1/18/2014 0 Comments Cafe CesuraI just want to start by saying, this is a great coffee shop! And you must be thinking, Well duh, Why else would MC write a blog post about it? And you are right, it would be weird if I actually wrote blog posts about horrible coffee shops--What good would that do to anyone? But I digress...
You know those instances where you discover a new, exciting place after years of driving by it without taking note of its existence? Cafe Cesura was one of those times for me. I never really noticed it until one day I found myself in the area with no plans and wondering what to do; then I got in the I-want-to-explore-my-hometown-because-anything-like-that-can-still-be-exciting mood, and I ended up walking into this coffee shop! There are many cafes in the Seattle area featuring art pieces, loud trendy music, and the bustling of stacking mugs and saucers and friendly conversation. Cafe Cesura counts in the club, but it is still a venue worth visiting. Its location is definitely unexpected, at least for me because for a long time I had accepted the prejudiced notion that all coffee shops with such an energetic aura only existed in Seattle. This one sits in Downtown Bellevue. Its windows make up the entire wall where the entrance door is, letting in the much needed natural light to illuminate the paintings hanging on the purple-grey walls. Stark black chairs, wooden tables, and kind baristas add to this lovely atmosphere. All in all, you get the strong impression (strong as their coffee...) that they aim high to give the coffee fanatic a satisfying experience. Speaking of their coffee, it is another reason to really take note of Cafe Cesura (well obviously). There is that bitter taste that excites you, in that you find yourself acknowledging that you are ingesting a cup of strong, nourishing coffee. But, the creamy flavor and smooth texture give the juxtaposing subtlety to your taste buds. Plus, you will find great art sitting on your drink and not just on the venue walls (shown in picture above)! If you ever find yourself in town, or you are just a car drive away (hopefully not too long of a car drive), stop by and let me know what you think. Much love, ~~MC
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3/10/2013 0 Comments MugCoffee. Coffee coffee coffee. Who can live without it?
Well, I guess lots of people...But when it comes to the mind of a coffee lover such as myself, saying that there are people in this world who don't mind going through life without coffee is the equivalent of saying Santa does not exist. Of course, this is not to say that I dislike non-coffee lovers; I am friends with plenty of people who enjoy tea more, as I respect their choice of hot beverage--And tea can be quite amazing...There is nothing like dipping a black tea bag in your mug of hot water before adding honey and milk to make the most tempting potion of deliciousness ever for a cold day (But, I digress). Also, I am well aware that Santa does not exist, as it was just brought up in terms of the context of how magical certain things can be, such as, yes, coffee. :) And what is life like for a coffee fanatic if he/she decides to cross off one week on the calendar of having zero amount of coffee in their system? Well, it is absolute hell. Particularly if you live in Seattle, the city in the US that is most consumed by the endless list of cafes and countless number of people who stroll about the streets with cup in hand, it is nothing other than torture. And when such a person decides to go through this ordeal, it feels like they are letting go of the part of their life that was comfortable, inviting, and heart-warming. Okay, heart-warming is maybe taking it too far, but what tops the moment of holding a mug that heats your hands and brings your mind to peace after walking in the brisk cold air, and then holding the edge of the mug to your mouth as you take that first sip of coffee (or whatever type of coffee drink you usually order; in my case it's a latte, no sugar, 2% milk because I prefer satisfaction from tasteless nonfat)? When you not only let yourself focus on the very act of consuming that mug of coffee--in order to enjoy every moment of it, in the midst of a world that can become chaotic and unbearable--, but you therefore also let that mug of coffee consume you, why would you choose to experience anything else? Well, I believe I have rested my case: Life is Hell without coffee. (Again, please excuse my language.) ~~MC P.S. This blog post was based on a true story. Today has been one week since I had coffee, as I believe writing what I just wrote has encouraged me to recapture those irreplaceable memories...So excuse me while I brew my mug of jo. 7/19/2011 0 Comments A Basket of France...Yesterday was quite a lovely day in Seattle--the Sun was shining, the sky was clearing up, people were strolling in the downtown area as they seemed magnetically drawn to areas right by the water that was shining brightly underneath the sunlight...And I was sipping on my hot tall decaf latte with a foam design shaped like a heart in the center. :)
After pretending to be tourists at admiring every part of Pike Place Market (with the imperfect yet somehow still perfect stone tiling on the ground path...the boiling enthusiasm of the men tossing fish all over the place in the fish market...the bustling crowds among the small shops that sold things ranging from freshly plucked flowers to bottles of flavored olive oil...), my family and I sat in our favorite cafe in the area...Le Panier, and all the French aura and stimulating coffee drinks that come with it. You can already tell from the second photo that this cafe is a little piece of France in itself, a world that shelters itself from the piece of Seattle that occurs on the other side of the row of windows. As you walk down the short flight of stairs to the cafe and step out of the street of the market, you are welcomed by the subtle acoustic French music that blends as nicely with the voices of the customers as does a shot of espresso with the mug of freshly steamed milk, that fuse together into the latte I ordered and lost myself in (in the first photo); the gleaming yellow lights, the lovely display of French tartes and pâtes that look like they were made just minutes ago, and the black-and-white photos of all-encompassing angles of Paris...these other little things about Le Panier may also put you in a trance. Their lattes are finely crafted, as they never cease to please you with foam designs made with heart...which was why despite the 75 degree weather, I ordered a hot latte instead of iced. I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to lose myself not only in the latte but also in the decoration sitting on top of it. Le Panier translates from French to "the basket"--And to me, there is no other way to see that than as a basket of pastries and authentic drinks, a basket of France that sits among the bustling shops and aura of Seattle, waiting for you to step inside and be absorbed in a place that's another world away. ~~MC 7/1/2011 0 Comments Ratatouille...In a yellow mug.This picture goes to show how far the nostalgia of home carried me...As far as having the sudden urge to take the picture of the cup of coffee before I took my first sip!
