Happy Coffee

My kids have been in school for several weeks now so you'd think I would be busy knocking things off from my Foodie Bucket List.

The PTA has prevented me from doing much of that but I'm about to correct that real quick.

Two weeks ago, has it really been two weeks ago?  I made plans to visit the Civic Center Eats Food Truck Extravaganza with my friend Denise from Eat, Play, Love.  But first I had to so to the Girl Scout Store and buy my daughter her first Daisy uniform.

I had a little time, so I checked with Yelp and asked it where the closest coffee shop was located.

It told me to go to Happy Coffee.

So I did.

 

Super cute little place with a pastry case that looked amazing.  I think I spied some homemade Pop Tarts!  I ordered a cappuccino and it was delightful!  Yummy coffee means a happy Mama!

 Happy Coffee

1 South Broadway

Denver, CO

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What I Ate in San Francisco

I don't mind spending money on food if the food is good!  But I don't like spending too much money on food for my kids because they eat like little birds and they are hungry again an hour later.  On our trip to San Francisco I found many places that were a good value.  The key here is to do your research.  Many restaurants post their menus online and Yelp was super helpful also.

Sunday  

Fishermen's Grotto on Fisherman's Wharf, built in 1935 was the first sit down restaurant on the wharf and is a great place to sit on the patio, people watch and eat a big bowl of chowder in a bread bowl. Kids meals here are under $10 and large and filling.

Monday 

One of my favorite food days!  When searching Yelp for good restaurants to try I stumbled upon Darren's.  It was a block from my hotel and served breakfast and lunch.  It's a Vietnamese place so they have all of your Asian favorites and breakfast food too.  Kids had pancakes and I had a bowl of Pho!  It was amazing!

This was also the day I visited Trader Joe's and bought breakfast and snacks for our hotel room.  At lunch time the kids and I were shopping on Pier 39 and they just wanted a snack.  We sat on the patio at the California Wines Bar.  I enjoyed a Pinot Noir flight and we shared a fruit and cheese plate with a bottomless basket of sourdough bread. 

Tuesday

We were on the run all day!  Our lunch meal was at the Academy Cafe at the California Academy of Science.  This meal was not affordable but it was fun!  They offer a multicultural menu with  highlights including spring rolls, paninis, tacos and fresh pastries.  Grab a tray and go from station to station until you find something that strikes your fancy.  I had Mac and Cheese and began my obsession with Chinese Pork Buns.

For dinner we ate at a Tian Sing near Union Square.  It wasn't crowded and was very good.  I tried a new dish that I would never have ordered....Tripe!  Surprisingly good!  The prices are good and the choices are great!

Wednesday

The kids and I were at The Exploratorium and even though they have a restaurant, I really wanted to visit The Ferry Building again.  We walked (forever according my children) and watched lots of people jogging which just made me hungrier!  Unfortunately, we arrived right as all of the people in the financial district were there to eat lunch so the lines were long. We found a hidden corner with a coffee shop where I let the kids eat apple turnovers and cookies for lunch. I had a Carnitas Empanada and I loved it!

Walking back through we found Boccalone Salumeria and bought a salami cone so that kids could have some protein.  I had some special salami sliced for iKeith because I know how much he loves meat!

Then I spotted the Blue Bottle Coffee Co and I wanted to try it so I got a cup of joe and a cup of milk and then the kids and I bought a couple Macarons at Miette.

I scoured the menus for the restaurants at Pier 39 and the best value for kids and adults is the Pier Market. Make sure you print out their coupons before you leave and you can get several kids meals free during your stay.

Thursday

You can not go to California and not eat at In-N-Out.  My kids loved it!  I'm going to call this THE best value on the wharf because they don't seem to be hiking up the prices because of their location.  I'm looking at you Denny's and your $12 Grand Slam.

After taking a boat tour of the bay, we made our way to Ghiradelli Square.  After a little light shopping, we were on our way back to the hotel when I found the most adorable cafe.  I needed some caffeine so we stopped in for a snack and I did something I've never done before.  I ordered a Cappuccino!

