It's been a while since my last post and while I have visited many coffee shops between now and then I have no great excuse for not blogging sooner- I even took notes quite a few times, but never used them!
So last Thursday I visited High Point Coffee, a shop I had been to once before for my book club. I remember liking the shop. It has a very laid back and inviting feeling to it. While waiting for your coffee to be made they have about twenty little quotes scattered along the front of their counter, giving you a little entertainment while you wait.
I ordered a 16 oz. Iced Raspberry Mocha with whip cream- Oops, there goes my waist line!! Actually I always order whip cream when trying a new place just to check it out and see if it is quality and High Point Coffee's definitely is- very good, made with real whipping cream and a little sugar.
So for anyone who owns one of those Entertainment Coupon books, there is a buy one item, get one item free (up to $5 value or something like that) coupon in there, which is what brought me to High Point Coffee on this occasion. I hate to say it, but I'm glad I didn't pay for the pastry I ordered to go with my latte- a Raspberry Cream Cheese Danish- because I was not at all impressed. It tasted like something you might get out of the donut case of a gas station (not good). So I only had about three bites and threw the rest away.
As for the book I was reading- for pleasure/ preparation, mind you- it is called Operations & Supply Chain Management by Verma & Boyer. I was reading this rather than my typical novel because beginning in January I am headed back to school full time to finish my bachelor's degree. I'm very excited for this opportunity- I'll be working toward a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Supply Chain Management and should be done after Spring semester 2012! I'll be headed back to the school where I received my associate in general studies degree- Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. But fear not- I will still be working two days a week in Salt Lake City, so hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things and continue blogging about cafe's all along the Wasatch Front.
CAFE REVIEW:
CLEANLINESS: Excellent. Did visit the ladies room to fix my hair, as far as I can remember it was clean.
SERVICE: Great. If anything, the gentleman helping me may have been a little too helpful- but I know he was only trying to help when he tried making suggestions. I said to him that I usually have a hard time deciding what to get because I could order anything and like it, to which he said was a tall order. I amended to say anything on the menu would be acceptable. He mentioned a former coworker who once made a suicide- a drink with a little of each syrup they had- which sounds horrible and to which he seemed to think as well- that would be much too sweet and probably not drinkable. He even offered to make something similar to a Snickers latte as I pondered the menu- very friendly.
ATMOSPHERE: Great. Very open and spacious with little nooks throughout the room. Each corner had a couple of chairs and tables. I chose to sit in a leather seat near the door which was also in front of a gas fireplace, very cozy. There is even a meeting room which offers a little privacy with glass windows, and a door. The music seemed to be of the employees choice- the first song I noticed was death metal, but it calmed down to various rock and christmas songs after that.
WOULD I RECOMMEND? Most definitely! The latte was great and the seating was comfortable.
High Point Coffee
1735 West 7800 South [Just West of Redwood Road]
South Jordan, UT
Espresso. Wi-Fi (easy to use, no password necessary). Biscotti. Pastries (though wouldn't recommend). Tea. Smoothies. Coffee. Frappes.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Starbucks, Riverton, UT
Yesterday was a perfect Starbucks day (work was another story, so coffee was definitely needed)...
I received an email a couple of days from Starbucks (I'm letting my true colors show now- I am a HUGE fan of Starbucks and while I'm trying new places, it's made me miss the known comfort of my first true coffee love) letting me know that their Pumpkin Spice Latte & Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino drinks are back, along with a new flavor Toffee Mocha. So I decided that Friday I would finally take advantage of their Summer Treat Receipt Promo (buy any drink before 2pm, come back after 2pm to enjoy any grande size cold drink for $2).
I actually stopped by their 90th South and Redwood store in the morning, ran in and ordered a Grande Toffee Mocha Latte on my way to work. It was really good! A sweet signature drink flavor that seemed similar to their other latte flavors.
On the way home from work I went over to their Riverton store, as this has become my favorite among the locations closest to my Herriman home. I ordered a Grande Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino with whip cream and sat outside on their patio. I love this location because they have 5 leather couches among the other seating in their dining area and then an additional 6 tables outside on their patio, which gives me plenty of area to pick that perfect comfy spot.
CAFE REVIEW:
CLEANLINESS: Clean as far as I can tell. I was briefly in the dining/ordering area and then sat outside. The outside tables were clean. The bathroom was clean but needs a bit of an update.
SERVICE: Great. The barista even commented that she liked how I kept my card and receipt in my book (which I did so that I wouldn't have to bring my purse in).
ATMOSPHERE: It was a lazy time for the Starbucks crew as the entire hour I was there only 2 cars passed the patio area to order through their drive-up, which goes right past their patio area. I think my only complaint would have to be that I kept getting whiffs of french fries from one of the nearby fast food chains, and the occasional whiff of chicken from the nearby Wingers which made me hungry. It is a little off the main road, so the traffic noise was minimal.
WOULD I RECOMMEND? Yep, as I said this is one of the locations I really enjoy. It's bright with lots of windows and has a very open and welcoming feeling.
Starbucks
134th South & Bangerter, Riverton
3728 West 13400 South
Riverton, UT 84065
Reference: www.Starbucks.com
Coffee. Espresso. Hot Chocolate. Pastries. Oatmeal. Breakfast Sandwiches. Tea. Smoothies.