I haven't moved to California or anything, so I shouldn't sound too dramatic...But as I poured the hot, cozy beverage into the bright yellow mug, it did feel like I was thinking back to the lovely routines and comfortable life of home, where one of my routines consisted of sitting in coffeeshops and holding warm coffee drinks close to you...One obviously wouldn't spend time in hot, sunny Southern California sipping on hot coffees and lattes, so having my coffee today had happened for the first time since we flew here from Seattle. I guess this shows how much of a powerful connection food can edibly establish between human and his/her most valuable, close-held memories...And I feel like I have just mentioned this concept probably for the billionth time... :P Anyway, I hope there's some article of food out there for you that makes you think of home at the first bite/sip, that makes you almost want to run back to that moment where you first had the latte/hot dog/ratatouille, the moment where everything started. And by the way, I had to mention ratatouille because this whole food-memory concept always makes me think of the movie Rataouille, the part where Anton Ego has the nostalgia-inducing bite of the delicious, vegetable-filled, spice-infused dish! And now, it should come as no surprise for me to say that Ratatouille is one of my all-time favorite movies. :) Find a fond, lovable memory to reunite yourself with, and bite/sip/..etc into that image! Enjoy!... ~~MC 6/21/2011 0 Comments HorchataYou know when you find yourself reminiscing about a lovely memory of yourself spending time with a loved one, and then you can't help but associate that blurry yet enjoyable vision with something you were eating or drinking at the time?
Well, you probably noticed by now that I do this pretty much all the time in Foods for Fantasizing, as I personally believe that food can powerfully connect a person to his/her life experiences, regardless of how significant those memories may be. This (super early) morning for me became yet again another reminiscent memory, when I met a good friend of mine on campus for coffee (at 8am, since she had class at 9:30), and we ended up sitting on a bench right by the lake (since the restaurant was by the lake as you can see in the pictures). as we laughed about our own quirks and occasionally pleaded the Sun to emerge from the scattered clouds...And in saying that this happened just a few hours ago, I can't say that this memory was blurry, but it definitely was lovely. :) We met up at the to-go window of Agua Verde, a Mexican restaurant that I heard many good things about but where I never got around to having a sit-down lunch/dinner. My friend Jessica and I had come to the window once before, where she ordered a tall Horchata latte (a "Mexican rice/almond drink," according to the to-go menu...Which I guess is just a way of saying a latte but with rice/almond milk ;) ) while I got a Mexican hot chocolate. My drink was delectable and amazingly rich, but I was still so intrigued by Jessica's drink--even just by the sound of its name--that I promised myself to order one at our next visit. And so this morning, I asked for a tall Horchata latte. :) It was smooth, rich but not excessively, and it made me crave for more even as I took in the last drop. The foam on the top was decorated with refreshing cinnamon, which woke me up as much as did the single shot that was subtly blended within the rice milk....But even though I enjoyed this latte, what I enjoyed even more was spending the lovely summer (and semi-sunny) morning with one of the people I most adore! I will remember holding the warm, cozy latte in both hands while hearing the distant rush of traffic along the bridge nearby, and admiring the way the water in front of me was so quiet yet had so much movement, as I had great and pleasant conversation with Jessica about TV shows, our dads, and the joy of relaxing for the next four months. It's obviously not a memory to be reminiscing about so much yet, but it is nice to smile about good times you have even if they have just passed by. :D ~~MC I literally have posted this picture after taking my first delectable, foamy chocolate sip of this latte. :)
I came to Ugly Mug Cafe once again, this time to fulfill my last-minute studying for my art history final that is taking place about 5 hours from now...I could have studied a bunch yesterday since I had no class, but due to my utter and complete exhaustion from the flash mob that was on Sunday in the downtown area (since we did intense practicing for hours and performed the mob on the same day...in 80 degree weather), I needed to rest instead of reading about art work. So here I am, more energized and motivated as I should be, while hearing the lovely echoes of a Bossa Nova song throughout the cafe, as I am ready to crack open that book you see in the upper part of the photo. ;) Wish me luck! ~~MC Today, on a beautiful warm sunny day in Seattle, I ordered a tall iced decaf latte at Parnassus. (In case you have not read one of my earlier posts for the Foods for Fantasizing page, Parnassus is the art gallery & cafe located in the basement of the Art Building on campus..Where I basically had the best latte ever.)