The Black Point Cafe made me fall in love with Cappuccino! I loved it so much that I made iKeith come back with me the next day to have one.  He loved it too.  According to yelp, they are known for their Lavendar Lattes, I'll have to try one when I go back.

Keith and I like trying different cuisine so I searched Yelp again and came up with Stroganoff.  A cute little Russian restaurant across the street from our hotel! We enjoyed a appetizer of Beef Tongue with mushroom sauce and I loved the Beef Stroganoff.  Keith liked the Russian Beer and we had a fun dessert.

Last but not least.  We found a great ice cream place called Normans.  It's in the Cannery and only takes cash.  iKeith had Rocky Road and we learned that good Rocky Road is made with walnuts and that is how it used to be made many years ago.

I hope you enjoyed my foodie tour of San Francisco! Coming up next....Food of Ventura Beach!

Ink! Coffee

I love this place!  From the funny signs on the coffee beans to the fantastic iced coffee...it's my kind of place! 

618 16th Street on the 16th Street Mall
Denver, CO
@inkcoffee

Einstein Bros Bagels

We were watching Once Upon a Time last night when one of the characters arrived in Storybrook from New York City with a bag of bagels.  My son was intrigued by the donut looking food item and said he wanted to try one.

He never wants to try anything new so we got up early and went to Einstein Bros Bagels for breakfast before iKeith went to work.

I haven't been to Einstein's in over 7 years.  Not since I worked in an office and occasionally  enjoyed a bagel with smear during staff meetings.  You know, I knew that I was missing something from my life but I didn't realize it was bagels.

Alex ordered a blueberry bagel without smear.  Apparently, he's only trying one new thing at a time and is not willing to bend that rule.  Mallory had a blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese and declared it the best thing she's eaten in three days. I'll tell you about THAT meal next week.

I have to tell you that I was very impressed with the coffee and my husband's lox bagel.  That's what I'm getting next time.  And there WILL be a next time.

I'm done missing out.

Disclaimer: I was not paid to write about Einsteins or asked to eat there.  I just do what my kids tell me to do.  And I love carbs. 

Coffee Talk: Two Rivers Coffee

 One of my Foodie Resolutions for 2012 was to visit more coffee shops.  And I don't mean Starbucks!

My friend Denise from Eat, Play, Love is always up for an adventure and I was thrilled when she agreed to check out a coffee shop in Arvada even though she was on day 20 of the Whole Living 21 Day Cleanse.  She is a super trouper!

I did a little bit of research before going to Two Rivers Coffee.  I knew that they had high quality small batch coffee offerings.  This delighted me!  I love trying new coffee and know that it all tastes different depending on how it's grown and where it comes from.

I really need to go to coffee school.  Is there such a thing?

 

I started with the San Sebastian coffee from Colombia and what I think was a blackberry scone.  I arrived early so that I could down a pastry before my detoxing friend showed up.  I didn't want to eat it in front of her.  I'm so considerate!

The coffee was full bodied and didn't need ANY cream.  I loved the cup it was served in....with a high backside so that I could breath in the vapors.  Each cup of coffee is brewed to order in a clover machine.  They weigh the coffee beans instead of measuring them.  It's very scientific and exact!

Denise arrived and went with a white tea so that she wouldn't cheat.  She is has amazing willpower!

She started talking to Eric (who we later found out owned the place) about different coffee pots because she wanted to get a gift for her coffee-obsessed husband.   Eric showed us some of what he has in the store and he offered to show us how the Siphon Coffee brewing works.

I was really excited about this because two years ago, I went to a Siphon Bar in Salt Lake City who shall remain nameless and had a fabulous cup of coffee there.  The reason that I won't tell you where I went...is because the guy was condescending and rude.

Eric was so excited to show us the Siphon and let us take pictures.  He explained each step...I felt like I was in coffee school! 

Two Rivers coffee will be my new go-to place when I'm in Arvada and need to escape from my children.  It think I'll be coming up with excuses to go to Arvada now.  Sunflower Market and Hobby Lobby are just steps away!

Two Rivers Coffee
7745 Wadsworth Blvd ste B
Arvada, CO 80003
303.424.1313
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Coffee Talk: Cherry Creek Mall Starbucks

I've made it my life's mission to try all three flavors of Starbucks Cake Pops.  First up!  Tiramisu....it was really good with a cup of coffee, moist and sweet.  I give it five star. 

