Milk and Roses

This highly romantic, Italian cafe, located in Brooklyn is agreed, internet-wide, to be a "charming, unassuming gem of Greenpoint", and I would have to agree. My boyfriend and I arrived around 5 pm on a Sunday in early August. It was a very quiet atmosphere and almost everybody was in the back enjoying the beautiful Summer weather in the al-fresco seating area.

Everywhere I turn in this place, I feel like I've stumbled upon a still-life of old European antiquity. It's like I've walked into some kind of Casablanca-esque film-noir.

The inside has a huge collection of books, which I have learned was collected over time by the owner and his wife! I have no idea if anyone ever reads these books, or if there is some kind of lending policy, or if they are just for show, but I'd love to hear more about it if anyone knows!

In the back, you can see a piano that is in use on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekends when they feature live music. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to catch the show that night.

Porchetta Panini with Gorgonzola, Mustard, and Caramelized Onions- $12

Unfortunately, I do not remember where there bread is from (although I know they do not bake it on site), but it was amazing.

Chicken Panini with Basil Pesto, Tomato, and CaciocaVallo- $12

Again, I don't know what kind of salad this was but it had just the perfect amount of dressing. It's weird for me to say this about a plain salad but it was one of the best I've ever had.

My iced latte was served in a Hoegarden glass, which I thought was kinda funny given how cute and studied the rest of the atmosphere seemed to be (note the diamond paned jelly jars and the unmarked wine bottle containing water). It was very strong but eventually mellowed in flavor, probably done on purpose to counter the ice melting into my drink. 

The outside seating was not too crowded, with just a scattering of customers ranging from their 20's- 40's, some were working away on their laptops. It's definitely romantic, but also a slightly beer-garden vibe, probably due to the fact that this cafe also serves wines and beers.

Despite the amount of people, it was a very subdued and muted atmosphere, and there was a definite feeling of privacy. You can hear a gentle clink of dishes and running water coming from the open kitchen window. At one point, one of the cooks was standing in the kitchen doorway companionably chatting up a near-by table.

After we were seated, the waitress lit a citronella candle and placed it on the ground underneath our table to ward off bugs. The lemony scent of the citronella gently mixed with the cedar chips carpeting the ground.

Each seating area is sectioned off in some way, with plants. Here we have rosemary, cabbage, sage, and cilantro or parsley in little pots around our table.

I wish I had taken a picture of the menu as it looked like it was hand-written on an old-fashioned envelope with red & white diagonal stripes around the edge. Very old-world. Milk and Honey does not have a formal web-site but there are many reviews online, usually glowing, and there is a link to the menu here.

All in all, I'm still not quite sure what to make of this place. It's definitely on the romantic side, maybe trying a little too hard, but you can't argue with how excellent the food is and the price is not bad considering. BTW- I've read that they have a happy hour from 5-7 during the week. Also, they don't accept cards, so be sure to bring cash! 

I can't help but feel that I am trying to find something wrong with it when there is nothing really to point out. Maybe it is that it is a true cafe and I am used to going to little coffee-shops, but I couldn't quite figure out how I felt about the atmosphere. Was it romantic? Relaxed Sunday brunch with friends? Energetic study session?

Maybe I just need to go back at a time when there is more going on. I just felt like I was catching someone in the middle of getting dressed. Not quite on their game. But, maybe that's the whole point of this place: casual, relaxed, anything-goes.

(photos by: Nathanael Maharaj)

Cup

Cup is a cute and bright little neighborhood coffee-shop located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I was surprised to learn that there are actually quite a few great independent restaurants and coffee-shops in this area. I have spent very little time in this area and Manhattan Ave. (the main drag in that area) seemed very unassuming. Cup is located off of the Nassau Ave stop on the G train. Greenpoint is just North of the oh-so-trendy Williamsburg and, while popularin it's own right, is kind of like the slightly less cool little sister of Williamsburg.

My boyfriend and I went there on a Sunday afternoon in early August and I really had to look for the place, hoping that my Google Maps directions were not leading me astray. (usually my motto is: 'Trust in Google') It did not help that it was a weekend and, as usual, the MTA was having 'issues', but sure enough we found Cup, a bright emerald gem, in the middle of a very quiet and residential block. There was another interesting shop right next door, Brooklyn Mac, and I still can't believe we didn't try it.

There were a lot of cute gardens in the neighborhood and I really got the feeling that Cup was a popular community spot.

