Hello, friends!
This morning, Peter dragged me out of bed to accompany him to one of his favorite coffee shops, 21st Street Coffee and Tea (www.21ststreetcoffee.com). Last night I (foolishly) agreed to tag along so that I could both get out of the apartment for a bit and get some editing done. But the day dawned foggy, with a hazy mist threading the surrounding foothills, the perfect sort of day for rolling over to steal another hour's rest. I felt it was best to comply with the day's obvious hints, but apparently a deal is a deal. Peter nudged me into the shower with promises of tea and pastries; the best of us is not immune to a bribe...
21st Street CaT sits near the corner of Smallman and 21st Streets in the Strip District. Historically, the area housed many mills and factories that gradually gave way to wholesale purveyors of fish, pasta, produce, and other foodstuff. However with the hipster invasion, it now additionally hosts trendy eateries, boutiques, and converted lofts, as well as a market with the most expensive bag of King Arthur flour I've ever encountered. (In its defense, Marty's Market also sells delectable chocolate covered gelato pops.) This is a great little coffe shop, comfortably spacious. The work of local artists lines walls of exposed brick. A lofted work space for telecommuters overlooks the coffee bar and multiple tables and chairs. There's a quiet buzz of background sound, enough to mask a conversation or phone call, but not so loud as to distract mental focus.
21st Street CaT brings in fresh pastries daily from two local bakeries, my newfound favorite, La Gourmandine Bakery, and Bella Christie Sweet Boutique. La Gourmandine is run by two French transplants, who make a nearly perfect traditional croissant. Light, flaky, buttery, beautifully layered, this is one of the top three croissants I've had in North America. Peter's apple walnut pastry from Bella Christie was almost as delicious with flaky crust surrounding cinnamony filling. And let's not forget 21st Street's beverages. Peter was lured here by their Intelligentsia beans, a longtime favorite, and ensnared by their coffee orthodoxy. The hardcore baristas reluctantly permit milk and sugar in their coffee but insist on dispensing it themselves in precise quantities. Efficiently friendly, they serve drinks and snacks with care. The shop carries Paragon tea in several varieties, including my favorite oolong Ti Kwan Yin. While bribery and coercion played some role in my visit to 21st Street Coffee and Tea, I'd gladly be bribed again.
This morning, Peter dragged me out of bed to accompany him to one of his favorite coffee shops, 21st Street Coffee and Tea (www.21ststreetcoffee.com). Last night I (foolishly) agreed to tag along so that I could both get out of the apartment for a bit and get some editing done. But the day dawned foggy, with a hazy mist threading the surrounding foothills, the perfect sort of day for rolling over to steal another hour's rest. I felt it was best to comply with the day's obvious hints, but apparently a deal is a deal. Peter nudged me into the shower with promises of tea and pastries; the best of us is not immune to a bribe...
21st Street CaT sits near the corner of Smallman and 21st Streets in the Strip District. Historically, the area housed many mills and factories that gradually gave way to wholesale purveyors of fish, pasta, produce, and other foodstuff. However with the hipster invasion, it now additionally hosts trendy eateries, boutiques, and converted lofts, as well as a market with the most expensive bag of King Arthur flour I've ever encountered. (In its defense, Marty's Market also sells delectable chocolate covered gelato pops.) This is a great little coffe shop, comfortably spacious. The work of local artists lines walls of exposed brick. A lofted work space for telecommuters overlooks the coffee bar and multiple tables and chairs. There's a quiet buzz of background sound, enough to mask a conversation or phone call, but not so loud as to distract mental focus.
21st Street CaT brings in fresh pastries daily from two local bakeries, my newfound favorite, La Gourmandine Bakery, and Bella Christie Sweet Boutique. La Gourmandine is run by two French transplants, who make a nearly perfect traditional croissant. Light, flaky, buttery, beautifully layered, this is one of the top three croissants I've had in North America. Peter's apple walnut pastry from Bella Christie was almost as delicious with flaky crust surrounding cinnamony filling. And let's not forget 21st Street's beverages. Peter was lured here by their Intelligentsia beans, a longtime favorite, and ensnared by their coffee orthodoxy. The hardcore baristas reluctantly permit milk and sugar in their coffee but insist on dispensing it themselves in precise quantities. Efficiently friendly, they serve drinks and snacks with care. The shop carries Paragon tea in several varieties, including my favorite oolong Ti Kwan Yin. While bribery and coercion played some role in my visit to 21st Street Coffee and Tea, I'd gladly be bribed again.
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