Sam Mickey of Morning Glory Succumbs to Cancer

Sam Mickey, the proprietor and brunch legend of Morning Glory at 10th & Fitzwater, died on May 12th after a lengthy battle with cancer. Mickey, who first learned her trade at the Down Home Diner in the Reading Terminal Market, really took Philly's brunch scenes to new levels when she opened in 1997. Just ask critic Craig LaBan, who found a lot to love in an early review of Morning Glory back in the late 90's.

The diner was an overnight success, and one of the first classic diners to up their gourmet game, instead of taking the easy route to instant foods and microwaveables. While the long wait on weekends could be overwhelming, the feeling of first forking into that piece of challah French toast made it all worth it.

In addition to re-thinking the brunch game, Mickey was a trailblazer in a neighborhood that had long been forgotten and was never a destination for the food-obsessed denizens of Philly. Rest in peace, Sam Mickey. There's a big ol' heap of amazing pancakes waiting for you in the afterlife.

· Morning Glory is just what diner devotees would order [The Philadelphia Inquirer]
· The Morning Glory Diner [Official]