Commercial Drive Vancouver - Life in the coffee time-tunnel · Saturday February 1, 2020 by colin newell
My take on Here comes the Sun…” Colin and Sean McCool on Guitar and Vocals
Here-Comes-The-Sun-V14.mp3Way back in 2008, I popped into Cafe Roma on Commercial Drive in Vancouver – a cafe that has a lot of history for this part of Vancouver and for me, some fond childhood memories!
One sunny mid-week Spring day, Dave, a contributor to the CoffeeCrew.com website, and I sampled the espressos and cappuccinos and tasted some delightful locally baked treats.
It reminded me of a unusually hot June of 1968, some 40 years earlier, as I walked down East 6th Avenue, Vancouver, towards Commercial Drive.
This was the first trip off of Vancouver Island and what started as a day trip turned into an overnight adventure as mom decided to hook up with some cousins in the big city.
Mom, who grew up in a multicultural enclave in Montreal, Quebec, had brought me over to Vancouver for the weekend to visit the Pacific National Exhibition and to see a big city for the first time. And what a cultural shock it was for a 11 year old to see something so different than sleepy small town Victoria.
Mom’s cousins lived on East 6th Avenue around 3 blocks from Commercial Drive – a big old character house the likes of which I had never seen before. The original block of houses remain in Vancouver to this day and walking the tree lined sidewalks in 2018 is like a memory drenched trip through a time tunnel.
On a Saturday morning in June 1968 I started the day with my young cousin Dennis by heading out for an exploration.
Only in the late 60’s would it seem perfectly normal for a couple of 11 year olds to head out into the urban jungle for a look see.
Turning onto Commercial Drive on this sunny Saturday late morning, Dennis and I walked down wide sidewalks past Italian delis, corner grocers and bustling cafes.
The street was full of life. Everything seemed brighter, louder, busier and decidedly more fragrant. For a naive kid from small town Victoria, I might as well have been on another planet.
The aroma of strong coffee, cured ham and fresh fruit drifted over the concrete beneath my feet. I stopped for a moment in front of a busy cafe. It seemed to be packed with men, young and old, entangled in a circle of loud conversation and broad hand gestures. They spoke Italian, a language my Montreal raised mother used with me when she was displeased.
A young couple caught my eye. They seemed disconnected from this humming umbilical of community.
A girl, likely in her twenties, wore a canary yellow sun-dress and her male friend, donned a wool suit. The suit seems softened by a few years worth of wear and somewhat sticky considering that it was a hotter than usual summer. Between his sips of strong looking coffee from an impossibly small cup and her demurely drawing from something that looked like a milkshake, they talked in a musical banter – words only they appeared to understand.
Dennis grabbed my shoulder and pulled me along. I looked back at the couple nodding and laughing. The girls hair moved up and down held in place by a daisy-yellow hair broach. Walking again, Dennis steered me into a green grocers hardly a door away from the cafe. With 90 cents in my pocket, a lot of money in 1968, I bought a chocolate bar, some pixie-sticks (fizzy candy in a paper tube) and a cola.
We exited the store and turned left towards the cafe again.
Caffe Roma is now buzzing louder as we strode towards my cousin’s avenue. The table where the young couple sat was now empty save for a cup and a glass. I spot them exiting onto the boulevard, hand in hand, her dress burning a permanent image into my mind, the itchy smell of his suit offering contrast. They vanished into a pulsating hive of urban humanity – a Saturday morning blend of shoppers, smokers, the odd smattering of fashionably clad hipsters and one wide-eyed child – me.
I look in the cafe window again flashing forward to the present. I stand outside of Caffe Roma on Commercial Drive and time has stood still just for me. The reflection in the window looks alternately young and slightly older.
Clouds pass by offering a broad selection of flattering light. CoffeeCrew contributing member Dave watches me for a moment before holding the door.
“Colin, let’s get some coffee…” he says.
The smells and sounds of the the Cafe and the street envelope me like an old gloved hand. For a moment I hold in my palm the paper tubes of fizzy candy and a half-eaten chocolate bar. Dave asks again, “What are you going to have, Colin?”
