Sugarbowl

I decided to keep with the restaurant theme by going to the Sugarbowl. I've eaten there many times before but never had a cappuccino. To be honest, I really like the Sugarbowl. I like the atmosphere, I like the art on the walls (I found an amazing painting that I would've bought if it wasn't $1300) and I like the crowd it attracts. And I also really like the food. So I already knew that I was going to go back there even if I didn't like the cappuccino. Lucky for you, Sugarbowl. Lucky. For. You.

The cappuccino was just fine. No bells, no whistles. Just fine. I added sugar because it was more bitter than I like, but it was perfectly non-threatening. It didn't make a huge impression, but it didn't offend me either.

If all of these cappuccinos were people, I would think that this one would be that girl at a party that isn't making a scene but when you leave you remember having this totally decent chat with this lovely girl but you can't seem to remember her name. You would've tried to kiss the Italian Center and you would have almost got into a fight with the Mandolin Bookstore, but this one, you just walked away thinking, Man, she is really nice ... whatever her name was.

dacapo

First off let me just say that I am really enjoying this self-appointed adventure. I enjoy finding all these little places, I enjoy ordering a cappuccino (it makes me feel grown up for some odd reason) and I enjoy thinking if I like them or not. I think I kinda like the power. So on this cold, but wonderfully sunny day, I took my quest to d capo.

Editors note: the website for this coffee shop says dacapo, but all the cups say d capo so I am not sure exactly what to call it.

Onto the cappuccino. The foam was great. I am even going to use the word 'silky'. I know, bold word right? I didn't love the coffee like I was thinking I might (I had to use half a packet of the raw sugar) but with sugar it was still quite enjoyable. I really like that they are small too. This was a perfect size. I just wish the size was reflected in the price. Who would've thought 20 years ago that paying $3.50 for 1/2 cup of milk and an ounce of coffee would be legit?

Again, the biggest hit against this place was the parking. It has nothing to do with the cappuccino, only that it would prevent me from picking this place on a Saturday morning.

But overall and simply put, dcapo was dlightful.

Editors second note: I just realized the red a on the cup meaning the d goes with the a and then the c-po goes with that same a. So it is dacapo afterall.

Block 1912

Today's adventure took me all the way down Whyte Ave to Block 1912. I have to be honest, though, and admit that I have a chip on my shoulder about this place from an experience a few years back. I had gone there for chai lattes with a few friends and their kids. We were a bigger group and there were small children I realize. But it was bizarre how rudely they treated us. It was obvious they wanted us to leave. We were so annoyed and so frustrated. I left with such a bitter taste in my mouth. And seeing as my main issue with the cappuccino is the bitter taste, I had little hope for this place.

To start off with, they had a minimum order to use your debit or credit card which bugged me. Luckily I had cash but I normally don't. I guess being 'forced' to have a biscotti along with the cappuccino isn't the worst thing in the world.

After ordering I watched the strangest routine for making a cappuccino. He went from the shot to steaming the milk, back to the espresso, then started knocking the milk pitcher to get rid of the bubbles, then back to checking the espresso, and more knocking. He was either incredibly inefficient or had a very specific method of building this drink. After getting the shot in the cup he then filled the cup with an amazing amount of foam small scoop by small scoop. This took about a minute and a half. Then he poured in the milk. The process took way too long.

The coffee had this very different taste that I can't quite put my finger on. It was not bitter, it was not smooth. It was almost nutty. Like they made me an almond cappuccino or something. Or maybe they didn't clean the cup and it had some left over amaretto in the bottom (please let it not be this). I definitely didn't hate it, I just felt confused the whole time. Are you a latte? Were you made with hazelnut espresso? Were you processed in a factory that contains nuts? Who knows. Who knows.

Urban Diner

A friend of mine and I snuck over to Urban while our daughters were at their ballet Christmas party on Saturday afternoon. A perfect time for an eggs benedict and a cappuccino!

Now this was the absolute foamiest cappuccino I have ever drank. The actual cappuccino wasn't outstanding, but I absolutely adored this foam. I believe the cappuccino should be 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk and 1/3 foam but I would venture to say that half of this drink was thick, velvety foam. The coffee was a bit of a letdown, but luckily there wasn't much of it.

