Rites of Spring #3 - El Socorro coffee from RocketFuelCoffee.Com · Wednesday March 24, 2010 by colin newell
We are brewing Guatemalan El Socorro y Anexos coffee in our lab today.
From a sample from RocketFuelCoffee.com of Toronto – arguably one of Canada’s premiere suppliers of 100% exotic specialty arabica coffees.
El Socorro y Anexos has been awarded the prestigious Presidential Award Cup of Excellence (COE #4). And that says something. A tremendous amount of care and attention has gone into this coffee.
We found the coffee rich with a deep & fruity body – reminiscent of plums, dates and darker fruit.
This is a perfectly balanced cup with no distractions or surprises – a big morning coffee suited to drinking black (as if anyone would be silly enough to defile this with sugar or cream.)
Our morning brews tend to be drip from a Newco OCS-8 thermal carafe brewer – a clear ruler among coffee brewers.
This afternoon we will follow up with a large 4-minute Bodum press.
Afternoon report
4 minute press revealed a much more subdued cup with less fruit volume and more flower notes… some hibiscus and spice (sage, cinnamon).
Overall impression This is a superb example of a well tended Guatemalan coffee. Perfect for coffee drinkers who like the flexibility of a bold filter brew or a sedate and balanced French Press. Top marks!
Rites of Spring 2010 - number 2 - punish the environment · Monday March 22, 2010 by colin newell
March 23, 1988 – Walking behind a couple of young people (visiting here from somewhere in the Pacific Rim…) enjoying the brilliant Victoria B.C. early Spring like weather… Not far behind, I have INXS playing on my Sony Walkman – a late 80’s relic that plays cassette tape modules. The couple are chowing down on bananas – an odd choice for a Spring evening. Much to my surprise, they drop the banana peels at their sides onto the sidewalk… without a second glance. In a moment of spontaneous indignation, I pick up the dangerous fallen slippery peels and toss them in their direction, uttering a witty and original… “Dudes…” or something to that effect. Okay, maybe something more offensive. They were speechless… but the sidewalk was now peel-less.
March 23, 2010 – Tim’s Horton’s is now launching another round of Roll up the Rim to Win – an orgy of pollution. 31 million prizes the website claims – I imagine that it works out to about 100 million paper cups – many of those served empty for the sole purpose of letting Canadian red necks and yuppies alike enjoy the brief joy of rolling a piece of wax paper.
Sacred like hockey and maple syrup, few people challenge this ridiculous bit of commerce… but I say to you, risking a storm of e-mail…
What a fucking stupid idea Roll up the Rim to Win is.
Just one of those stupid things that we see from time to time that are just so stupid… and not enough of us wonder why.
Soon sidewalks across Canada will be littered with this pathetically silly waste of paper.
Way to go Tim Horton’s.
Here is a past rant on the subject of Tim Horton’s relentless war on the Canadian environment.
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Rites of Spring 2010 - looking for some great coffee house staff · Saturday March 20, 2010 by colin newell
When you are Shane Devereaux, arguably the reigning king of downtown Victoria coffee cool, your mere presence in any doorway is generally an indicator that you are guarding the latest caffeinated portal to hipness.
And it is with that abstract observation that we are pleased to announce that soon, very soon, there will be another dose of HABIT arriving on the shores of our collective cerebral cortex – ready for a stiff tapping at that…
On Yates street. At the new (and highly anticipated) Atrium complex.
Along with the likes of Zambri’s, PIG and some other ultra-sexy businesses.
And Shane is looking for a few good women and men. To join a team of coffee super-beings. Who love coffee. Who love people. Who love combining the two. Who are ready to be family members. Who have food and coffee culture passion measured in gigawatts.
Do you have that right stuff?
If you do and you are prepared to participate in the mind-orgy of now… Well then send an e-mail to the Shane-meister at habitcoffee@gmail.com
And may the cool be with you.
Winter all food, fun, drink and coffee culture - The Stick in the Mud · Friday March 19, 2010 by colin newell
Listen here for our Stick in the Mud interview today… Flash player below – if you cannot see that, click here for the mp3.
We interview David Evans of the Stick in Sooke!
In the waning days of winter 2010 we conclude our series on crisp season fun with an audio soundbyte from the heart of Sooke B.C. Canada.
Because we spent a quiet mid-week at Point no Point resort on the windy west coast of Vancouver Island – and enjoyed several yummy meals at the look-out restaurant – under the watchful eye of Chef Jason and his assistant and sous chef Ian. More on this later.
At right – Caffeine dream weaver and coffee roaster, David Evans, stands guard at the Stick in the Mud coffee house… Eustace Avenue off of Otter Point Road in beautiful Sooke, British Columbia.
On the return leg to Victoria we stopped in at Sooke village for some necessary great coffee from “The Stick in the Mud” coffee house – and talking with coffee expert, ad man, bon vivant, raconteur and ideas dude… David Evans.
Well, he gave us the low down on some of the history behind this very exciting cafe in the heart of Douglas fir country. Here is some audio to sink your ears into. Pitching a podcast idea to a local food magazine…
Back out in the wild at Jordan River and the Point no Point resort, we had two great meals by the hands of Chef Jason Neinaber and sous-Chef Ian Carr. Come to think of it, I think we ate everything on the menu – like the was a choice in the matter. Thankfully, on our first evening visit we only mentioned our presence on the way out – and in that sitting, I had two appies; oysters under caesar salad and seared scallops on a bed of cous cous, house made bacon and mushrooms – my dear wife had the chicken.
When we returned the night after, we were greeted by a plate of Jason and Ian’s brand new charcuterie – house cured meats with condiments, and suitable pickles.
At left – Chef Jason has his own cured meats at the Point No Point view restaurant – several types; salami, capicola, duck proscuitto, bread crisps, onions, pickled mushrooms, etc… click photo for the super size
This was a first meet with Chef Jason after a couple of phone interviews and a successful story pitch to EAT Magazine – the article appearing in the May June episode of EAT. Jason Neinaber is an imposing and intense 6’ 4” or so and takes his food very seriously – but is equally passionate and sharing with his knowledge of new culinary discoveries.
Andrea tried pork cutlets at this sitting and I – a couple of appetizers, home made rigatoni stuffed with a meaty and rich bolognese and, dig this, the seared scallops on a couple of things including sweetbreads… never had that before – look it up in lieu of me describing it… an interesting flavor and texture!
Point no point on the wicked, wild and windy West coast road is our secret get-away and stress buster. Cabins from around $195/day include private outdoor hot-tubs, super romantic views, full kitchens and a restaurant with some World class eats if you are so inclined. You can reach them at 250-646-2020… tell them Colin sent you.
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