Financier Patisserie - NYC

We found this lovely cafe by accident as we wandered the streets in the financial district. It was a wonderful place to stop and rest our legs and the coffee was great. We had a delicious pastry too and while looking around, we noticed they also had a fine selection of  lunch items. We decided that we would buy salads to take down to Battery Park to eat picnic style.

While we were sipping our coffees and enjoying our pastries, and very New York scene unfolded.  The cafe is situated on a corner with windows looking out on both sides, and suddenly we heard the wail of sirens as fire trucks pulled up in all directions. Since neither the staff , nor the customers seemed the least bit ruffled, we took our cue from them and sat and watched from our window seats.

Perhaps there was something happening in the subway, whose entrance steps were located across the street. About ten minutes later the fire trucks departed. All was well thankfully.

But while we finished our coffees, I was drawn to the building at the right through the window.  It said Keuffel and Esser Co. and also the number 127, referring to its address on Fulton Street.  Little did I know then that this building has a connection to Montreal and Expo '67. Intrigued?  then read tomorrow's post to learn more!

Petrossian Bakery and Cafe, NYC

On our first day in New York City, we decided to visit Central Park and on our way there, we came across this beautiful doorway. But what caught my eye first was this gorgeous garland of pink blooms...

Above the front door, the building has intricate carving, including these two interesting creatures.

And continuing to look up, you see these sweet little fellows.

And if you continue to look up even more, the building just continues to go up and up.  And the carving continues along with it. Imagine, all that work. Perhaps a person looking out a tall building from across the street will appreciate the details. But no one at street level can see it properly. What a different attitude than today, where cost so often trumps beauty and workmanship.

Victorian Dinner Party #9

The coffee was served in this demi-tasse set, given to me by a dear friend about 20 years or so ago. I think this is the first time that I have used it. Its black and white with gold pattern was the perfect accompaniment to the table setting. Some things are just meant to be.

 

Out of the blue, M. offered me these tiny gold spoons, exactly the right size for the cup and saucer's diminutive proportions. The camel at the top of the spoon works well with the Victorian theme, as the Victorians were great travelers to exotic places.

Bideford Bound

The lovely quiet town and estuary port of Bideford in North Devon is situated on the west bank of the Torridge River. One of its most distinguishing features is its Long Bridge, built in 1286 of timber, which links Bideford with East-the-Water. The timber was replaced with stone in 1474, being built around the timber so that people could still cross while it was under construction. 

 

Of interest is the fact that none of the 24 arches are the same size. It is thought that this is because the arches were paid for my local businessmen, the larger arches costing more than the smaller ones. the arch was as large as the patron could afford.

 

 

Modern-day traffic necessitated the widening of the bridge in 1925. The town glimpsed through an arch is just as picturesque today.

 

 

There are plenty of lovely shops to explore that line a narrow hilly lane.

 

And down by the quay you'll find the Burton Art Galley and Museum, well worth a visit.

 

When we were there, a group showing of local artists was on exhibit. The quality of the art was impressive. I was attracted to one painting of a stormy sea in particular and asked a lady with a price list how much it was. We started talking and ended up having a lovely long conversation about painting. She is an artist who lives on the quay and I am sure if I lived in Bidford we would have been well on our way to becoming friends.

Just as impressive is the adjoining Café du parc with its French chef who made the best croissants I have tasted in a long time - crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside and buttery throughout. the lemon tart was also excellent. We planned to go back for lunch but time ran out. Next time!  We paid our compliments to the chef en français and decided that if we were Bidefordians the café would be a daily temptation.

A Day with the Impressionists

Spent a day in Montreal with D. visiting the Impressionists at the Fine Arts Museum.  What a lovely collection of paintings. And Degas's The Little Dancer was there to greet us too!  We started the morning with a cafe au lait that was a work of art in itself.

And after viewing the exhibition we revived ourselves with a cup of tea at a tearoom on Sherbrooke Street, just a couple of blocks from the museum.

As we dined at The Commensale, before boarding the train to return home, it was starting to get dark and so we were in time to see the Christmas lights along McGill College Avenue. A wonderful day!

Tea in the Zen Garden

After the delightful task of viewing all the various display areas at 1001 Pots, and selecting and buying the pieces that I wanted, it was such a joy to sit down in one of the three tea salons. I chose the one located in the peaceful shade of the Zen Garden and was treated to a delicious cup of coffee by friend D. The same delightful friend who had discovered 1001 Pots and invited me along for the day.

There was a demonstration of the Japanese brush painting that adorn these banners that hang from the tea salon's roof and top the small tables.

There is a selection of Japanese teas for your enjoyment, served in gorgeous handmade ceramic teapots and tea cups, but the delicious smell of the brewing coffee was too much to resist. It was a serene place to rest and collect my thoughts after giddily traipsing about the garden trying not to miss anything.