Cup's claim to fame is their Cococano (advertised above). It is basically an Americano made with coconut water and apparently a great hangover cure... so of course I had to get one! The barista helpfully recommended adding a lot of milk to help adjust to the flavor. He also said that if you're not used to it, it can be a bit of an acquired taste and I have to agree. I was getting used to it by the time I was about half-way through but I'm not sure I will ever order it again. It's a shame I didn't really like it because I've read other reviews on Yelp that say the coffee there is great and brewed from local roasters! I guess it doesn't always pay to go for the gimmick.

Luckily there was no wait when we got there on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but I can easily imagine the line going out the door with early weekday commuters. The interior is on the tiny side, but it has very cute window seat with a little community library! The policy is: you bring a book, you take a book! Brilliant! They even had a decent selection of children's books!

It's surprising to me that their website is such a basic webpage, rather than the elaborate setup that most of their competitors seem to have, especially considering they have been opened since 2009. Their webpage includes a description, location, hours, and an email to contact them. Perhaps that is because they seem to be a much smaller setup then other chain spots (imagine running a coffee shop out of a garage). Come to think of it, most of the companies with an elaborate site, classes, etc have at least two locations.

Actually, visiting Cup has really given me hope for my own ventures. It can be very intimidating seeing the highly polished cafes that NYC offers but Cup proves that good coffee is really all you need to be successful. 

FYI- Cup takes cash only.

On a side note, we were also hunting for good record stores (it's one of the only ways I can lure my boyfriend into coming with me on my reviews). We were having a nice discussion with the barista and when we told him we were looking for record stores, he recommended a place just two blocks away called: Co-Op 87! Luckily they placed this sign at the corner or we would have had a really hard time finding it. It's very easy to walk past it in this residential area. Incidentally, it's a great record store and the salesperson was very funny and helpful. Definitely a place to check out while you drink your coffee from Cup.

Fairhope, Alabama, Part 1: 'Latte Da'

I spent the 4th of July on vacation in Fairhope, Alabama to visit my grandmother and some other family members, and of course I had to check out some of the local coffee spots! The first place I am reviewing is a long-time favorite of my family's, located in the heart of downtown Fairhope, called Latte Da. 

The Handle on the door is made from a piece of driftwood!

Many people may not know this about Fairhope, but it has a large community of local artists, writers, and other creative types. This dreamy bay-side community located off of Mobile Bay & the Gulf of Mexico is steeped in history and southern charm, and is quite proud of their burgeoning artistic community! This little spot is a great place to pick up a book and a cup of coffee and spend the day reading away. My idea of heaven!

The steel siding used around the base of the counter can also be found on the roofs of many of the houses in the Fairhope area.

I spy a bookstore!

The Page and Palette Bookstore connects directly to the Latte Da! coffee shop. This is a common feature among the shops in the historic district, which helps promote local, small businesses. I think this is a great practice! I love the idea that, instead of competing with each other, they realize that the best way to survive is to help each other and feed off of each others' strengths. Not to mention that it really helps to make it feel like a real community effort.

This lighting fixture is so unique I can't help but imagine that it's from one of the local artists!

Iced Latte

Shamrock: White Chocolate, Espresso, & Irish Cream

They had some really creative drinks and it's a shame I only got to try the one, but The Shamrock definitely fulfilled it's implied promise of being a sugary treat that hit the spot on a hot July morning. They incorporate ice-cream into many of their espresso and non-espresso drinks, which makes it a great place to stop for the kids too! The Iced Latte was pretty much what you would expect for a standard latte- a good balance of espresso and milk that needed little to no sugar.

So. Many. Choices. Aaaaaah!

Other side of the door, with the driftwood handlebar.

This place is a great spot to try something new & exciting but I get the impression that this is not the spot for a gourmet cup of coffee. However, they must be doing something right if they have stayed in business for 10 plus years, so I feel that there is something to be learned here. They don't pretend to be something they're not. There is no pretension here. Just like the local community, they are charming, casual, and quirky. They definitely know their market and I can see why it's a local favorite. Overall, I would give this place 4 stars for a relaxing & charming atmosphere and creative drink choices, and a 3 for quality.

Photos by Nathanael Maharaj

9th Street Espresso

February 1st, 2011

Minimalist is the word. And the word is good.

We managed to find 9th St Espresso around 5 o'clock at the Tompkins Square location and, just like the logo, this place is sparse!

9th St. Espresso Logo

They proudly displayed their A rating and Zagat recommendation. Their only splash of color in a black, white, and chrome world coming from a framed coffee flavor wheel and one piece of art.

Wheel. Of. Flavor!