BOOK REVIEW: I am currently reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins the third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. The series follows Katniss and Peeta as they try to survive Suzanne's version of future United States known as Panem. The country has been divided into thirteen districts and the capitol. The thirteenth district was destroyed after they tried to rebel against the capitol, leaving only twelve surviving districts and the creation of a yearly event called The Hunger Games. Once a year two tributes are chosen from each of the twelve districts (one boy and one girl) and they are placed in an arena and forced to kill one another until only one victor remains. The citizens of each district are required to watch the event on their television as a reminder and punishment of the rebellion about 75 years ago. I don't want to spoil anything so I wont say what is actually happening in the third book. I LOVED the first two books as Suzanne really keeps your attention with her unforeseen story twists and even left us with a cliff hanger after the second book. The third book however, I'm not really sure about and want to complete it before I decide weather I love it or dislike it. I will say however that so far it is nothing like what I could have predicted or imagined.
I received an email a couple of days from Starbucks (I'm letting my true colors show now- I am a HUGE fan of Starbucks and while I'm trying new places, it's made me miss the known comfort of my first true coffee love) letting me know that their Pumpkin Spice Latte & Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino drinks are back, along with a new flavor Toffee Mocha. So I decided that Friday I would finally take advantage of their Summer Treat Receipt Promo (buy any drink before 2pm, come back after 2pm to enjoy any grande size cold drink for $2).
I actually stopped by their 90th South and Redwood store in the morning, ran in and ordered a Grande Toffee Mocha Latte on my way to work. It was really good! A sweet signature drink flavor that seemed similar to their other latte flavors.
On the way home from work I went over to their Riverton store, as this has become my favorite among the locations closest to my Herriman home. I ordered a Grande Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino with whip cream and sat outside on their patio. I love this location because they have 5 leather couches among the other seating in their dining area and then an additional 6 tables outside on their patio, which gives me plenty of area to pick that perfect comfy spot.
CAFE REVIEW:
CLEANLINESS: Clean as far as I can tell. I was briefly in the dining/ordering area and then sat outside. The outside tables were clean. The bathroom was clean but needs a bit of an update.
SERVICE: Great. The barista even commented that she liked how I kept my card and receipt in my book (which I did so that I wouldn't have to bring my purse in).
ATMOSPHERE: It was a lazy time for the Starbucks crew as the entire hour I was there only 2 cars passed the patio area to order through their drive-up, which goes right past their patio area. I think my only complaint would have to be that I kept getting whiffs of french fries from one of the nearby fast food chains, and the occasional whiff of chicken from the nearby Wingers which made me hungry. It is a little off the main road, so the traffic noise was minimal.
WOULD I RECOMMEND? Yep, as I said this is one of the locations I really enjoy. It's bright with lots of windows and has a very open and welcoming feeling.
Starbucks
134th South & Bangerter, Riverton
3728 West 13400 South
Riverton, UT 84065
Reference: www.Starbucks.com
Coffee. Espresso. Hot Chocolate. Pastries. Oatmeal. Breakfast Sandwiches. Tea. Smoothies.
BOOK REVIEW: I am currently reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins the third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. The series follows Katniss and Peeta as they try to survive Suzanne's version of future United States known as Panem. The country has been divided into thirteen districts and the capitol. The thirteenth district was destroyed after they tried to rebel against the capitol, leaving only twelve surviving districts and the creation of a yearly event called The Hunger Games. Once a year two tributes are chosen from each of the twelve districts (one boy and one girl) and they are placed in an arena and forced to kill one another until only one victor remains. The citizens of each district are required to watch the event on their television as a reminder and punishment of the rebellion about 75 years ago. I don't want to spoil anything so I wont say what is actually happening in the third book. I LOVED the first two books as Suzanne really keeps your attention with her unforeseen story twists and even left us with a cliff hanger after the second book. The third book however, I'm not really sure about and want to complete it before I decide weather I love it or dislike it. I will say however that so far it is nothing like what I could have predicted or imagined.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Diva's Cupcakes & Coffee, Salt Lake City, UT. 2nd Visit.
Overpriced coffee cake + lukewarm latte + slow service = Nicole will probably not be visiting again anytime soon.
I visited Diva's Cupcakes again yesterday, this time with a friend from my bible study. I got a 16 oz. decaf hazelnut latte and a piece of blueberry pecan coffee cake which totaled $7.49 (versus about $6.04 at Starbucks, btw). I was a little surprised at the price and maybe should have taken the coffee cake off, but it is what it is. Service was a little slow because the same person who takes the orders also prepares the drinks and gets your pastries plated for you.
The biggest disappointment however was that my latte was not nearly hot enough, I'd say it was warm. Which means after about 2 minutes in a ceramic mug it was lukewarm. It tasted good, I just wish it had been served hot. The coffee cake was OK, a little dry. I did appreciate that it had fresh blueberries on it.
I would say the best part of this visit was my company. We were able to sit on the back patio for about 45 minutes to chat, before it was off to bible study.
Overall, I am still amazed with the back patio and it's feeling as if you've been whisked out of salt lake city and into someone's suburban back yard. However, I am just not impressed at all with their bakery- which is a shame.
Book Review:
On a side note, I do want to mention a book I just finished reading for all of you who can stomach a little more vampire culture. Blood Oath, by Christopher Farnsworth does have two vampires in it, who do avoid the sunlight, but this is where the similarities with Twilight end. Blood Oath is about the president's vampire who has been around for about 140 years. Cade does not sparkle and could care less if he is wearing designer threads. Instead he lives in a secret underground compartment below the white house and helps out in keeping the United States President alive in only the most serious of threats- those started by other undead creatures. I liked it despite the fact that there was no romance and more war action than dialog. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction novels and/or vampires.
