Food Lush

Clearance Coffee

by Tara

Here's something I'd like to recommend: go to Target right now and buy some Christmas Blend coffee by Archer Farms. I love coffee (no secret there), and this is one of the best blends I've ever tried.

It's so good! It's spicy but not too dark, and really smooth, and not Christmasy, but somehow worked to get me in the Christmas spirit. It's on clearance right now, so you can get it cheap! I got some for $5.85 yesterday. Go get some before it's all gone!

You won't be disappointed.

Do you have a favorite seasonal treat?

(Personal photos)

Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans

by Maura

I consider myself a lucky, lucky girl to have spent the past weekend in New Orleans with sixty awesome women. Thanks to the organizers of the Blathering, I had a wonderful time socializing and eating delicious food. The epicurean highlight of my trip was the beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde.

(Image Credit: Wikipedia)

These delightful pieces of fried dough are better than any funnel cake you've ever had. They are slightly crispy on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside. Coated in a thick layer of powdered sugar, these beignets melt in your mouth. The beignets at Cafe Du Monde were different than any other beignets I've ever eaten -- slightly denser and square. You can buy the beignet mix at almost any souvenir shop in New Orleans, although I don't know how they could compare to the original.

(Image credit: Cafe Du Monde)

The coffee, too, was incredible; a mix of dark French Roast coffee and chickory. According to Cafe Du Monde's website, the combination of coffee and chickory was discovered by the French during the French Revolution. Coffee was scarce, and the French added roasted, ground chickory to improve the body and flavor to weak coffee. Additionally, the chickory -- which is the root of the endive plant -- softens the bitterness of dark roasted coffee. I brought back a can of Cafe Du Monde's coffee to share with my fiance. 

Have you been to Cafe Du Monde?

Off the Beaten Path: Gems in Downtown Napa

by Caitlin

Ask anyone about a trip to Napa and they'll probably start discussing all their favorite vineyards, tasting rooms, and restaurants. A trip to Napa most often consists of a trip to Napa valley and the towns surrounding Napa proper (Yountville, Saint Helena, Sonoma). What I didn't realize when I started planning my first trip out there (and asking for advice, which I received here in spades, and was very grateful for) is that Napa itself is a town, with a downtown area and everything. The past few years have not been kind to the city of Napa, and a lot of businesses have closed. So while the wineries and restaurants in the surrounding area seemed to have flourished (and please correct me if I'm wrong on that), downtown Napa can be a little depressing, with empty storefronts. My husband and I stayed in downtown Napa, though, and boy are we glad we did. We truly couldn't have picked better. 

To start, we arrived at our hotel (The Avia Napa) on a Thursday. Apparently we timed it well, as on the first Thursday of the month during the summer they shut off the street right in front of the hotel for a Chef's Market. We spent the evening wandering around listening to live music, drinking local wine and beer, and sampling all kinds of delicious food from various local vendors. It was a delightful way to start our trip. And I'm saying this as someone who normally finds street festivals to be kind of overwhelming and overrated. To me they're usually too crowded and it's not worth standing in line for mediocre food. Not the case here. We did stand in a few lines, but it wasn't suffocatingly crowded and we met so many great people; locals who were happy to stand around a table in the middle of the street chatting over a glass of wine with a couple of tourists. Including, oddly, a couple who had their two young kids with them named Zach & Caitlin. (This will only be odd if you recall that my husband's name is Zach. It also may be a lot funnier after 3 or 4 beers.)

 

Photo by me.

The next morning my husband woke up early and went in search of good coffee (necessary, on a number of levels). He found a place on Yelp with stellar reviews, and went to check it out. Molinari Caffe was everything Yelp said it would be and more. Zach struck up a conversation with the owner, Rick, and came back to the hotel room telling me what a nice guy he was, and how well he knew his coffee. And Rick does know his stuff: that coffee was perfect, let me tell you. We ended up going back there every day.

Photo from napavalleyregister.com.

We were actually in Napa for a wedding, so we went to plenty of other restaurants and wineries in Napa Valley while attending wedding events and celebrations. We also had a few extra days to spend on our own, and were constantly popping in and out of the hotel. At one point we found a flyer in our room for the Napa Valley Toffee Company, which was next door to the hotel. Again we turned to the yelp reviews, and again they didn't let us down. 

