Eating before davening on Shabbos

My grandmother said that her father would eat breakfast on Shabbos and yontif before davening. He would not do this on a regular week day. Is there a basis for this in German or Austrian minhagim, or was this his own personal preference?

David

From what I've heard, German Jews who felt that it was difficult for them to go without food before the end of Shabbos davening would daven shachris biy'chidus (in places where there was no hashkomo), make kiddush and eat something, and then go to shul for k'rias hatorah and mussaf. Eating before davening for someone who is not a full-fledged choleh could be a serious problem, as the issur of eating before davening, even if not de'oraisa, is still based on the pasuk of לא תאכלו על הדם.

Melech