Lulu Carpenters Octagon Café

I was in Santa Cruz for couple of days. Lulu Carpenters Octagon Café was one of the discoveries of those days. I went there to meet with Professor Burke; a nice meeting in a nice place. The place was packed, but pretty quiet compare to its population. We were lucky to find a table while waiting for our coffee to be brewed. In Lulu’s café every coffee order is measured, grounded and brewed freshly. I should mention that at Lulu Café your coffee costs you more than usual, simply because you get a coffee better than usual. I got a cup of Cappuccino which is a small sign of Lulu’s neat style.

In the same neighborhood there is another Lulu Carpenters Café. The Octagon one is located on 118 Cooper St next to McPherson Art Museum.

My Cappuccino Cup, Lulu Carpenters Octagon Café,
Santa Cruz, Jan 2008

Chez Panisse & Fedora

Here are two Café -Restaurants introduced to me first by my sweet friend, Aaron. I went to both and I am a fan now. Unfortunately for me one of the places is far away in California; but fortunately the other one is just 10 min drive from my house.

If you live around San Francisco bay area you have probably heard of Chez Panisse restaurant and café. The café was founded by Alice Waters & her partners in 1971 and named after a character called Panisse in the trilogy play-movie of Marius, Fanny and Cesar. Chez Panisse is famous for its seasonal menu that changes every day and varies based on the availability of ingredients on that season. It has a Café for lunch and a Restaurant for dinner. It is very hard to find a spot for dinner without reservation and you should reserve it way a head of time. For lunch the space is more available but it never hurts to reserve your table. I was there on November 30th; Persimmon’s touch made that day’s menu very colorful. Chez Panisse is pricey, but it’s worth trying.

If you live around Princeton and enjoy café atmosphere, Fedora Café welcomes you. Fedora is a small magically decorated café and very family friendly. Its Harry Pottery look – when I said magically decorated I meant it – makes you hungry. For working though, if you like to work in coffee shops as I do, is not that good. You can read a novel and enjoy your lunch but I’ve never seen anyone working there especially with a laptop. Fedora is located at 2633 Main Street, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. You can call them at (609-895-0844) they are very responsive. you can read another review for Fedora here.

Hold the Season in Your Hands !
Fig Leaf, Chez Panisse, November 2007

Coffee Shops Across America:

While riding our Honda Fit, Fandough (Hazelnut), across the country, from Princeton NJ to Berkeley CA, we stopped at many different coffee shops in different cities just to caffeinate ourselves with hot tea and sometimes coffee.

Here are three of those memorable coffee shops. Some are already known and some are isolated, but all three have a good tea collection and a nice ambiance to work. Keep them in mind when you pass these cities, especially if you are in the habit of working in coffee shops as I am.

Grounded Specialty Coffee
308, Main St. La Crosse, WI

Their Dark Chocolate Muffins are great. Add to it their nice owners, I guess a husband and wife and an ultra clean restroom (crucial factor for me!) They are famous for their double-shot espressos.

Trout River Coffee Bar
211 W. Front St. Downtown Missoula, MT

Everything is great in Trout River; especially it is a very good place to work. Not too cold, not too warm enough light and no loud music.

Michelangelo’s Coffee House
114 State St. Madison, WI

They make a great coffee and cappuccino. The owner is a warm and intelligent Lebanese-Mexican and obviously an admirer of Michelangelo.

Michelangelo's Coffee House, Madison, 2007

Philly & Boston I

Last weekend I was in Boston; so I visited Mike’s Pastry on 300 Hanover Street. I could have spent the whole day there wondering around. Not only the outside’s chill invites people inside but also the sweet smell of apple, cinnamon and vanilla call out for you. Though Mike’s Pastry is famous for its small sweets, I liked its piles of pies.

If you go there during weekend, you find Mike's very crowded.

Also the weekend before this, we went to Philadelphia to taste the famous Philly Cheese-stake. We went to Geno’s Steaks, one of the two popular Philly Cheese-stake shops; the other is right across the street from Geno’s. Apart from the clear sign that orders you: Speak English You are in America and the fact that the management reserves the right to refuse service, the onion topped Cheese-steak is absolutely delicious.


Another amazing thing is that despite the long and crowded line, there is not much waiting and Geno's is open all night long. I couldn’t have a whole portion but no worries on that part, my company took care of that.

This is Pat's King of Steaks, across the street.