They also have a wine and espresso bar and one afternoon we were in desperate need of caffeine, so we wandered next door for some refreshment. While we were there we chatted with the woman who helped us, and told her we'd come by because of the blurb the hotel had put out. (It turns out she was the owner, and she hadn't seen the hotel flyer, apparently the hotel just loves the toffee?) (We brought one down for her the next day.) We sampled some toffee, and it was quuuuite good so we got a bunch for gifts, and while we were chatting, asked if she could recommend a nearby restaurant that was off the beaten path a bit, where locals go. She recommended Carpe Diem Wine Bar, and, you guessed it, it was another Yelp hit. 

 

Photo from tripadvisor.com.

We happened to hit it on the night they were celebrating their two year anniversary, and it was very crowded. We were lucky and surprised to find the last two seats at the bar. We were further surprised to sit down right next to Rick, from Molinari Caffe, whom Zach had met the day before. We ended up having dinner and chatting with he and a few of his friends at the bar all night, and it was a truly memorable evening. (As a bonus, he supplies their coffee and ordered one of his newest brews for us to try.)

As for Carpe Diem itself, it was my first chance to try what's become a favorite bubbly: Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs. It was recommended by a Food Lush reader, and I probably would never have tried it if not for her. Thanks, Elz! We tried a bunch of things, and our favorite was the boar meatballs. The crispy, goat cheese stuffed olives were great, and we also enjoyed one of the flatbreads and the alligator tacos, which were that night's specialty. Rick ordered the ostrich burger and when we saw it served we were sorry we didn't have enough room for one!

We hit plenty of the well-traveled places you've probably heard about in Napa (Ad Hoc, Bouchon Bakery, Domaine Chandon, etc.), and we really enjoyed them all. But we also loved making these memories of places we'd never have imagined or planned on going to, and we're so glad we did. We met some truly wonderful, gracious people and got to share delicious things with them in beautiful Napa. What's better than that?

Have you been to Napa? Have you found any hits off the beaten path?

Reader Poll: How do you take your coffee?

by Caitlin

My first real job (as in, not babysitting, but actually using my social security number and getting a fancy check) was working at a coffee shop. It helped fuel my burgeoning taste for coffee. I was 15. (Or 14? Maybe 14. I was on that job as soon as I was legally allowed to work.)

 
Hey, here's where I worked! Where my Rhode Islanders at? You know they've reopened a few locations? This picture was taken last summer.

I started drinking coffee regularly in high school, in part because of this job. Writing that out seems kind of crazy, but it didn't at the time. Coffee was cool. (I guess?) I took my coffee various ways in high school, but I distinctly recall that at one point I took it with (prepare to judge me) 8 sugars (OMFG) and half skim milk. Disgusting. 

It evolved over the years. I drank it in college with milk (occasionally cream) and a far more reasonable amount of sugar -- maybe a teaspoon or two. Out of school I continued to drink it this way. As the years went by I eventually cut out sugar completely. Somehow during this time, my husband went from using lots of sugar and dairy-free powdered creamer (ew.), to taking it black. I was in no way ready to drink my coffee black, and didn't see myself ever going there. 

You can see where this is going, yes? I now drink my coffee black, 90% of the time. I don't even really remember how it happened. I seem to recall slowly cutting back on the amount of milk in my cup and here I am. We make our coffee at home and between the two of us we drink a pot every day, black. I just LIKE the taste of coffee. Well, good coffee. If I get a coffee out and it's not that great, I add a splash of milk (and maybe a sugar, if it's iced).

As a kid I always remember my grandmother drinking her coffee black, and I just couldn't understand how anyone could do that. Does this mean I'm also going to start playing bridge and discussing my bursitis with anyone who'll listen?  I guess our tastes really do change over time. That Bess Eaton iced coffee I had last summer after a ten year hiatus was nowhere near as good as I remember.

So readers, I'm curious. Tell me, how do you take your coffee? Has it changed over the years?

Photo from jacksonscoffeeandgelato.com

S'mores Lattes at Home

By A'Dell

I love my Nespresso Citiz an awful lot. We're almost a year into ownership and I'm SUPER happy with the machine, product, performance, and ease of re-ordering capsules. Good buy, that Nespresso Citiz Espresso machine.

I like the coffee well enough with a splash of steamed milk, but what I really like to do is load up my cup with flavored syrups. We've amassed quite a variety of your standard falvors (Vanilla, Almond) plus some offbeat bottles (Macadamia Nut, Raspberry, Cinnamon). My favorite these days is Toasted Marshmallow from Monin.

