Morning Glory opens eyes
One of Ashland's favorite breakfast hotspots has caught the attention of a national publication that doles out six coveted Ivy Awards annually.
"I'm up against fancy dinner houses like Per Se in New York, Boulevard in San Francisco and Lucques in Los Angeles," said Patty Groth, who opened Morning Glory in 1997. "If I actually won, I think I would probably faint."
The award honors restaurants and food service operations for excellence standards in food, service and hospitality. The awards are unique because past winners select the nominees. After the nominations are collected, the ballot appears in Restaurants & Institutions, in which 140,000 readers cast votes for their choices. Winners are honored in May. To date, only 315 operations have won the prestigious award.
So who nominated Morning Glory? Past Ivy Award winner John Askew, food and beverage director for The Peabody Orlando, a four-star luxury hotel in Florida.
Askew and Groth met as students at the Culinary Arts Institute in New York more than 20 years ago and have stayed in touch ever since.
Askew confesses that he's never eaten at his friend's restaurant, but he nominated Morning Glory because, "I know Patty, and I have seen the fire in her eyes when she talks about Morning Glory."
He said Groth has poured her heart and soul into the venture and endured unending sacrifice to make her restaurant what it is today.
Groth said just the nomination alone is rewarding.
"I've worked so hard my whole life," she said. "The nomination feels validating."
People's choice awards throughout Ashland often name Morning Glory as one of their favorite breakfast spots.
There are several posts on MrBreakfast.com that rave about Morning Glory.
"Most definitely the best breakfast I have ever had. Quite possibly the best restaurant I have ever eaten at," review No. 8753 stated.
Groth said she tries to go organic and as local as possible, and said people can taste the difference. She also said she has a knack for knowing what ingredients work well together, such as the lemon poppy seed waffle with fresh berries and lemon butter; or the pesto, organic Swiss chard and goat cheese scramble.
Groth used to own the McCully House Inn in Jacksonville, and sold it when she became pregnant with her son Adrian. She'd always dreamed of owning a breakfast house and the topic often came up in conversations with friends.
One night she and some girlfriends went out to dinner and were brainstorming about the perfect name for a breakfast house.
"Just as a joke, we pulled a waiter over and asked him what he thought would be a great breakfast restaurant name," Groth said. "There was no hesitation at all. He just said, 'Morning Glory' and walked away. I knew the second he said it, I just found the perfect name for my future restaurant."
Reach reporter Michele Mihalovich at 482-3456 x226 or mmihalovich@dailytidings.com.