I order my usual when I am in a cafe for the first time – double espresso and a snack. In this case, they have very tasty looking apple turnovers. I get one.
The intensity of the Italian coffee and the tangy sweetness of the pastry are the perfect match. As I sip the beverage and feel the caffeine perking within me, I can almost hear the whispered conversations of the young lovers from so long ago at a nearby table. Where are they now? Have the years been kind? Most likely, their grandchildren are half-grown up, much as I was in 1968. I think about my marriage, now almost 2 decades in length, and how in places like these, time just stands still.
In the final moments before we leave for our next stop on the drive, the owner pops by to gather up our spent cups. I tell him the coffee is fabulous. His expression is priceless and without words – a combination of ‘of course it is son…’ and ‘I have a cafe to run today…’
As we step onto the still vibrant sidewalk of Commercial Drive, two ten year old boys approach on skate boards. One sails past me like a low flying seagull.
The other swishes to a stop and is immediately hypnotized by the activity in the cafe, the noise, the smells, the starling chatter of the old men.
The cycle continues season by season, year by year through the generations. We are thankful for our memories and the time we have ahead of us. Thanks for the memories Vancouver!
A few months later in 1968, Jimi Hendrix would play a stellar concert at the Pacific Coliseum and a couple of weeks before I arrived in Vancouver Robert Kennedy would be assassinated in Los Angeles during his presidential bid. Here in 2018, Caffe Roma is now part of the history books – but while in Vancouver, you can visit The Drive – Do so. You will be glad you did.
A Musical tribute…
My take on Here comes the Sun…” Colin and Sean McCool on Guitar and Vocals
Here-Comes-The-Sun-V14.mp3
Garden end-of-summer Pasta with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes · Saturday October 19, 2019 by colin newell
This time of the year, as Summer fades to Fall and Fall to Winter, a whole window of seasonal cuisine opens up – It’s time to get out to the garden and see what is fresh. And what’s fresh in our garden in October are the last of the tomatoes and lots of basil!
Grab some fresh pasta, broth, white wine, mushrooms and some amazing Parmagiano Reggiano cheese and get ready for great tastes!
Ingredients:
12 medium sized cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup fresh Basil chopped
6 large mushrooms sliced thinly
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/4 cup of white wine
1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
2 servings Penne pasta
1/2 cup Parmagiano reggiano cheese
Salt, Pepper and Italian seasoning to taste
Directions -
Put pasta on to boil
Saute pan on to heat with a splash of olive oil and butter.
Saute mushrooms – season with salt and pepper
5 minutes before pasta is finished cooking, pop the halved tomatoes into the pan.
Add Italian seasoning – and extra pepper if necessary
Added 1/4 cup of white wine to steam tomatoes – add 3/4 of the Basil
Let cook down for 1 – 2 minutes and add the chicken broth.
Making Pasta!
Summer-Pasta-2020.mp3
Look! New content! Sourdough waffles! · Monday August 5, 2019 by colin newell
Hey there strangers and friends. Long time no see.
One of my most popular recipes are my dairy free waffles It is a blog best seller.
These easy sourdough waffles are a byproduct of looking for one more twist on my 2008 sourdough starter – a starter that has tolerated neglect and abuse the likes of which would likely violate the Geneva convention.
Truth be told, I have not made waffles the entire time we have lived in our new house. That is over 5 years waffle free at home. Terrible.
My waffle maker (grill) has been languishing in the basement cold room the entire time. It needed an aggressive cleaning. Today I took it outside and put in on the sidewalk and cranked the heat. It had more blackened grease and ash on it than than a heat shield on the Space Shuttle. Anyway, all cleaned and time to dive in.
Day One (the night before…)
1 cup sourdough starter (fed that day)
1½ cups unbleached white flour
1 cup water
Next morning.
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons sugar, optional
Instructions
Combine sourdough starter, flour, and water in a glass mixing bowl.
Depending on thickness of your starter you might have to adjust water. Cover and let sit overnight.
The next day preheat and oil your waffle iron.
