Ordered a double cappucco (small) and almond croissant at The Conservatory yesterday morning. Milk was well-foamed, and at least 2% milkfat. The espresso underneath was not up to the level of the milk, unfortunately. It seemed a little over roasted to me. However, the almond croissant was AMAZING. The BEST almond croissant I've had. Breadbar's almond croissant is decadent, stuffed with butter, almonds, and a generous dusting of powdered sugar. Amandine's almond croissant is just ok for me. But, my goodness, my croissant yesterday was elegant and refined, and not overtly rich.
Ambiance is great, with good jazz and blues. The baristi were not just friendly, but good at their jobs. The girl that packed my Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Indido Misty Valley remembered the beans that my date ordered two hours before, and even asked me if I had ever tried this coffee before, implying that it was rather exotic, and perhaps not to everyone's taste. I was sure I wanted it, after reading about Ethiopian Sidamos on CoffeeGeek.
Two days off the roast, and I brewed it in a french press today. Wowza, very distinct blueberry. Taken with sugar, it tastes almost like a blueberry or strawberry dessert, but it seems to be free of any wine-y characteristics that I thought the barista was hinting at.
Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the coffee, and would recommend. Extra points for it tasting like dessert, since I've been cooking for one and dessert often gets neglected.
Update: Link to Sweet Maria's notes on Ethiopian Indido Misty Valley
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Rockenwagner and March Market Report
It's the first week of spring!
While waiting for the market to set up, I stepped into Rockenwagner for a cappucino and bienenstich. The coffee was good, from WMF automatic machines, though it was topped with soap bubbles, despite the "barista" trying to knock them out. The bienenstich! I loved the honey-glazed almond layer. Such a clean flavor of honey and almonds. The cream layer, eh, I did not like it as much. It is not regular pastry cream, and I kept wishing that it were.
At the Santa Monica Farmers' Market today:
Citrus. Asparagus.
Every other stall had bunches of green garlic!
Avocados. Artichokes. Kale, cauliflower, and beets.
Lots of berries, especially strawberries for $5/basket.
Many vendors have peas, though I only saw two that had pea shoots: take your pick between the guy selling for $8/lb and $3/lb.
Spinach, arugula, and lettuces.
A single vendor with rhubarb, and it got snapped up pretty quickly; by 9 o'clock, there was only about a pound of scrawny stalks left.
Somewhat conspicuously missing were morels, even though there were two mushroom vendors.
While waiting for the market to set up, I stepped into Rockenwagner for a cappucino and bienenstich. The coffee was good, from WMF automatic machines, though it was topped with soap bubbles, despite the "barista" trying to knock them out. The bienenstich! I loved the honey-glazed almond layer. Such a clean flavor of honey and almonds. The cream layer, eh, I did not like it as much. It is not regular pastry cream, and I kept wishing that it were.
At the Santa Monica Farmers' Market today:
Citrus. Asparagus.
Every other stall had bunches of green garlic!
Avocados. Artichokes. Kale, cauliflower, and beets.
Lots of berries, especially strawberries for $5/basket.
Many vendors have peas, though I only saw two that had pea shoots: take your pick between the guy selling for $8/lb and $3/lb.
Spinach, arugula, and lettuces.
A single vendor with rhubarb, and it got snapped up pretty quickly; by 9 o'clock, there was only about a pound of scrawny stalks left.
Somewhat conspicuously missing were morels, even though there were two mushroom vendors.
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