I visited Diva's Cupcakes again yesterday, this time with a friend from my bible study. I got a 16 oz. decaf hazelnut latte and a piece of blueberry pecan coffee cake which totaled $7.49 (versus about $6.04 at Starbucks, btw). I was a little surprised at the price and maybe should have taken the coffee cake off, but it is what it is. Service was a little slow because the same person who takes the orders also prepares the drinks and gets your pastries plated for you.
The biggest disappointment however was that my latte was not nearly hot enough, I'd say it was warm. Which means after about 2 minutes in a ceramic mug it was lukewarm. It tasted good, I just wish it had been served hot. The coffee cake was OK, a little dry. I did appreciate that it had fresh blueberries on it.
I would say the best part of this visit was my company. We were able to sit on the back patio for about 45 minutes to chat, before it was off to bible study.
Overall, I am still amazed with the back patio and it's feeling as if you've been whisked out of salt lake city and into someone's suburban back yard. However, I am just not impressed at all with their bakery- which is a shame.
Book Review:
On a side note, I do want to mention a book I just finished reading for all of you who can stomach a little more vampire culture. Blood Oath, by Christopher Farnsworth does have two vampires in it, who do avoid the sunlight, but this is where the similarities with Twilight end. Blood Oath is about the president's vampire who has been around for about 140 years. Cade does not sparkle and could care less if he is wearing designer threads. Instead he lives in a secret underground compartment below the white house and helps out in keeping the United States President alive in only the most serious of threats- those started by other undead creatures. I liked it despite the fact that there was no romance and more war action than dialog. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction novels and/or vampires.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
PERKS! Espresso & Smoothies, St. George, UT
So last week I went on a week long vacation to St. George, resulting in my first post from the road! (Well sort of, I'm back at home now since I had better things to do than spend 40 minutes blogging about a cafe when I could be in the pool swimming and relaxing).
So while in St. George I was in the mood for coffee (of course- I'm always in the mood for coffee) and hence I drove down the street looking for the nearest coffee shop. We chose PERKS! which had I been alone, I might have driven somewhere else. The place looked nice from the outside, but the sign for its' namesake was brightly colored with a little cartoon drawing of a guy all hopped up on coffee, if not something stronger.
I was actually just wanting plain old coffee, but didn't see it on the menu so I ordered an iced Almond flavored latte. My friend, who felt that three in the afternoon was a little late to drink coffee, ordered a strawberry smoothie. The drinks were good, no complaints there. They had a comfy couch next to a coffee table strewn with various magazines and a couple sets of dominoes, so we opted for the couch.
CAFE REVIEW:
Cleanliness: Clean, but a disorganized feeling as far as decor and furnishings went.
Service: Great. The girl who helped me was very patient as I looked over the menu and tried to make suggestions for me.
Atmosphere: Not the best. The flooring was a beautiful, dark stone tiles. The walls were painted a nice, toned down light brown. The furniture was an eclectic mix and there was pottery on display in one area. They also had their multi-colored crazy sign inside the cafe, which did help in the attempt of a welcoming atmosphere. As my friend put it- "they seem to be having an identity crisis."
Would I recommend: Maybe, if you use the drive-thru. I don't think that I would be back to spend much time in their dining area. Also, as I was leaving, I noticed a bunch of aprons hanging near the door (presumably for the staff) as well as a tiny, super cluttered employee office to the right, and a cluttered hallway to the left.
I do have to say that I loved their cold drink cups, however. They were clear with little orange and yellow flowers on them, a nice touch.
PERKS! Espresso & Smoothies
1515 W. Sunset Blvd.
St. George, UT
Espresso drinks. Smoothies. soda. Kearns juice. bagels. muffins. chocolate covered espresso beans.
So while in St. George I was in the mood for coffee (of course- I'm always in the mood for coffee) and hence I drove down the street looking for the nearest coffee shop. We chose PERKS! which had I been alone, I might have driven somewhere else. The place looked nice from the outside, but the sign for its' namesake was brightly colored with a little cartoon drawing of a guy all hopped up on coffee, if not something stronger.
I was actually just wanting plain old coffee, but didn't see it on the menu so I ordered an iced Almond flavored latte. My friend, who felt that three in the afternoon was a little late to drink coffee, ordered a strawberry smoothie. The drinks were good, no complaints there. They had a comfy couch next to a coffee table strewn with various magazines and a couple sets of dominoes, so we opted for the couch.
CAFE REVIEW:
Cleanliness: Clean, but a disorganized feeling as far as decor and furnishings went.
Service: Great. The girl who helped me was very patient as I looked over the menu and tried to make suggestions for me.
Atmosphere: Not the best. The flooring was a beautiful, dark stone tiles. The walls were painted a nice, toned down light brown. The furniture was an eclectic mix and there was pottery on display in one area. They also had their multi-colored crazy sign inside the cafe, which did help in the attempt of a welcoming atmosphere. As my friend put it- "they seem to be having an identity crisis."
Would I recommend: Maybe, if you use the drive-thru. I don't think that I would be back to spend much time in their dining area. Also, as I was leaving, I noticed a bunch of aprons hanging near the door (presumably for the staff) as well as a tiny, super cluttered employee office to the right, and a cluttered hallway to the left.
I do have to say that I loved their cold drink cups, however. They were clear with little orange and yellow flowers on them, a nice touch.
