Whetting Your Appetite - Love Ottawa

This morning I received a pocket call on the home phone at 6:01 am.  Thank you to caller 'Anonymous' for that.  There was heavy breathing and a cough, but not in the way you might think.  If you think THAT way.

Based on the lead-in picture, it could suggest that this post is going to be about the newly opened Holland's Cake and Shake, but it's not. Actually, it is a bit. But it's not the main event. Though possibly the prettiest, and for sure sweetest.

I was up before the dogs barking and the hammers dropping symphonically on the many renovation projects surrounding my turret. On the plus side, it did get me out of the house. And the reason I bolted to an early start was because a Euro Capp in a blue cup was waiting for me at Café qui pense on Main Street.

When I went to bed last night, I didn't know I was going to get up early.

I didn't know I was going to start the day with an Equator Coffee Roasters' Ethiopian Single Origin bean.

I didn't know I was going to Holland's Cake and Shake.

I knew nothing of what would happen in between.

Like meeting the brains and photographer behind The Love Ottawa Project, Dwayne Brown.

Buying a baguette at True Loaf Bread Company.

Scouting some Société Orignal Goat's Milk Jam at The Red Apron.

But settling for less calories and a more practical solution for lunch with a savory galette smothered in roasted kale, cherry tomatoes, caramelized onions and feta.

Finding out that when everyone is looking up, looking WAY up at Beyond The Pale Brewery, they are checking on the vertical hop garden - part of the Community Grow Hop!

Discovering the location of SuzyQ's new quarters. Her doughnuts have textures. So why not the place.

Meeting Elvis. The truffle.

And his Maker.

Getting a $50 parking ticket from the remarkably efficient City of Ottawa. (12 minutes less talking could have saved me a bundle.)

None of this would have been part of my day if I didn't get that pocket call and then see a tweet minutes later that went something like this.

A perfect morning for an #Ottawa coffee! http://t.co/DzAKxXLl5p Any guesses to where this latte was photographed? pic.twitter.com/IKOpov0xF4
— loveOttawa (@love_ottawa) July 24, 2014

To which I replied...

@love_ottawa the table top has me thinking Cafe Qui Pense. But then why not the Euro Capp in the blue cups? Stumped.
— Anne Waters (@AMWATERS) July 24, 2014

And so began the conversation.

As I set my table for tea and cake tonight, the details of the very full morning came flooding back over me. A few nuggets stand out.

Embrace living in the moment. Living in the now.

Listen. Listen for possibilities.

Today I learned that how you frame a story isn't just in what you include in the picture but sometimes it's what you don't.

Cakes and treats from Holland's Cake and Shake on Armstrong across from the Parkdale Market. Bottom left: Pineapple Coconut Cream Cheese Caramel Cake $4. Middle: Orange Crush Meringue Tart $4. Top: Raspberry Shortcake $4. Bottom right: Elvis Truffle - Peanut Butter, Banana and Bacon, covered in White Chocolate $2.50.

Café qui pense - A New Ottawa Indie Coffee Shop Thick With Crema

It has been a wow week for me when it comes to checking out new and delicious coffee shops.Ten days ago a friend told me about Café qui pense and now I need to tell you.

The Café qui pense opened June 15 at 204 Main Street, by The Green Door Restaurant and across the road from Saint Paul University.

Their espresso bean hails from Equator Coffee Roasters in Almonte. The work horse espresso machine is the highly regarded La Marzocco from Italy.

Today I had an 8-ounce traditional European cappuccino ($3.45). It required a spoon to dig out the sediment of thick coffee-crema-whole-milk-candy.

My honey had the medium 12 ounce latte ($3.98).  My stealthy taste test confirmed it was equally delicious.

The place is small. There are three dark-wooded tables for 2 lined up on a long banquette bench, artistically painted an aqua similar to the Santorini blue of my cappuccino cup and saucer. There is also two stools at the front window bar. Creamy white beadboard covers most of the walls, creating a cozy warmth in this quiet setting.

There is street parking in front of the store, though competition for a spot is stiff with The Green Door having a solid customer base. We parked in a paid lot on Hazel behind Watson's Pharmacy just north of Café qui pense. ($2 for 30 minutes.)

We shared a Morning Glory Muffin made by their street partners, The Green Door. ($2.28) If you know their kitchen you know not to hesitate. Yep. No hesitation. No hesitation at all. And so no picture either.

This is a wonderful spot to visit after lunching at The Green Door or to fuel up before hitting the Main Farmers' Market which is open Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. Or just a quiet place for a special meet-up with a friend. In fact, it's close enough to CHEO and The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus to make it a destination for post appointment respites.

Right now the hours are being tested.  The shop is open 7 days a week from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Our meter was ticking down and as quickly we came, we slipped out the back door, through the umbrella-wide back alley, dancing between rain drops and licking our lips.

Two new coffee shops this week. Two new additions to my list of top Ottawa coffee shops.

CAFÉ QUI PENSE
204 Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario
613.695.4229

Facebook: Café qui pense

Mon - Sun: 7:30 am to 4 pm