Summer Food Fun and Drink Chapter 14 OTTO in the House · Monday July 13, 2009 by colin newell
OTTO arrived on the shores of North America today! Delivered to my door after what seems like a long, long wait.
You have read the stories before – and the blogs that I have put out over the last year or so.
And for all those watching the reemergence of the classic Atomic espresso maker (in the guise of a new Atomic – and a Sorrentina), OTTO was hotly anticipated.
And few were more excited than I was.
I have never even touched an Atomic or Atomic style coffee maker before – and I know the devotion, amongst collectors and users, is legendary.
So this is just a teaser – in what will become an entire series unto itself.
After taking OTTO out of its shipping crate, I was staggered at the raw weight of the unit. I will weigh it tomorrow – but apparently it clocks in at about 3 times the weight of the Atomic Classic.
And my first brew after a casual flirtation with the instructions?
OTTO knocked me out of the park with a crema rich espresso. With Craig Hiron and associate Ben on Video Skype in Sydney Australia – watching on pins – I gasped at the first sips of espresso and a cheer went up Down Under.
This was a truly delightful moment for me – and the boys in Australia. A sense of relief too. I mean, I had no idea how good this was going to be.
More coming!
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Summer Food Fun and Drink 2009 Chapter 8 Challah Toast · Monday July 6, 2009 by colin newell
There are moments that redefine comfort – those soothing snapshots in life where everything is simply wonderful, carefree – that fleeting moment we are not troubled by school yard bullies, bees, taxes, looming deadlines, angry relations and unmet expectations…
They come at unpredictable times. That sweet moment of placation when your mother scoops you out of a roll of thorny brambles, and hugs each imagined injury better… the joy of a first unexpected kiss… graduation day… a job offer… the Sunny horizon of retirement.
And the first sip of black coffee on a fragrant Spring morning…
…followed by a anticipatory nibble of a City’s great French toast.
Except it isn’t really French toast at all. It’s Challah toast from the one of my favorite bakeries – Bubby Roses on Cook Street near Meares Ave.
And as much as I would like to quantify the isotopes that make up this place – to return to that place at will and relive that peaceful, easy feeling…
I can’t.
But I have discovered that this particular bakery is as reliable as gravity when it comes to delivering the goods…
whether it’s fresh bread, or a flour-less chocolate torte, a vegan brownie or a cup of Java thick enough to stop time – and it often does…
or the Challah bread: sweet as love, drizzled with Canadian Maple syrup, anointed with organic yogurt and circled with a phalanx of mixed fresh fruits worthy of breakfast plate greatness.
Pucker up Baby, it’s Challah time!
Summer Fun Food and Drink 2009 - Chapter 4 Vancouver coffee report · Tuesday June 30, 2009 by colin newell
One of the advantages of spending 4 or 5 days doing nothing other than visiting coffee shops (away from home town) is:
You get a really good sense of what is going on in other major centers and you get an unconditional view.
Photo at right – drink beer for those times that coffee lets you down… and trust me, it lets you down.
And what I mean by unconditional is…
I can sample the wares of the city and (other than 1, maybe 2 spots) I am an utter unknown – just another middle aged guy sipping coffee.
No one knows or cares that I write about coffee culture – so I am not going to get any special treatment… pretty much guaranteed.
And if I was to boil down the cafe experience (anywhere) and address a roomful of individuals interested in doing the same (citizen journalism on cafe culture), I could come up with 3 of the most common scenarios when anonymously visiting a specialty coffee shop:
Engaged – Visiting AGRO for the first time, I found an interesting, interested and enthusiastic staff – who, even during my first cup of coffee, were asking how I liked it, describing some of its lineage and then following up with some personal stories of staff coffee travels. That is what I would describe as a fully engaged cafe.
Disengaged – Ever get the feeling you are walking into someones private party when you visit some of the more popular destination cafes in North America? Yea, the coffee is great – but there is still a house party going on around you. Staff are talking amongst themselves about one aspect of cafe culture or another… but not really interested in the experience you are having… beyond taking your money and serving you their brew. I call this the Barista Jam Cafe
There are several places in Victoria like this – you know where they are from personal experience – but you do not name names – at least online.
Grab bags – This kind of cafe is hit and miss. It is noted for great coffee, but only when the owner manager is around. No manager or owner (around) and it is anybodies guess what happens here. The clear majority of coffee joints I visit in North America are like this – but that, in part, has a lot to do with the way I travel and review promising coffee places.
Ok. So three groups. I would appreciate feedback. What have you, the readers, noted?
Summer Fun Food and Drink - 2009 - Chapter 3 - Coffee Podcast · Wednesday June 17, 2009 by colin newell
Coffeecrew.Com Podcast for June 2009 – a series we call Conversations
We interviewed Poul Mark of Transcend Coffee, Edmonton, Alberta – while he was visiting family and friends here in Victoria.
We met up with him at Habit Coffee & Culture – one of Victoria B.C.‘s finest coffee bars.
Have a listen!
or click here for the mp3 if you cannot see the above widget.