Stir all remaining ingredients together (salt, baking soda, vanilla, melted butter, eggs, and sugar if desired) and pour on top of the sourdough mixture.
Stir with a fork until combined.
Cook in waffle maker until golden brown… usually 3 or 4 minutes depending on the iron.
Top with butter, fresh fruit and Canadian maple syrup.
This waffle mix makes stupendous pancake batter – depending on your sourdough starter, the cakes and waffles have a tangy twist as well as a gentle sweetness. All things equal, you can take or leave adding the sugar.
Colin Newell is a 20+ year blogger, editor creator of coffeecrew.com and a foodie about town – town being Victoria B.C. Canada.
Great coffee in Ottawa - creating a list - checking it twice. · Tuesday April 30, 2019 by colin newell
Origin Trade (111 York St.)
Origin Trade is in the Byward Market. …coffee beverages stellar, but the atmosphere and aesthetic of the cafe is awesome too. It’s a cozy setting is the perfect place to come study with a friend during the fall season.
Bridgehead (Various)
This socially responsible local chain was the first company in the nation to serve fair trade coffee. Specializing in specialty grade beans, their goal is to connect the producer with the customer in a meaningful way.
The Ministry of Coffee (279 Elgin Street)
The Ministry of Coffee is all about innovative brewing technologies. They rotate their drink menu every week, with selections coming from all over the continent. They do courses on home coffee prep.
Café Morala (734 Bank St.)
If you’re looking for some coffee with a Latin American flare, we recommend Café Morala! They offer various coffee and hot beverage options such as Americano and Mexican hot chocolate, along with delish Latin American pastries and sandwiches like empanadas, tamales and much more.
Happy Goat Coffee Co. (35 Laurel Street)
Happy Goat Coffee treats coffee like an art form and are happy to educate their customers about the different types available and their origins. Roasting only the most superior beans, the niche coffee company aims to protect their environment through sustainable small scale farming which supports diversity and local economies. They also sell three or six-month coffee subscriptions on their website.
Quitters Coffee (1523 Main Street South – Stittsville)
Casual cafe by day and bar by night, this independent coffee shop features chic décor, outdoor seating and quality service. Their coffee menu is constantly changing and they carry various local brands of craft beer and wine. They also serve a fantastic breakfast and lunch.
Equator Coffee (412 Churchill Avenue / 1 Elgin St. (NAC))
Equator coffee strives for good service and amazing brews. Everything they do is focused on their three main pillars: “Fresh Roasting, Fair Trade Purchasing and Organic Certification.” They value investment in and commitment to their local and global communities; they partner with SchoolBox to bring classrooms and school supplies to Central America. We especially recommend their newest location at the recently-renovated National Arts Centre! Relaxing with a beautiful view of Elgin street through its floor-to-ceiling windows.
Grounded Kitchen, Coffee & Bar (100 Gloucester Street)
Founded in the summer of 2010 by Amir Rahim and Gabriel Pollock, Grounded is definitely down to Earth with simple, natural grub and stellar coffee. The open kitchen concept of the Centretown establishment tries to evoke the feeling of an outdoor market while indoors. Much of the interior has been recycled and or refurbished, such as the whiskey barrel bar or the pair of wood carts once owned by the Museum of Civilization, lending it an eclectic vibe.
Morning Owl Coffeehouse + Parlour (Various Locations)
Morning Owl is owner Jordan O’Leary’s way of celebrating his family’s Abruzzese roots. Using organic and direct trade Little Victories coffee, this shop offers all types of coffee concoctions, including lactose-free options. Drinks range from flat whites to undertows to lattes in a variety of original flavours, such as Nut N’ Honey, Peppermint Patty, Nutella and Snickers. They have four locations scattered throughout the city.
Francesco’s (48 Jamie Avenue)
This award-winning artisan coffee chain roasts their coffee to order, using state-of-the-art equipment to make 10 to 60 kilo batches every 17 minutes. Thick roasting drums and precise control and cooling technology make some of the best coffee around. They can even deliver your custom order to your front door in under 36 hours from the time of roasting.