PERKS! Espresso & Smoothies
1515 W. Sunset Blvd.
St. George, UT
Espresso drinks. Smoothies. soda. Kearns juice. bagels. muffins. chocolate covered espresso beans.
Brews on 7th, Sandy, UT
Brews on 7th is actually a drive-thru coffee shop, but their menu sounded really diverse and creative so about 2 saturdays ago in the afternoon I decided to try it. It did take a little longer to get my latte because while there is a window on each side of the building, making two drive-up windows total, the order is taken and then made one order at a time. I got a Taste of Italy, blended, 16 oz., $4. I also noted that prices on the menu are rounded and include tax- so no pennies in your change back.
CAFE REVIEW:
Cleanliness: Appeared fine to me. Hard to really get a good look though as I did not spend as much time here as I normally would at a coffee shop.
Service: Great. Staff was friendly. Judging by their Facebook page they hire cute girls in their 20's who appear to have fun working there and are probably great with their customers.
Atmosphere: Typical drive-thru. Located in the parking lot of The Aquarium, nice area of town. There were two or three tables set up nearby, one of which had an umbrella over it. The temperature was about 89 degrees and the covered table already had two women sitting at it, so I elected not to sit in the sun.
Would I recommend: Yes, great for a stop on your way to work or in the morning before visiting The Aquarium. I enjoyed my drink, it was prepared correctly.
Hours: M-F 5:30 am-4:30 pm, Sat 6:30 am-5:00 pm, and Sun 7:30 am-5:00 pm
Brews on 7th
715 East 10600 South
Sandy, UT
Espresso drinks. Italian Sodas. Smoothies. Juices. Energy Drinks.
Reference: www.facebook.com/pages/Sandy-UT/BREWS-ON-7TH/183038899487
CAFE REVIEW:
Cleanliness: Appeared fine to me. Hard to really get a good look though as I did not spend as much time here as I normally would at a coffee shop.
Service: Great. Staff was friendly. Judging by their Facebook page they hire cute girls in their 20's who appear to have fun working there and are probably great with their customers.
Atmosphere: Typical drive-thru. Located in the parking lot of The Aquarium, nice area of town. There were two or three tables set up nearby, one of which had an umbrella over it. The temperature was about 89 degrees and the covered table already had two women sitting at it, so I elected not to sit in the sun.
Would I recommend: Yes, great for a stop on your way to work or in the morning before visiting The Aquarium. I enjoyed my drink, it was prepared correctly.
Hours: M-F 5:30 am-4:30 pm, Sat 6:30 am-5:00 pm, and Sun 7:30 am-5:00 pm
Brews on 7th
715 East 10600 South
Sandy, UT
Espresso drinks. Italian Sodas. Smoothies. Juices. Energy Drinks.
Reference: www.facebook.com/pages/Sandy-UT/BREWS-ON-7TH/183038899487
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Paradise Bakery & Cafe, Salt Lake City, UT
So I've actually been to Paradise Bakery & Cafe a handful of times, but knew it was definitely one to share. First thing to know if you are driving is there is a 2 hour parking limit per Salt Lake City, which Paradise Bakery has no control of. So I love this place because it has the feel and decor of your typical coffee shop, but it is HUGE! If I had to guess, I'd say there are about 30 tables and booths. In the back of the Cafe along the wall are two long open booths (one side is a booth with many small tables fitting one person on each side and a chair facing the booth) with places to plug in laptops if that is your sort of thing.
So the staff was very friendly and helpful. The woman taking my order asked if I wanted whipped cream I said "might as well" and she agreed- you can't really count calories when you get the Paradise Frappe [OK, so here is where I have to interject and let you know I dropped the ball on this one and forgot to write down the name of the drink I ordered- I know, horrible right?!] or whatever the drink is called- I'm sure I'm close, but they don't list their coffee drinks on their website.
So I wasn't really impressed with the book I brought with me. It's called A Delirious Summer by Ray Blackston. It's about this guy who teaches spanish in Quito, Ecuador to future missionaries (doesn't give a denomination but I would guess not LDS, just an FYI as I know that is my first thought when I hear the word missionary.) So this guy has 6 weeks vacation time until his next class and upon the advice and help of one of his students, decides to spend it trying to meet girls in Greenville, South Carolina. But I guess this is tougher than it sounds as all the girls "hop scotch" different churches (baptist, Episcopalian, etc.) trying to meet available men. I wont get into it much more than that. It's written by a guy, in a guy's perspective so to me the dialog is just really weird and the interaction he has as he comes in contact with different guys is foreign to me- like do guys really talk like this? I read to page 61 and just wasn't into it.
CAFE REVIEW:
Small Paradise Frappe: Good, but mild. After the first sip I really couldn't taste the chocolate flavor. Almost tasted watered down. I guess it could be because I asked for skim milk, but it really was just a light flavor. So the frappe has Godiva chocolate flavoring and half a chocolate chip cookie blended into it, with about a 1/4 size chocolate chip cookie added to the top for garnish.
Chocolate Chip Cookie: Regular cookie size, $1.37, awesome! I LOVE their chocolate chip cookies!!!! When you order a sandwich it comes with one of these as well. These cookies are reason enough to come to Paradise Cafe. I can't put my finger on what that special ingredient is (ginger maybe? or molasses?) but they are so many times better than your average store bought chocolate chip cookie. And bonus for me- the cashier gave me the other half of the cookie she used for my drink, in addition to the one I bought. Last time I had the Paradise Frappe I got the medium size and did not get part of a cookie back so not sure if she was being nice, or if that is normal. Either way- great for customer satisfaction!
