Monday, November 16, 2015

Cocoa Latte, Rooster and Green

cocoalatteContinuing with exploring cafes outside my immediate neighbourhood, last week I checked out three places that were new to me

First up was Cocoa Latte on St. Clair - the photo above is from blogto.com - a great source for restaurant reviews. I initially had gone up there to visit the new Mandala Designs shop - I love the clothes that I buy at Fresh Collective..however, they were closed on Monday and Tuesday which is when I ventured up there..no matter...on a cloudy day refuge in a cafe was in order and merely wandering St. Clair was interesting.

I was looking for another cafe called Krave Coffee but it was very busy with no seats! Oh well...time to check out another pick..Cocoa Latte. I enjoyed a table at the front of this cozy place a delicious latte and a roasted cauliflower soup and side salad. They also have vegan treats from Sweets From the Earth.

The following day, Remembrance Day it was over to 479 Broadview to visit the celebrated Rooster Coffee House at the edge of Riverdale. It too was extremely popular and very full inside..I noticed that they had a few comfy chairs always a plus with me. Fortunately it was warm enough to sit outside and enjoy the parade of dogs and their companions who stopped in to the cafe. Here I enjoyed a Matcha Latte - good. They also have a new location on 343 King Sreet East at Jarvis... roostercoffeehouse.com

 
You also get a great view of downtown Toronto and the park across the street...

Finally my favourite discovery came after my Book and Brunch meetup at Old School on Dundas. I wandered up to check out Green Grind on College which was my favourite find of the week..extensive menu cozy chairs and environmentally responsible! I will be back. I noticed they had french doors which are likely opened in warmer weather too..

www.thegreengrind.ca


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Comfy chairs!




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Monday, November 9, 2015

Bean and Baker Malt Shop

Recently I have decided that perhaps I am in a cafe rut - just going a few blocks to my fave places in the King and Queen West neighbourhood so I ventured a little further north to this very cool retro shop/ Yes,  you can get ice cream (they have Coconut Bliss for vegans!) and malts along with coffee, tea ,cocoa, baked goods, soup and sandwiches - while feeling you are travelling back in time. The soups sounded good too as I heard them describing the rotation including tomato split pea and minestrone.

The staff are even dressed to the period and the music is also nostalgic. The owner has a history in the coffee and spice business and his wife is a pastry chef. The red stools and chairs and tables make me regret losing my old set - at the time it was 30 years old and still going strong. I asked the owner about them and there is a distributor in Cambridge that sources them from a place in the U.S. Midwest - made in America! I believe it's called "Nostaligia Inc".

The spot is at the corner of Harbord and Grace and is bright and cheerful - my soy latte was great and I had a cookie and a vegan pie to go...I'll be back.