It's really good. My husband bought this one and I rolled my eyes because COME ON that sounds sounds a little gross. But if you pair it with chocolate? YOU HAVE CREATED A S'MORES LATTE. (No graham flavor, but you can add some vanilla syrup if you feel like it.) Would you care for an official list of ingredients?

Espresso and Steamed Milk (whatever ratios float your boat)

One teaspoon to one tablespoon of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix, depending on your desired level or chocolate-y

One-half to one pump of Monin Toasted Marshmallow Syrup 

Optional: One-half pump of Vanilla syrup

This sounds like The Next Big Coffee Thing at Starbucks, doesn't it? (S'MORES LATTES! OMG! PEOPLE WILL FLOCK!) Well, now you can save yourself a stack of five-dollar-bills and make them at home before they get around this hot flavor profile.

I buy my syrups for about $7 for a 750ml bottle from Lollicup USA and I have always had a great experience with them. Their shipping can be spendy if you only order one or two bottles, so the trick is to stock up on all you'll need for a long while.

Coffee Recommendation: Kahlua Original Gourmet

By Ariel

Last week my husband started a new position at work, bringing him to the non-vampire side of the work day with me (insert a rousing Hallelujah Chorus here!).  Related to that, we're on the search for the perfect morning coffee we can romantically share together in the wee hours of the morning (or, you know, just keep us from killing each other in the wee hours of the morning)  There have been a few that were nothing to write home about, but then we came across this Kahlua coffee in the random food section of TJ Maxx (of all places, ha)

This stuff is REALLY something to write home (and a blog post) about!  I was excited to see that Amazon carried it ( K cups, too! ) because we know that while TJ Maxx is great, you can't exactly count on a steady stream of the same merchendise.  

My husband and I are huge, HUGE coffee drinkers.  All day coffee drinkers.  I really enjoy flavored coffees while he favors plain black.  The Kahlua original is perfect for both of us, there's a hint of the regular Kahlua flavor (without the alcohol burn of course) that makes us both really happy.  This coffee also makes fantastic iced coffee better than plain varieties.  I should also mention that I enjoy my coffee very strong whole my husband likes it toned down a notch.  We can agree that at normal strength we're both satisfied with our morning cup(s).  This tastes rich and full, and most importantly it also doesn't taste BURNED, which is my biggest peeve with coffee of any variety.  If anything, that alone would bring me coming back for more.

This coffee also makes the house smell great, which is a plus when you're trying desperately to wake up in the morning!  We have our coffee pot set to start brewing on a timer so sometimes the coffee is the only thing pulling me out of bed.

So far in our hunt for the perfect coffee I have to say this hits closest to what we are looking for in our daily caffeine fix, possibly the best home-brewed coffee I've ever had.  That doesn't mean we will stop looking for something even better, but Kahlua has a peminate place in our kitchen (and bar!)

What's your favorite brand of coffee? 

Montevallo, AL: Eclipse Coffee and Books

by Jen L.

We moved to Montevallo, a small town smack-dab in the middle of Alabama, from New York City.  The phrase "culture shock" doesn't even begin to describe what we felt.  I was nervous. Nevrous that I'd never find a place to call mine. You see, for as big as NYC is, you have your own special spots there.  I quickly discovered Eclipse Coffee and Books, my new place in my new town.

Eclipse is a one-of-a-kind place.  Situated right in the center of our little town, it looks like a regular old southern house with a wrap-around porch...until you look closer.  It's a coffee shop. It's a restaurant.  It's a bookstore.  It hosts book clubs.  It's a live-music venue.  It's a bar.  They have wine tastings and trivia nights.  The porch is the perfect place to enjoy a cold milkshake on a summer afternoon.  You'll see a wide awray of people there every time you go. There's The Judge, a retired gentleman who makes the rounds and tells great stories about his horses.  There are college students studying, faculty members attending happy hour, families enjoying a snack, and everything in between.

We used to go there a lot for breakfast when my son was a baby. He loved the cup of baby pickles that came with his egg sandwich. I love the four different drip coffee options.  Their milkshakes are off the hook, including flavors like fresh blueberry and pecan pie.  You can sit on the gorgeous wrap-around porch under a fan and visit with the Eclipse kitties, cats who have been adopted by the owners and staff and who pretty much have free rein of the outdoor space. My favorite guy is Big Foot, a huge black cat with a cute droopy ear.  On rainy days, it's nice to sit in the front room and flip through a book while my son plays with toys.