Cleanliness: Ok, there were a couple of slightly dirty tables and mine did have some large crumbs of food underneath. But as far as the order area is concerned- clean.
Service: Good, as I mentioned above.
Atmosphere: not too loud, cafeteria style ordering and they do bring your food to you if you order a sandwich or salad. Comfy and welcoming. I felt no rush and even put my feet up in the booth.
Would I recommend: Yes, most definitely. My husband loves their caesar salad. I love their turkey cranberry sandwich and of course- don't leave without getting a chocolate chip cookie! Hours: Mon-Sat 6 am-9pm, closed sunday.
Paradise Bakery & Cafe
618 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, UT
Coffee. Soda. Cookies. Cake. Breakfast Croissants. Sandwiches. Soup. Salad. Pasta Salads.
Reference: www.paradisebakery.com
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you've been here before or have any suggestions!!
So the staff was very friendly and helpful. The woman taking my order asked if I wanted whipped cream I said "might as well" and she agreed- you can't really count calories when you get the Paradise Frappe [OK, so here is where I have to interject and let you know I dropped the ball on this one and forgot to write down the name of the drink I ordered- I know, horrible right?!] or whatever the drink is called- I'm sure I'm close, but they don't list their coffee drinks on their website.
So I wasn't really impressed with the book I brought with me. It's called A Delirious Summer by Ray Blackston. It's about this guy who teaches spanish in Quito, Ecuador to future missionaries (doesn't give a denomination but I would guess not LDS, just an FYI as I know that is my first thought when I hear the word missionary.) So this guy has 6 weeks vacation time until his next class and upon the advice and help of one of his students, decides to spend it trying to meet girls in Greenville, South Carolina. But I guess this is tougher than it sounds as all the girls "hop scotch" different churches (baptist, Episcopalian, etc.) trying to meet available men. I wont get into it much more than that. It's written by a guy, in a guy's perspective so to me the dialog is just really weird and the interaction he has as he comes in contact with different guys is foreign to me- like do guys really talk like this? I read to page 61 and just wasn't into it.
CAFE REVIEW:
Small Paradise Frappe: Good, but mild. After the first sip I really couldn't taste the chocolate flavor. Almost tasted watered down. I guess it could be because I asked for skim milk, but it really was just a light flavor. So the frappe has Godiva chocolate flavoring and half a chocolate chip cookie blended into it, with about a 1/4 size chocolate chip cookie added to the top for garnish.
Chocolate Chip Cookie: Regular cookie size, $1.37, awesome! I LOVE their chocolate chip cookies!!!! When you order a sandwich it comes with one of these as well. These cookies are reason enough to come to Paradise Cafe. I can't put my finger on what that special ingredient is (ginger maybe? or molasses?) but they are so many times better than your average store bought chocolate chip cookie. And bonus for me- the cashier gave me the other half of the cookie she used for my drink, in addition to the one I bought. Last time I had the Paradise Frappe I got the medium size and did not get part of a cookie back so not sure if she was being nice, or if that is normal. Either way- great for customer satisfaction!
Cleanliness: Ok, there were a couple of slightly dirty tables and mine did have some large crumbs of food underneath. But as far as the order area is concerned- clean.
Service: Good, as I mentioned above.
Atmosphere: not too loud, cafeteria style ordering and they do bring your food to you if you order a sandwich or salad. Comfy and welcoming. I felt no rush and even put my feet up in the booth.
Would I recommend: Yes, most definitely. My husband loves their caesar salad. I love their turkey cranberry sandwich and of course- don't leave without getting a chocolate chip cookie! Hours: Mon-Sat 6 am-9pm, closed sunday.
Paradise Bakery & Cafe
618 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, UT
Coffee. Soda. Cookies. Cake. Breakfast Croissants. Sandwiches. Soup. Salad. Pasta Salads.
Reference: www.paradisebakery.com
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you've been here before or have any suggestions!!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Diva's Cupcakes & Coffee, Salt Lake City, UT
Diva's Cupcakes & Coffee is a shop that I've been wanting to go to ever since I heard of it, but up until Thursday's book club meeting, I had not yet visited. So the book club wasn't supposed to meet until 7 pm, but because I work downtown and it would be too far for me to drive all the way home and back, I arrived at about 6:20 pm to Diva's. I was glad though because this would allow me time to take everything in before I had to worry about watching for people I recognize.
The first thing I noticed is the parking lot is REALLY small. They do have a drive-up, and there might be parking somewhere that I didn't notice though, because there were quite a few people inside and in the back patio. So I go in and notice that to the right of the entrance (inside) is a decent sized library room with two tables and tons of books on shelves. I thought that could be really neat if you just found yourself with extra time and happened upon Diva's- you could grab a book and settle in for a few minutes.
I was glad that there was already someone looking at the menu ahead of me and seemed to be placing an order for a couple of people, buying me some non-rushed time. So they had all of their cupcakes on display, as well as cinnamon rolls and maybe another pastry type or two. I was really disappointed to see that these were just normal sized cupcake. Yes there were about 8 different flavor choices, but the cupcakes themselves were the size of a homemade muffin or cupcake.
I decided on a lemon berry cupcake and a 16 oz. iced carmel macchiato. The cupcake was placed on a ceramic(?) plate and I took my items to go find a table on the back patio. This was the best part of Diva's for me- there are about 12 outdoor tables spread across this long patio and the tables are somewhat secluded from each other by lots of plants and greenery. This made it a beautiful setting as well as keeping the noise level down as most of the tables were used throughout my time there.
