eat comfort foods at leisure.

Two classic components of the English breakfast are bacon and eggs, but the food doesn't stop
there. A fry up may also include hash browns, toast, sausage, black pudding, beans, grilled
tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, porridge, and kippers. It is also common to see an assortment of
condiments, including jams and ketchup, and in some regions, fresh fruit may be offered as well, for
people who find the traditional components of the breakfast too heavy.

Classically, a fry up is accompanied with numerous cups of strong black tea or coffee, which may be
mixed with sugar and cream or milk. Orange juice is also not uncommon, especially among more
health-conscious consumers who may want to attempt to temper the artery-clogging impact of the
traditional meal. Leftover mashed potatoes, vegetable hash, and a variety ofvegetarian
meat alternatives are also starting to gain ground on the breakfast plate.

The concept of the English breakfast appears to be relatively recent. It seems to have emerged in
the mid-1800s, and it was especially popular among wealthy members of society, although farmers
may have eaten similar meals before this point. In wealthy homes, the components of breakfast
were often spread out on a buffet, with people serving themselves as desired, and the meal was a
display of wealth as much as it was an array of food, given the expense of meat.
Many diners and greasy spoons in English speaking nations offer some version of the English
breakfast, with a focus on regional specialties. You may also hear this meal called an “all day”
breakfast, in a reference to the fact that it could potentially fuel someone for a day, and to the fact
that many people like to eat it over a leisurely period of several hours, rather than trying to cram it all
in at once. Inns may also offer some version of it to their guests, since people often enjoy indulging
in favorite foods while on vacation.