Barista Doin' Her Thang

Even the blackboard menu contained only six items. There were people scattered around the interior, quietly reading or working on their computers (Be warned- the wi-fi is free, the seat is not.) The Smiths played quietly in the background. The barista was a study in Parisian cool in a black t-shirt, jeans, a black crochet barret, and a single braid casually thrown over one shoulder. I expected a mime to appear at any moment.


Other than the slight over-the-top atmosphere, I was pleasantly surprised by this place! I ordered a macchiato and the foam art was beautiful. The flavor was quite nice too! I tried sipping it straight, without sugar, and while it was a little too bitter to last for long, it was surprisingly smooth with very little sourness, or acidity, to it! Once I added a little sugar, it was perfect!

Yummy Macchiato!

It seems like a great place to go to enjoy a bit of quiet and caffeine. I loved the tin ceiling tiles and (for all you native New Yorkers) the bathroom was fully stocked and pristine. (A true Rare Find in New York City.) I also bought some Alphabet City Roast, ground perfectly for my pour-over. Again, a little bitter, but I'm trying to branch away from my beloved French roast and Columbia Finca. I think with a little tinkering, I could come to love it. As I found out in my Cupping Lab, there's no wrong way, it's all about your personal preference and what you enjoy. I usually like mine rich with a lot of milk and a little sugar, but I've found that for me the Alphabet City blend tastes best with my usual sugar and just a splash of milk.

Display O'Stuff

Their baked goods are from Balthazar Bakery, but, being late in the day, I was a little afraid to try any. I think if they had had more in their case, I would have been a little more tempted to try. As it was, the cookies looked cold and lonely in their half-filled case. Maybe next time.

Lonely Cookies

Over-all, the atmosphere wasn't really my style, but it might be worth it to go back just for the great coffee and space to think.

Cupping Lab

January 23, 2011

If anyone recalls my previous post regarding a coffee shop review of Joe & the Art of Coffee, you may remember me mentioning the classes they offer there. Well, I finally did it and went to one of their free Cupping Labs!

I rushed over to their 13th St. location after work and barely managed to make it. By the way, they do offer seating at this location! Hallelujah! Although, all of said seating seemed to be taken at that moment. It was a very lively Friday night and the caffeinated patrons were definitely buzzing. After asking the barista where the class was, she informed me that everyone was waiting until the manager was ready and then she would announce the class. While I waited, I looked at the art on the walls from local artists and the ginormous blackboard behind the counter. I was marveling at the lofty position of the manager's office, which you had to reach by ladder into a whole in the wall, when the manager popped out of the office whole, climbed halfway down the ladder, stopped, turned around, and with a Japanese teakettle in one hand and the other clinging to the ladder she made the announcement of  the beginning of the lab. She looked like a jaunty coffee pirate. She had short black hair in a pixy cut, a plaid shirt, jeans, a grey sailors cap, 2 lip rings at the left corner of her mouth and a crystal stud sparkling from her right cheekbone. We all followed our fearless leader past a tall fridge crammed with milk, squeezed past a couple of trashcans and walked down a narrow staircase into the basement. The first thing I noticed was the smell of coffee everywhere. Heaven. It was a room filled with sinks and shelves of coffee machines and coffee paraphernalia, so I wont describe every little detail. It was amazing though.

 

Buono Coffee Drip Kettle $59

Everyone who showed up for the class was very friendly and eager to learn. There were people from Spain, Greece, Japan, and NY (of course). Most of the 10 person crowd seemed middle aged, but we were all newbies to the cupping experience and we were told that we would not be doing a blind cupping today because of that.

Our pirate queen led us through the ritual as precise as any Japanese tea ceremony. She seemed to be very knowledgeable and told us how she had started in Seattle (the coffee capitol of the US) and had helped to test some of the first of the elusive Clover machines!

 

We learned how to experience the coffee in its many forms, with all of our senses. We had three regions to test from:  Brazil, El Salvador and Rwanda. We smelled it dry, we smelled it wet, we broke the crust and smelled it again, we tasted it hot, we tasted it cold. We tried to identify all the different nuances of flavor, acidity, mouth-feel, and aftertaste. (Interesting Tip- you taste so much more of the flavor when it's cold than when it's hot!)

In the end, I decided my favorite was Brazil and, a close second, was Rwanda. All in all, it lasted an hour and I was sad to see it end. It was nice to be around so many people who shared the same passion as me. I thought it was a great experience and would definitely recommend more classes.

Has anyone else been to one of these classes? How was your class compared to mine? I'd love to hear your story!