I chose a table that had four wicker chairs with padding on them that looked very comfy. I sat down with my items and book (Nicolae again, as it had only been two days since my last cafe visit) and just took in the scenery for a minute.
CAFE REVIEW:
Lemon berry cupcake: $2.50, 6 oz, very good. So I had a dilemma as to how exactly I am supposed to eat this cupcake- with literally 2 inches of frosting on top, I knew that it, along with the cupcake itself was NOT going to fit in my mouth. For this I was grateful that I would be able to eat my cupcake alone. I took a couple of small bites and could feel frosting sticking to my lips (of course I did not think to grab a napkin) and once I got to the really tall part of the cupcake I turned it upside down and smeared the frosting off the cake. I then tried to dip/ smear frosting back onto each bite. The frosting itself was unique. I think it was whipped and tasted as if it had real strawberries minced into it- really good. The cupcake was good as well, the combination of strawberry and lemon worked well.
Iced Carmel Macchiato: $3.95, 16 oz., very good. I enjoyed this iced latte, it actually reminded me of Starbucks' latte of the same name (which from me, someone who up until recently visited Starbucks at least twice a week and has their gold card, this is a complement).
Service: Good, friendly staff. I noticed that those customers who ordered a sandwich were given a plastic number and when their sandwich was ready, the staff actually delivered it to their table.
Cleanliness: Seemed fine to me. To be honest I was just enjoying all the plants on the patio and never looked at the concrete.
Atmosphere: There were two other clubs that I noticed meeting that night- another book club and a knitting club which took two tables. It really felt like a great place for clubs as most of the tables sat at least four people.
Would I recommend? Yep, loved the atmosphere and style. I think next time I will try a sandwich though, or maybe one of their $0.75 biscotti. I just felt the cupcake was a little over priced for its size. Also, their hours are M-Sat 6:30 AM - 10 PM, Sun 7 AM - 5 PM which makes this a great place to go after work and not feel rushed.
Diva's Cupcakes and Coffee
1560 East 3300 South
Salt Lake City, UT
Coffee. Espresso. Cupcakes. Bottled Beers. Wine by the glass. Sandwiches. Cupcakes and Cakes can also be ordered for special occasions and weddings.
Reference: http://divascupcakes.com
The first thing I noticed is the parking lot is REALLY small. They do have a drive-up, and there might be parking somewhere that I didn't notice though, because there were quite a few people inside and in the back patio. So I go in and notice that to the right of the entrance (inside) is a decent sized library room with two tables and tons of books on shelves. I thought that could be really neat if you just found yourself with extra time and happened upon Diva's- you could grab a book and settle in for a few minutes.
I was glad that there was already someone looking at the menu ahead of me and seemed to be placing an order for a couple of people, buying me some non-rushed time. So they had all of their cupcakes on display, as well as cinnamon rolls and maybe another pastry type or two. I was really disappointed to see that these were just normal sized cupcake. Yes there were about 8 different flavor choices, but the cupcakes themselves were the size of a homemade muffin or cupcake.
I decided on a lemon berry cupcake and a 16 oz. iced carmel macchiato. The cupcake was placed on a ceramic(?) plate and I took my items to go find a table on the back patio. This was the best part of Diva's for me- there are about 12 outdoor tables spread across this long patio and the tables are somewhat secluded from each other by lots of plants and greenery. This made it a beautiful setting as well as keeping the noise level down as most of the tables were used throughout my time there.
I chose a table that had four wicker chairs with padding on them that looked very comfy. I sat down with my items and book (Nicolae again, as it had only been two days since my last cafe visit) and just took in the scenery for a minute.
CAFE REVIEW:
Lemon berry cupcake: $2.50, 6 oz, very good. So I had a dilemma as to how exactly I am supposed to eat this cupcake- with literally 2 inches of frosting on top, I knew that it, along with the cupcake itself was NOT going to fit in my mouth. For this I was grateful that I would be able to eat my cupcake alone. I took a couple of small bites and could feel frosting sticking to my lips (of course I did not think to grab a napkin) and once I got to the really tall part of the cupcake I turned it upside down and smeared the frosting off the cake. I then tried to dip/ smear frosting back onto each bite. The frosting itself was unique. I think it was whipped and tasted as if it had real strawberries minced into it- really good. The cupcake was good as well, the combination of strawberry and lemon worked well.
Iced Carmel Macchiato: $3.95, 16 oz., very good. I enjoyed this iced latte, it actually reminded me of Starbucks' latte of the same name (which from me, someone who up until recently visited Starbucks at least twice a week and has their gold card, this is a complement).
Service: Good, friendly staff. I noticed that those customers who ordered a sandwich were given a plastic number and when their sandwich was ready, the staff actually delivered it to their table.
Cleanliness: Seemed fine to me. To be honest I was just enjoying all the plants on the patio and never looked at the concrete.
Atmosphere: There were two other clubs that I noticed meeting that night- another book club and a knitting club which took two tables. It really felt like a great place for clubs as most of the tables sat at least four people.
Would I recommend? Yep, loved the atmosphere and style. I think next time I will try a sandwich though, or maybe one of their $0.75 biscotti. I just felt the cupcake was a little over priced for its size. Also, their hours are M-Sat 6:30 AM - 10 PM, Sun 7 AM - 5 PM which makes this a great place to go after work and not feel rushed.
