The Joy of Coffee

This evening, as soon as the kids were in bed, I dashed out to get to a toy store in the city centre before it closed. I needed to pick up a present for our daughter's birthday. It's not until next week, but I have this awful habit of seeing something great and waiting to get it/book it/see it and then wind up missing it all together. So many times! Anyway, I got there just before they closed and managed to buy the item I wanted - last on the shelf.

While I was in the area I thought I'd head around corner to go and see The Dark Knight. Unfortunately all the viewings for the rest of the evening were sold out. (Nicoley has a review).

Fortunately I had a back-up plan prepared: a book under my arm and the knowledge that it was just a couple of minutes walk, over the River Liffey, and into Temple Bar. I love the Temple Bar area and don't get down there nearly enough. It has a great buzz about the place especially in the evening. I knew I would find somewhere good for coffee and I wasn't disappointed.

I stoped in to The Joy of Coffee. Immediately I liked it. It is a small coffeehouse with a distinct continental feel to it - solid wooden tables, a simple vase of flowers and chairs that creak. Ireland has had a smoking ban in public places for a few years now which I am very pleased about, but I must admit that the occasional whiff of smoke blowing in through the open door from passers by did add a little something extra. I wish we all could have got together and sat around one of the big tables.

I headed for the rear of the cafe, a darkened area with a bar and stools across the back wall and only a small lamp to give any light. It gave me a view of behind the counter where I could watch the staff pull the shots and serve slices of cheesecake drizzled with caramel. I sat next to the lamp in order to read my book, Surprised by Hope (which Tea4Two says she is going to review ;-)

In choosing my drink I opted for something different that usual: a cortado. I'd not heard of it before so I thought I'd give it a try. It's a shot of espresso with a dash of steamed milk and a touch of foam - basically a mini latte. I really liked it and could picture myself having one each morning. It's espresso with a bit of the edge taken off. Nice.

I left the cafe thinking it would ages before I would come back again then it dawned on me that it would take less than 10 minutes to cycle there and I wouldn't have to worry about finding somewhere to park in the city. Plus they are open late!

This is just as well because I think the seats by the large window at the front looking out on to the cobbled streets of Temple Bar seem very appealing.

Lost in Translation

I was in a cafe the other day and a group of tourists from France came in, excitedly. I wouldn't have described the cafe as something of Parisian quality (although I'm sure there are some bad cafes in Paris), but the group felt it worthy of taking a photo nonetheless.

One lady took charge, ordered the other half dozen or so women to move chairs, get from behind menus and freeze in a suitable pose.

I don't know an awful lot of French, but I've remembered a few words here and there (un café s'il vous plait). So I smiled when I heard the photographer's request:

"Dites le fromage!"

I think the meaning behind the phrase got somewhat lost along the way.

Thanks Wallace

I'm finally getting around to making some changes to the look of my blog, but I just wanted to say thanks to Wallace (he is currently swimming in shark infested waters! Well, wading in them at least.) for setting up and taking the photo that is my current header.

Thanks!

Pray As You Go

It might be that you like to take a few minutes quiet out of your day to spend some time in reflection or reading or praying. To help and encourage me in my faith journey I think this aspect is important. However, (as I've said before) I'm not very good at keeping the discipline.

I wish I was one of those people who could get up at day break, make a pot of coffee and retreat to a room in the house where you spend some time with God. But I'm not, so I'm always looking for fresh ways to make this connection.

I have come across Pray As You Go which is a site run by the British Jesuits. It's a ten minute or so daily podcast (Mon-Fri) that includes a piece of music, a Bible reading, a thought and some space for private prayer. It's a contemplative way of connection with God which you can do sitting at your computer, or put it on you mp3 player and take it with you! I subscribe through itunes (you don't need an ipod) which makes it easy to have ready when I want it.

Today's (23rd July) piece of music is particularly beautiful. Maybe you would find the site helpful too?

Why I Dislike Iced Tea

Jessie made a comment about the joys of iced tea - and questioned it being the worst thing in the world I have ever had. Ok, so there are worse things in life than iced tea. Much worse. However...

Want to know why I don't like the stuff?

Back in 1994, during a summer break from studying film and TV at college (what a great way to spend a few years at college!) I worked at a Salvation Army summer camp in California (what a great way to spend the summer!) Two major life events occurred at Camp Gilmore. I feel in love with a lifeguard from Ohio who later became my wife. I also realised, in a more grown-up sort of way, that God loved me too and there was nothing I could do about it. However, neither of these points have anything to do with iced tea.

Summer in California is hot. And dry. The whole season I was there it almost threatened to drizzle once, but didn't actually manage to muster itself up to that point. Kind of the complete opposite of an Irish summer.

It was on a particularly hot afternoon, after a hike through the camp trails, that I entered the dinning area and spotted the tables all prepared for the evening meal. On top of the tables were jugs (pitchers) of icy cold, golden coloured drinks. My taste buds, parched as they were, worked up the ability to send signals to my brain to inform me that one of my favourite drinks was ready and waiting for my consumption. The pre-thought of flavour flooded my mouth as I poured a glass and took a huge gulp of apple juice..............no wait!