It took me back to that time I had the hot version of the latte last winter, where after the very first sip I began to hallucinate Johnny Depp standing right in front of me (I didn't really hallucinate..I'm sort of exaggerating..But that's hot amazing the latte was :) P.S. If you feel tempted to read the intensely detailed account of this hallucination, feel free to read the past post under the Parnassus tag). I guess having a coffee drink at Parnassus can be just as tempting and gratifying during the lively spring season as amidst the brisk, freshly-cool air of Winter. ;) Happy Tuesday, and enjoy a latte! ~~MC 5/7/2011 2 Comments Ugly Mug.You may wonder at the title of this post, asking what it means or if I just came up with that out of complete random...
But really, it's the name of my "second home" (besides the other second homes that include bookstores and coffee shops in general!), a cafe that I never get tired of and that sits happily near UW campus. It's a very small space--yet the cozy furniture and humbling art work surrounded by the warm yellow-painted walls, the coffee drinks and meals made purely with heart, and their diverse yet soothing music make you feel like you're in your own little room... So words like "hurry" or "rush" don't exist in this cafe. :) Their coffee drinks are mostly what you may find in other cafes, but each drink has so much character to the way it looks that you'll find yourself admiring it almost too long before actually drinking it! Their meals include soups (my favorite of which is pumpkin tomato), sandwiches (Veggie Foccacia is the best!!), and even a breakfast plate where they give you eggs, an english muffin with a sweet creamy spread, and other delicate eats! And as for the drinks, I mostly order their Ovaltine Latte (sweet and rich) or their milky dreamy Earl Grey Tea Latte...Mmmmmmm. If you all of a sudden find yourself in the bustling busy street of University Ave in Seattle, achingly wondering where you can get yourself the best, coziest, warmest meal of your life, just walk in the delightful aura of Ugly Mug and you let the noise of life drain out of you. :) Happy Saturday (and Happy early Mother's Day)! ~~MC 1/14/2011 0 Comments Johnny Depp, One Sip Later..Hello all! I hope you all had a great week and are enjoying the three-day weekend--And with the cherry on top of the sundae, I hope you all are going to tune in to this year's Golden Globes! ...I'm a huge movie fan, though I haven't seen all the nominated films, ..but I'm pretty sure that The Black Swan is going to win some awards because it looks so finely crafted when I watch the previews...Natalie Portman is such a great actress that she scares me even when I see normal pictures of her XD ..
Anyways, before I get even more side-tracked, I'd like to say welcome to the first post of "Food Fantasizing"! Particularly if you are a food lover already, you will be shortly transported to heaven, because I am about to reminisce about a latte I had (or rather, to be more accurate, inhaled) at a certain coffee place this past week... For the last few months, a couple of friends of mine have raved about how delicious the coffee was at Parnassus, an art gallery and coffee shop (by the way, those are the exact words written under the name Parnassus, on the wall right outside the cafe) located in the basement of the art building on campus--I was especially intrigued, when one friend told me that she walks 20 minutes in the rain (or no rain..but that's like 10 percent likely in Seattle) from the science building, just to snuggle up with a tall steaming drink! With this conviction, I decided three days ago to buy their tall latte... ...When I took the first sip, I thought for a second that I was face-to-face with Johnny Depp, standing in front of me with his gold tooth gleaming slightly through his pearly-white shy smile, and a meltingly intense red rose gestured by one hand, just for me...In other words, I thought all my dreams had come true in that one sip! :) Now I don't mean to say that I hallucinate about Johnny Depp every time I drink a latte, but that was how amazed I was by the drink...The rich yet subtle creaminess of the milk, blended with the (decaf) shots that were as artistically thrown in as the firework sparks of vibrant paint...And, like a perfectly wrapped Christmas present, the barista had topped the drink off with an eloquent, beautiful design with the light magical foam. Even before I took that first sip, I fell in love. WIth a latte. And by the time I had tipped the cup downward to get the very last bit of foam in my mouth--because the foam is always my favorite part of a hot beverage! Yum!--, I had made the decision to make every other encounter the rest of the day just as amazing and embraceful (that isn't even a real word, but oh well) as that latte had been. Even as I opened the pages to my Art History reading after the latte was finished, and the booming, fluctuating beats of the music were echoing throughout Parnassus, decorated with the laughs and exclamations of customers and baristas, I felt like I was still in heaven. ;) Have a latte-full day! ~~MC |
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