Diva's Cupcakes and Coffee
1560 East 3300 South
Salt Lake City, UT
Coffee. Espresso. Cupcakes. Bottled Beers. Wine by the glass. Sandwiches. Cupcakes and Cakes can also be ordered for special occasions and weddings.
Reference: http://divascupcakes.com
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Bad Ass Coffee Company of Salt Lake City, UT
Ok, so although I've lived in Salt Lake City for over a year now, I have not ventured to The Bad Ass Coffee Company until now because to me it sounded like a biker's coffee shop. I always pictured going in there and seeing a bunch of biker dudes in their harley gear. Not that there is anything wrong with that, one of my favorite customers at the bank is a harley guy and a member of B.A.C.A. (do a google search if you don't know what B.A.C.A. is, a charitable group that I give to on request, even when I'm strapped for cash).
But I am getting way off subject....
So yesterday after work I needed to kill some time between work and my evening bible study (which I'll be attending on Tuesdays, so expect a fairly regular Wednesday posting) and I decided to go to The Bad Ass Coffee Co., the only other thing I knew about it is that while passing it once on state street, my sister-in-law said that she had always wanted to go there because of the name (despite the fact that she does not drink coffee or tea). So I park my car in the parking lot, noting their hours (M-F 6 AM-7 PM, Sat 6 AM-7PM, and Sun 7 AM-6PM) and happy that I will be able to stay long enough to kill just over an hour of time.
I walk in and immediately note the tropical feeling of the shop. The walls are lined with light, one-inch thick wooden boards, on either wall in the dining area there are grass covered awnings. The tables are immaculately clean with the shop's emblem in white tile on the tables. And my favorite part- at the center of the dining area is a fake palm tree that comes just a few inches short of reaching the ceiling! The trunk appeared to be made of stone (I have no idea what it was, a grey material- I should have went over and touched it). Around the tree was actual sand held in place by an approximately 8-inch high bamboo fence. And now I have to tell you that none of this was in any way cheesy- it was a very pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.
So when I walked in I noticed the barista talking to a gentleman holding a coffee, which was awesome to me because this gave me a minute to look over the menu. Although I do want to mention that as soon as I walked in the barista greeted me with an Aloha :-) So I'm still looking at the menu, which has a LARGE list of traditional and signature lattes, and barista walked over to me and asked what I'd like. I replied "this is such a large menu" so she asked me what I like and made a suggestion of a white mocha latte, which I said I would take iced (all of their drinks can be made hot, iced or frozen).
While waiting for my latte the gentleman who had been chatting with the barista began casually talking to me. He told me he worked near by and Bad Ass Coffee has become his new favorite coffee shop. He was very nice and VERY enthusiastic about the place and even suggested I tell my friends (which I am now doing). I also noticed sitting near the register samples of their carrot cake, so I had a bite and it was very good (but thankfully I've never had a bad piece of carrot cake). So she finishes making my latte and I also decide to get a bag of their Gourmet Sweet Cinnamon Almonds, which according to the bag is "Made by Sir Walter Candy" although it does have The Badd Ass Coffee logo on it. The barista rang up my order and said "you have a nice day!" in a way that made me believe she truly wanted me to have a good day, and wasn't just saying that as a fair well salutation.
So I took my items and headed over to a booth in the corner, although I later noticed that there is outside seating along state street (that could be interesting), more booths to the left of the kitchen area, as well as a corner featuring a television, a couch and two comfy chairs (wicker patio furniture that fit perfectly with the rest of the decor).
CAFE REVIEW:
Iced White Chocolate Latte: $3.50, 16 oz, Great. I loved that you could taste the white chocolate flavor, the espresso, and the milk.
Sweet Cinnamon Almonds: $2.00, 3.2 oz, Yummy. Coffee/Espresso and cinnamon are a great combination. At home I love to sprinkle a little cinnamon in my brewed coffee. When you place one of these almonds in your mouth you immediately taste the perfect mixture of cinnamon and sugar coating. I really like these and it took a few minutes to realize what they remind me of- Golden Grahams Cereal, only better of course.
Service: Excellent, there was only one barista on duty, but she was awesome and super friendly.
Cleanliness: Looked clean to me! As I mentioned, every table was clean, the bar where orders was placed was clean, no complaints.
Atmosphere: Bright, cheerful, very open but inviting. I also noticed that instead of the usual folk/coffee shop music the barista was playing radio stations of her choice and I noticed songs by The Killers, Jack White, Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, and Kati Perry (I lover her new California Girls song by the way).
Exterior: A little worn, but clean and more inviting than many of the other businesses along State Street. And you can't miss the Ass above the door along the State street entrance.
Would I recommend? Definitely, I know I will be back again if for nothing more than to try one of their signature lattes or see what creation the barista can come up with for me.
The Bad Ass Coffee Company
3530 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, UT
Coffee. Tea. Espresso. Pastries. Breakfast Sandwiches. Lunch Sandwiches. Bagels. Packaged Biscotti. Nuts. Trail Mix. Fruit Parfaits.
Reference: www.slcbadasscoffee.com
Book Review: First I have to tell you that I completed "The School of Essential Ingredients" by Erica Bauermeister. I read this for my book club (please email me if you are a female and interested in joining a SLC book club by the way) and I am VERY glad I did. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking and/ore eating. And by "enjoys eating" I mean someone who savors their food, taking slow bites and noticing the different flavors- rather than just gobbling away).