 My favorite thing at Eclipse will always be the breakfast sandwich--eggs, bacon and cheddar on multi-grain bread, served with a side of baby dill pickles, with a large cup of coffee.  Their Eclipse blend coffee is fantastic, but my heart will always belong to one of their signature flavors:  Spicy Morning  It's a blend of Hazelnut, Cinnamon and Vanilla and it is perfect.

If you ever find yourself passing through central Alabama, make sure you save time to stop by Eclipse. They're open all day and well into the evening and their menu has something for everyone.

Photos courtesy of Eclipse Coffee

Chicago: Julius Meinl

by Katie

For hometown week, I thought it fitting to feature the place in my neighborhood I go to more often than any other: Julius Meinl.

 

There's a lot to love about Meinl. It's an Austrian coffee house that's been around since 1862 (its only locations, strangely enough, are Chicago and Austria) They serve delicious coffee and beautiful pastries, from the simple (blueberry scone) to the insane (perfectly-constructed multi-layer mousse cakes).

They do a brisk takeout coffee business, including "Happy Hour" before 8am on weekdays where a large coffee is $1.50 and a large latte is $2.50- a deal my husband and I take advantage of at least twice a week before work.

They also have a lovely sit down option, with cute marble tables and a nice breakfast and lunch menu with a mix of delicious sandwiches and salads with more traditional Austrian favorites (spaezle, anyone?) When you dine in, they serve your coffee on a small silver tray with a cookie and a glass of water on the side. It's a very, very pleasant place to sit and do some studying or reading or to meet a friend for dessert. If you find yourself on the north side of Chicago, (which you should- my neighborhood is great!) I highly recommend you check it out!

(Photos from Meinl.com)

Washington, DC: Pitango Gelato

by Elissa

Would you believe me if I told you that the gelato from Pitango is better than a lot of the gelato I had on my last trip to Italy? Well, it's true.

{photo credit: washingtonpost.com}

Pitango is a local business with locations in Baltimore, DC, and northern Virginia, and it makes exceptional gelato and espresso. The Penn Quarter location in DC is around the corner from my office, which is wonderful (especially when temperatures break into the triple digits!). The thing that really sets apart the gelato from Pitango is their commitment to using the best ingredients, like grass-fed organic milk from Pennsylvania, free-range eggs, imported Italian nuts, and the freshest possible fruit. There are no chemicals or stablizers added, so the flavors are intense, and the gelato has that perfect, creamy texture that sets it apart from ordinary ice cream. My favorite flavors are gianduja (chocolate and hazelnut), Sicilian almond, the bittersweet chocolate sorbet with hot chilis, and the passionfruit sorbet. The flavors rotate often to feature seasonal fruits.  

In addition to gelato, Pitango also has espresso, and the lattes taste exactly like the lattes I would get for breakfast in Italy. Plus, their baristas are pretty good at latte art:

{photo credit: me}

If you live in the greater DC area, Pitango is definitely worth seeking out. And if you're just in town for a visit, I encourage you to check out the best gelato DC has to offer!

Caffeinate Your Waffles

By Erica H.

My very good sleeper of a baby has been a rather less good sleeper of a baby lately, prompting me to look for a little extra pep in the mornings. The easiest solution is probably "extra cup of coffee," but that involves neither chocolate chips nor maple syrup, so I reject your easiest solution and counter with Chocolate Coffee Waffles.

I mean, what's not to like? Waffle iron? Goooood. French press? Goooood. (Thirteen-year-old Friends references? FINE BY ME!)

I know the coffee is the hook here, but it's really only there to enhance the chocolate. Ina Garten is always saying that coffee makes chocolate more chocolatey, just like she's always saying "How easy is that?" and "Make sure to use GOOD VANILLA" with the battle-weary conviction of someone who has seen too many dinner parties brought down by INFERIOR VANILLA.

Chocolate Coffee Waffles (inspired by this recipe at My Little Celebration)

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1.5 cups buttermilk, or milk with a squeeze of lemon juice
• 4 Tbsp. espresso or strong coffee
• 1 tsp. GOOD VANILLA
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Pre-heat waffle iron. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in the other. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until combined. If mixture is too thick, add a little more buttermilk at a time until it's pourable. Mix in chocolate chips.

Ladle an appropriate amount of batter for your waffle maker (mine ended up being about 1/2 cup per waffle) and cook through until you can easily pry it off of the iron with a fork.