But, let's be honest, the best part of the whole experience was laughing with my friend about a certain karaoke party of days long ago. We remembered Physical, Bad Medicine, AC/DC, Funny Valentine (this got a huge laugh), Dancing in the Streets..... Oh those days. Funny, fun days.

So, the final result? The cappuccino was fine, but the reminiscing was epic.

Blue Plate Diner

I am starting to run low on actual coffee shop options (I've been to 13 already!). Therefore I am opening up the competition to restaurants as well. The Blue Plate Diner is such a fun, funky, retro restaurant that I kinda already knew the cappuccino wouldn't be that great. Their focus can't be great coffee when they are serving delicious gnocchi in an old school bowl that looks like it is from your grandmother's house. But I ordered it anyways, the cappuccino, not the gnocchi.

Now, I will say that this review is a bit unfair because I was there to celebrate a friend's birthday with a bunch of old friends from an old part of my life. So I didn't really even critically drink the coffee, I just sipped it and laughed about those great times. Made the cappuccino taste delightful, even though deep down I knew it wasn't really all that good. But the company and the occasion affected the flavor enough that I can't really even say why it wasn't all that good. All I know is that I don't want to order another one.

So I am going to whittle this review down to two points: 1. My guess is that most restaurants won't make a good cappuccino. And, 2. if I am there with good friends, I won't even notice.

Second Cup

I'd rather eat bark.

Axis Cafe

I went to Axis Cafe this freezing cold morning. It is right in the middle of downtown so I worried about finding a parking space but - lucky for me - there was one right in front of the store. I grabbed some change to go pay for the meter but when I went to put my money it said, "$2.50 for one hour, Meter only accepts toonies and loonies. Max time is one hour". Oh Edmonton, your ridiculous ways no one can fathom. How on earth can I pay for one hour without using quarters? Why not just say that it costs $3.00? or why not accept quarters? But don't worry, Edmonton has a great River Valley right? Right.

Anyways, on to the cappuccino. I had really high hopes for this one because when the barista handed it to me, someone behind me yelled, Now THAT is a beautiful cappuccino! Here's hoping ...

At first glance, it was smaller and really foamy. At first taste, it was slightly bitter but no need for sugar. The atmosphere was hopping ... often about 11 people would walk in at once, I can only assume as a coffee break from work. Seemed like the place to be.

My overall impression? I definitely liked it. I think I would go there often if I worked downtown. It's a bit out of the way for me and I wish I didn't have to pay to park. But I liked it. It was just fine. If I was dating these coffee places, I think I will still want to marry the Italian Center, but I would definitely go on a second date with Axis.

Calgary trip and Leva

I have been out of blogging for 2 weeks now. Kinda like a cappuccino sabbatical. My parents were gone and then I went to Calgary. I was going to try some cappuccino's there but time did not allow. There was one interesting adventure though that involved bacon foam. It was a soup with this 'essence of bacon' on top. When we asked about it, he said that it is frothed like a cappuccino but rest assured, it tastes nothing like one. I couldn't stomach it. If I was reviewing bacon cappuccinos it would receive a terrible rating. But since I am not, I will share the photo and then move on to the real review ....

Now, on to Leva.

I went there today on the recommendation from my source. My first impression wasn't great as there was absolutely no parking. Being in the university area, there were 5 spots available and then everywhere else required a parking pass between 8am and 6pm. So I ended up having to park in the Mac's parking lot. My guilt got to me and so I went in and ended up buying a bag of peanuts (I have no idea why peanuts. They were just there). So before I even started I was out $1.06 and eating peanuts that I didn't even want to eat. (Why I didn't buy Miss Vickies I'll never know).

But the place looked fantastic. Lots of windows, super urban and even had an Italian family sipping macchiatos. The coffee was small and my first taste was bitter. I almost went to get the sugar but on second sip, delight. I don't know why the top tasted bitter but the rest was smooth.

I also think there was an unintentional kidney as foam art on the top.

But overall I really enjoyed this. I wished it was bigger and I wished I didn't have to pay for peanuts to park. But other than that, delish.