Inspired by In Your Eyes | Kylie Minogue 

In 2009 I spent 8 months living in New York. When I arrived a very good friend of mine introduced me to Extra Virgin, a pretty little restaurant in Greenwich Village. Following the discovery I developed a real obsession with eggs baked in the oven. Not only did I go there a considerable number of times, but I also harassed everyone telling them they were the best baked eggs in the whole world (as my friends will testify) and I forced many of them to try them for themselves.

What’s astonishing is that on their menu the wondrous eggs are described as: “Baked Eggs: eggs, bacon, ciabatta, spinach.” I grant you it doesn’t sound like the sexiest of dishes especially next door to frittattas, steak and eggs, bacon burgers and other unremarkable dishes. However, this was one of the best brunches I ever had in NYC!

The friend in question and I shared a second obsession: Kylie Minogue in general but particularly her song In Your Eyes. For a while the idea of recreating these baked eggs has been running through my mind and when I heard this song again I got round to it. This song will give you all the energy you require to get out of bed, dance a little, prepare a superb homemade brunch in 30 minutes and then be ready to go visit an exhibition, go to the cinema or for a wander in pretty little streets of your choice.

| Ingredients |

_ 1-2 eggs per person

_  ciabatta bread

_ baby spinach as much as you like

_ 4 tomatoes

_  diced bacon 

_ shaved & grated parmesan

_ half-salted butter

_ extra virgin olive oil 

_ ground salt & pepper

| Method |

The ideal way to prepare this brunch is using individual ramekins, but you can easily make it all in the same dish. If you opt for the individual servings you can present the eggs straight in the ramekins; the result will be more aesthetically pleasing.

It’s a simple recipe. Often you’ll already have everything you need to make them at home, and if not the ingredients aren’t hard to find. Start by preheating the oven to 180°C and cut some thick slices of ciabatta.

Then wash the baby spinach whilst you boil some water. Once it boils, place the spinach in the water for 3 minutes, drain and add some half-salted butter mixing gently in a bowl.

Rinse your tomatoes and then cut them into round slices. For the bacon you’ll need to blanch it to take out the excess of salt. A weird technical name that stands for something rather simple: fill a pan with cold water, place the bacon, once it’s boiling leave it for 30 seconds than drain.

Now it’s time to bring it all together in a dish. Spread some olive oil on the base of a large oven dish and put the ciabatta on top. Place the tomatoes on the slice of ciabatta and distribute the diced bacon. The spinach goes on top of the tomatoes and finally strategically sprinkle with the parmesan shavings.

Place it in the over at 180°c (fan over if possible) for 15-20 minutes according to your oven’s power, take it off and place the eggs and back inside for 3-5 depending on how runny you want your yolks. Add a dash of olive oil before serving & voilà!

♫ Is the world still spinning around…