The beautiful bouquet of garden flowers atop the worn wooden cabinet were resting in an handmade ceramic vase that suited the collection perfectly.

Le Déjeuner

Claude Monet's Le Déjeuner (around 1873) served as the inspiration for this photograph. One day as I was gazing at the poster of this painting in my office at work I noticed that the roses on the table looked like those in my garden.  I suddenly had the idea to try and replicate the painting for a photograph. After borrowing a few items from friend J. who instantly understood what I was trying to do and eagerly scoured her house for items that might work, as any fellow-creative would, I put together this image in my back garden. It is by no means an identical copy but it does give the impression of the original and it was a lot of fun to do.

Cafe Myriade

If you'd like a cup of coffee that's a work of art, Cafe Myriade is the place to go. Located on McKay Street just down from Nocochi Cafe, it's small and cozy and a favourite haunt of the locals, many of whom are Concordia students.


On Sunday morning, the place was full. People had spilled outdoors on the patio despite the chill in the air. As we waited for our coffee, a spot opened up and we happily sat inside to enjoy a our morning latte and croissant.


Before we knew it, we had drained our cups.

Nocochi Cafe

After shopping on Sainte Catherine Street and a quick stop at the Museum of Fine Arts, it was time to rest and rejuvenate over a cup of chai tea at Nocochi Cafe on MacKay Street at Sherbrooke Street. But what was under the teacup?


One of Nocochi Cafe's tiny cookies! Which as you can see, is as small as a teaspoon.



The owner, Shahnaz Bagherzadeh, is Iranian and her traditional Persian desserts are marketed around the world. All these wee delights are of such a diminutive size, they are ideal for sampling. Beautifully arranged in a glass case directly in front as you come through the door, they beckon with temptation ... marzipan, turkish delight, endless varieties of cookies and pastries flavoured with spices, fruits, flowers, nuts and chocolate.


Gleaming bright white walls provide a blank canvas for the deep pink of the chairs' upholstery and...


the pretty prints on the cushions that line the benches along the walls.



Nocochi Cafe is located at 2156 Mackay Street in Montreal.

"S" Stands for Syrup

Maybe the "S" stands for Simply Biscotti, the cute tiny cafe and bakery where I sipped on this hot chocolate. The "S" in question is chocolate syrup that was squirted onto milk foam, unlike the designs that I posted about on September 17, 2009 which were created using a technique that involved pouring foamy milk into espresso. Chocolate syrup is quick but effective!

Sweeten the Day

What better way to sweeten up this winter day than with these sugar cubes from various cafes in France? Each one sporting its own unique design. Cafe au lait anyone?

Cioccolato

In my post of September 21, 2009 I wrote about the giant bar of chocolate my sister sent from Italy. On holiday for two weeks, her first Tuscan mission was to find Amedei's chocolate factory in Pontedera, Pisa.

In her own words, "It wasn’t very far away, although it was hard to find. We did find it however and of course, like many places in Italy, it was closed. Everything shuts down for lunch from 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Anyway, we arrived at the factory and I peeked over the fence and pressed the buzzer. No answer. I don’t think they are really open to the public.

Not long after, a delivery truck came and they opened the gate. So in I went, determined to get chocolate for my big sister. A man came out and I explained that I was from Canada and was looking for chocolate for my sister. She says it is the best chocolate in the world. He didn’t speak English, but told me in Italian that they didn’t sell chocolate. I asked where I could buy it and he went in to get a business card."

After such a declaration what else could he possibly do? Not to be defeated, my sister asked if she could come in to take a couple of photos. And guess what? She could!

Several snaps later, with free samples to boot, my sister and her husband left to find La Bottega del Caffé ... and my chocolate. And what a charming shop it is. Just look at the shop's exterior. The chocolate purchased, the next stop was the post office to mail it to me. And it was on its way.

Note: Photos were taken by my sister.

Art in a Cup

What better way to start the morning than with a café latté, a cappuccino or hot chocolate, complete with its very own mini work of art?

Just look at these drinks that my family and I were served when we stopped by Café Myriade this past weekend. I had heard about this new art form, but hadn’t actually seen it in real-life until my trip to this small café on Mackay Street in Montreal.

The café is cozy and totally unpretentious despite the fact that its owners recently placed first and third at this year’s Eastern Regional Canadian Barista Championship. No doubt their tutelage is the reason why no matter who’s working the coffee machine you’ll be the delighted recipient of your very own mini artwork in a cup. I was so excited I just had to take photos while my patient family waited to taste them, which they proceeded to do as soon as I was done. I on the other hand, could barely bring myself to add sugar and stir. Beauty is so transient...