A New Year

It’s exam time, guys! Despite my efforts to concentrate completely on my exam preparation, I have failed to stay away and decided to come out of my holiday/post-NYE-hangover/exam hibernation.

Anyways, prompted by this thought-provoking piece “A Toast Story” about mental illness, the importance of routine, and – yes – toast, I want to show how it ties in with coffee and cake. Having become somewhat of a globetrotter (or Weltenbummler, as we call it), the constant traveling, moving, goodbyes and hellos made me much aware of a need for routine and rituals. It is easy to get caught up in the rush of newness, and the fear of everything that weighs you down, that boredom of the known. Along the way though, I feel like you lose part of what defines you, your roots so to speak. For me it is the small rituals that take me back to my sense of self, my culture and memories.

Coffee and cake definitely presents one of these rituals that bring me back to afternoons at the grandparents, the wonderful cakes and cookies made by my mother (with much creativity but little system) and the long afternoons spent talking hours and hours to friends.

Coffee and cake is the perfect occasion for much needed face-time (and not the digital kind), where you can connect with old and new friends, have stimulating conversations or just plainly exchange some good gossip.

So, I toast to more stories, more exciting coffee shops, delicious cakes and coffee!

I also want to thank people like John Gravois  who bring us interesting and heartwarming background stories, and to the passionate entrepreneurs dedicated to creating these social spaces. Happy 2015!

Feel free to leave any comments about your coffee and cake experiences and stay tuned for my next post (featuring toast).

200° Coffee Shop

It is true what they say: The English like their tea. The “cuppa” as they lovingly call it, is looked forward to with anticipation and everyone I have met has their own way of preparing it. It’s no surprise then that coffee, at least in Nottingham, seems to be more like an afterthought in the choice of caffeinated beverages. The coffee shop landscape here is dominated by chains such as Costa Coffee, Caffé Nero and the occasional Starbucks – how disappointing. Luckily, I have found a couple of craft coffee shops to quench my thirst for the perfect handmade cup of coffee. One of those is the café of 200° Coffee who not only have their own roastery but also a barista school. With charming baristas, inviting interior design and the perfect background music, you feel transplanted into places like London, Berlin or New York. Just the right place for me to meet with friends and chat or even to do a bit of work. They have a wide arrange of coffee specialties (from Flat White to Americano to the regular Latte) and each cup seems to be made with care and routine. Since coffee just screams for a sweet little treat, you can chose from a wide range of baked goods. Having tried three of them I can safely say: Steer away from the cookies. While they are certainly not awful, these cookies do not come close to their crunchy, sweet and heavy American counterparts. It is just not worth the calories. Instead, try their pan au chocolat which is crisp and light with just the right amount of dark chocolate in the middle. Or, even better, go for the fudge. These little dense squares are seriously one of the most delicious things 200° has to offer and they come in different variations. Some of them are just chocolate and caramel but if you are feeling adventurous I would definitely recommend picking the one with salt pretzels dipped in chocolate. I mean, this is everything you could wish for: Different textures (fudgy AND crunchy) and different flavors (salty AND sweet), all coming together in one perfect rectangle. What is not to love?

What’s the verdict? 200° is a great place to hang out, relax and indulge in some wonderful cakes and premium coffee. Head over there on a rainy afternoon, meet with friends and just enjoy. Address: 16 Flying Horse Walk, Nottingham, NG1 2HN For more info: http://200degs.com/coffee-shop-nottingham/

White Rabbit Teahouse

Autumn in England is just like you would expect: grey, muddy and wet. What better way to brighten your day than meet with a friend and indulge in wonderful hot drinks and sweet dishes?

A visit to White Rabbit Teahouse will transport you into another dimension, where everything is colorful and heavily patterned, your cups are dainty and made of porcelain and just the right amount of “your-grandma’s-living-room” atmosphere.

If you enjoy tea, you’re in the right place. While the WRT offers coffee, I would advise you to visit a proper coffee shop in Nottingham, such as 200 degrees. Chose instead their tea served with milk and chunks of rock sugar, and there is little you could want for but, of course, one (or two) of their lovely dishes.

Of the two times I have visited this place so far, ordering the tea for two, which is served on a wonderful étagère, was most enlightening. It started with delicious smoked salmon sandwiches that were just salty enough to thrill my taste buds and leave me wanting for more. On the second level we found perfectly flaky scones with rich clotted cream and tangy raspberry jam, a nearly perfect combination. The third and last layer, the crowning event to any high tea, unfortunately disappointed. While WRT does offer lovely cakes, we were confronted with somewhat boring cupcakes (chocolate and vanilla) and pretty but not amazing tasting macarons.

What’s the verdict? The White Rabbit Teahouse is a must-try in Nottingham, especially for its delicious sandwiches, scones and tea. Do try to show up early as the place fills up quickly.

For more info: http://whiterabbitteahouse.com/

White Rabbit Teahouse