Iced tea!

Unsweetened!!!

My senses were devastated and I've never returned to the vile stuff again.


By the way, any hot tea drinker worth their salt will tell you that on a warm day a cup of tea is more refreshing than a cold drink.

Heavenly Cafe

My wonderful wife suggested that I go out for the morning by myself. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I put a book in my backpack and jumped on my bike to find a cafe that was open at 9:00am on a Saturday. The one I wanted to go to wasn't open yet, but just down the street was one that was open and I had been meaning to go to it for a while now - the Heavenly Cafe.

I'm not sure really why it is called Heavenly Cafe. I should have asked. I'm sure I'll go back again because they had quite a nice looking breakfast menu. I just stuck to a latte and blueberry muffin (served with cream!?).

You have probably noticed at restaurants or cafes that waiting staff are given a little signal to let them know that an order is ready - maybe a light is switched on or someone jingles a little bell. I had to smile in the way they did it at the Heavenly Cafe. It was the sound of a doorbell - you know, bing-bong. I imagined sitting in a cafe in heaven, hearing a doorbell and thinking, 'Oh, someone must have just arrived!'

13 of 24

My wife works so hard with our kids and doesn't get the breaks she deserves. So this morning I suggested that I drop her off, on her own, at a large bookshop while I take the three kids (almost 4yrs, 2 yrs, and 8 weeks) to a café. Oh man, was that ever a mistake? I did have an ulterior motive and it was to get a latte from a Starbucks that I haven't visited yet in my effort to get a coffee from every Starbucks in Ireland. You need to know that they only arrived on these shores about two years ago. Now they are opening thick and fast and I'm not sure how I'm going to visit the one at Cork Airport. I've had 75% visitation, but now I'm down to just over 50%.

I have to say, it didn't really matter today that I couldn't enjoy a relaxed coffee and muffin as the store I visited has to be the worst location for a Starbucks I've ever been in! Never mind, I can cross it off my list and won't have to go back again.

Ironically, I have yet to visit the Starbucks just a three minute cycle ride from my home!

One for the Tea Ladies

I gather that there are some readers who wouldn't touch a cup of coffee with a barge pole. Fair enough, I understand. I feel the same way about mushrooms and coconut. However, it would appear that you do like to drink tea. (I trust it is the hot variety and not – I can hardly bring myself to say it – iced tea. I'd rather have a bowl of Thai style mushroom soup.)

It is certainly no bad thing to like tea. Actually I probably drink more tea than coffee each day, but will rarely "go out" for tea. Anyway, for tea drinkers everywhere, can I recommend a book that my wife picked up for me today during her hour of leisure? It's a book about the great British cuppa and all that goes along with that. It could equally be about the great Irish cuppa as, I think, the Irish drink more tea per capita than the English. The book is called Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down. If you are from this general area of the world you will instantly understand this cultural reference, nod your head and think, yes, I do like to sit down at some point in the day with a nice cup of tea. It's just what you do.

The book covers everything you need for a basic understanding of tea – the tea bag, the tea pot, choice of cup or mug, etc. But there's more: As the book says, "A cup of tea without a biscuit is a wasted opportunity." So there is an extensive section on all things biscuity with reviews of some of the most popular biscuits – Custard Creams, Digestives, Shorties, Malted Milk, Lincoln, Tunnock's Wafer, Fig Rolls, Hob-Nobs, Party Rings, Mint Viscounts, and much more! Kimberleys get a mention as do Oreos (although Oreos are not looked upon with the same nostalgic charm on this side of the Pond). There is also a shorter section on cakes (including the debate, is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit?), plus a section at the end on the actual sitting down process of the tea break.

Apparently it is a very funny book. I say apparently because I only read the first chapter before my wife picked it up and started laughing out loud from the sofa while she fed the baby and I fed the kids.

The authors also have a website which I have previously mentioned.

Now, have you put the kettle on yet?

Latte

I've often wondered why lattes are sometimes served in a glass, rather than a traditional mug or cup. Today I think I found out the potential of why.

This evening I made my self-promised return to Rotana Cafe for a latte and some baklava. I was not disappointed.

Maybe it was because, when I arrived, I was the only person in the cafe that the server took such care with my drink - or maybe she treats each act of service the same way. No matter, what was presented to me was a picture. Sitting at the western facing window with the evening sun warming the view, and being in no particular rush, I took the time to take admire this act of micro-art:

The latte, served in a clear glass, was comprised of three tones of brown. At the bottom was a creamy coffee colour followed above by a wide band the colour of caramel. The top layer looked like it was a rich, hot chocolate the dark shade of which contrasted against the cap of foam - a clean, pure white head of froth. And then - the piece de resistance - a single espresso bean decorated the top.

I watched the bean as it slowly...slowly...very slowly sank through its foam bed and was baptised into the essence of its own becoming.

Delightful.