I enjoyed this coffee and cake pop at the Starbucks Kiosk at The Cherry Creek Mall.  A favorite spot to get refreshment while shopping or visiting our iPad2 at The Apple Store.  It is always clean and the barista's do their job very well!

The Hole

My friend Becca in Austin gave me a Restaurant.com gift certificate for Christmas.  I went through the list of restaurants for the Denver area and came across an interesting choice.  Beer and donuts!

I messaged my foodie friend Denise from Eat Play Love and asked her if she was in.  Without hesitation...she said Heck Yea! I may have had ulterior motives for inviting Denise to dine with me at The Hole.  She's a former vegetarian that lives in Boulder.  She's really into healthy eating and organic food.  And She's tall and skinny.

I had a secret weapon that I knew she wouldn't be able to resist. A donut sandwich.

 Just look how much she is enjoying her bacon, egg and cheese on a maple donut! She even tweeted that she's never known love like this before.  I think it was true love!

As a breakfast appetizer...we shared a Boston Cream Donut.  The filling to donut ratio was exactly how I like it.  The more filling the better! 

Boston Cream Donut

I'm a big coffee fanatic so I decided to try a cafe latte instead of just a plain ol' cup of joe.  Boy oh boy was I excited when this GIANT cup of creamy goodness arrived at our table.

Cafe Latte

I spent a good amount of time studying The Hole's menu before arriving and I'd decided on the Ham, Brie and Apricot Jam Donut Sandwich.  I was disappointed to find it was NOT on the menu when we arrived.  Our waitress made my day however, when she told us that it was on the lunch menu and they would happily make it for me.  JOY!

Ham, Brie & Apricot Jam..on a donut.

It was a delicious sandwich with a little bit of salty and a little bit of sweet!  Every bite was tasty and the flavors all melded together so well...like they were a match made in culinary heaven. I only ate half and brought the other home for my husband.  He he doesn't eat it today...I'm taking it back.

Look how cute this place is....and look at all of those donuts on the wall!

P.S. I created a foodspotting guide called Best Breakfasts in Denver!

The Hole

3877 Tennyson Street

Denver, CO 80212

720.379.6210

Facebook: The Hole

The Twitter: @theholedenver

Kid Friendly: YES!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post or given any free donuts. I just love eating and sharing good food with my friends.

Coffee Talk: The Press Coffee Company

My little boy doesn't like the Library so we like to go on adventure walks.  We've recently become addicted to letterboxing so a nice hot chocolate and a coffee are a welcome treat.  Unfortunately...on this day, it was only 50 degrees in Colorado and our walk ended early so we headed over to Belmar Shopping Center to The Press Coffee Company.

On the menu:

• Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie
• Hot Chocolate with Whip Cream
• Drip Coffee

The cookie was a hit and the Hot Chocolate was delicious!  The Press is one of my favorite places to get coffee because it is always good and piping hot.  Plus there is a lovely seating area and nice music playing.

Coffee Talk: Whole Foods

I have a passion for coffee. I like Starbucks but I also like to check out Non-Starbucks coffee shops because there is so much great coffee out there in the world. I've been visiting some local shops so I thought I'd document them here.

Good Cookie

Every week I take one of my kids on a date.   The one who is not on a date goes to spend two hours with Nana.  We've been doing it for several weeks and once the temperatures got cooler...it started to include a stop at a local coffee shop.

On this outing with my daughter we had been to the Library and then we went to Whole Foods for a few groceries.  What a bonus that they have a coffee shop located right next to the bakery!

On the menu:

•  Blueberry Fritter
•  Chocolate Chip Cookie
•  Hot Chocolate with Whip Cream
• Allegro Coffee

I selected the fritter because Mallory wanted a doughnut and this was the closest thing they had to one.  Imagine that!  No doughnuts at Whole Foods.  I was skeptical about it but it was great!  In fact...Mallory took a bite and let me eat the rest.  She was very happy with the cookie.  Mallory gave the Hot Chocolate 2 out of 5 stars.