So right now I am reading a book called "Nicolae" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, the third book in a series called "Left Behind." I really liked the first two books of the series but so far I just cannot get into this book. There are like 9 more to go, so I hope the series gets better. Basically the series is the authors' fictionalized idea of what might happen when the end of days are upon us- the rapture, the antichrist, the seven scrolls, etc. It's been a great series that has really strengthened my faith. I wont go into any more than that as that is not what this blog is about- but this is the book I am currently reading, so I wanted to share.
Thank-you for reading and please feel free to post a reply!
But I am getting way off subject....
So yesterday after work I needed to kill some time between work and my evening bible study (which I'll be attending on Tuesdays, so expect a fairly regular Wednesday posting) and I decided to go to The Bad Ass Coffee Co., the only other thing I knew about it is that while passing it once on state street, my sister-in-law said that she had always wanted to go there because of the name (despite the fact that she does not drink coffee or tea). So I park my car in the parking lot, noting their hours (M-F 6 AM-7 PM, Sat 6 AM-7PM, and Sun 7 AM-6PM) and happy that I will be able to stay long enough to kill just over an hour of time.
I walk in and immediately note the tropical feeling of the shop. The walls are lined with light, one-inch thick wooden boards, on either wall in the dining area there are grass covered awnings. The tables are immaculately clean with the shop's emblem in white tile on the tables. And my favorite part- at the center of the dining area is a fake palm tree that comes just a few inches short of reaching the ceiling! The trunk appeared to be made of stone (I have no idea what it was, a grey material- I should have went over and touched it). Around the tree was actual sand held in place by an approximately 8-inch high bamboo fence. And now I have to tell you that none of this was in any way cheesy- it was a very pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.
So when I walked in I noticed the barista talking to a gentleman holding a coffee, which was awesome to me because this gave me a minute to look over the menu. Although I do want to mention that as soon as I walked in the barista greeted me with an Aloha :-) So I'm still looking at the menu, which has a LARGE list of traditional and signature lattes, and barista walked over to me and asked what I'd like. I replied "this is such a large menu" so she asked me what I like and made a suggestion of a white mocha latte, which I said I would take iced (all of their drinks can be made hot, iced or frozen).
While waiting for my latte the gentleman who had been chatting with the barista began casually talking to me. He told me he worked near by and Bad Ass Coffee has become his new favorite coffee shop. He was very nice and VERY enthusiastic about the place and even suggested I tell my friends (which I am now doing). I also noticed sitting near the register samples of their carrot cake, so I had a bite and it was very good (but thankfully I've never had a bad piece of carrot cake). So she finishes making my latte and I also decide to get a bag of their Gourmet Sweet Cinnamon Almonds, which according to the bag is "Made by Sir Walter Candy" although it does have The Badd Ass Coffee logo on it. The barista rang up my order and said "you have a nice day!" in a way that made me believe she truly wanted me to have a good day, and wasn't just saying that as a fair well salutation.
So I took my items and headed over to a booth in the corner, although I later noticed that there is outside seating along state street (that could be interesting), more booths to the left of the kitchen area, as well as a corner featuring a television, a couch and two comfy chairs (wicker patio furniture that fit perfectly with the rest of the decor).
CAFE REVIEW:
Iced White Chocolate Latte: $3.50, 16 oz, Great. I loved that you could taste the white chocolate flavor, the espresso, and the milk.
Sweet Cinnamon Almonds: $2.00, 3.2 oz, Yummy. Coffee/Espresso and cinnamon are a great combination. At home I love to sprinkle a little cinnamon in my brewed coffee. When you place one of these almonds in your mouth you immediately taste the perfect mixture of cinnamon and sugar coating. I really like these and it took a few minutes to realize what they remind me of- Golden Grahams Cereal, only better of course.
Service: Excellent, there was only one barista on duty, but she was awesome and super friendly.
Cleanliness: Looked clean to me! As I mentioned, every table was clean, the bar where orders was placed was clean, no complaints.
Atmosphere: Bright, cheerful, very open but inviting. I also noticed that instead of the usual folk/coffee shop music the barista was playing radio stations of her choice and I noticed songs by The Killers, Jack White, Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, and Kati Perry (I lover her new California Girls song by the way).
Exterior: A little worn, but clean and more inviting than many of the other businesses along State Street. And you can't miss the Ass above the door along the State street entrance.
Would I recommend? Definitely, I know I will be back again if for nothing more than to try one of their signature lattes or see what creation the barista can come up with for me.
The Bad Ass Coffee Company
3530 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, UT
Coffee. Tea. Espresso. Pastries. Breakfast Sandwiches. Lunch Sandwiches. Bagels. Packaged Biscotti. Nuts. Trail Mix. Fruit Parfaits.
Reference: www.slcbadasscoffee.com
Book Review: First I have to tell you that I completed "The School of Essential Ingredients" by Erica Bauermeister. I read this for my book club (please email me if you are a female and interested in joining a SLC book club by the way) and I am VERY glad I did. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking and/ore eating. And by "enjoys eating" I mean someone who savors their food, taking slow bites and noticing the different flavors- rather than just gobbling away).
So right now I am reading a book called "Nicolae" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, the third book in a series called "Left Behind." I really liked the first two books of the series but so far I just cannot get into this book. There are like 9 more to go, so I hope the series gets better. Basically the series is the authors' fictionalized idea of what might happen when the end of days are upon us- the rapture, the antichrist, the seven scrolls, etc. It's been a great series that has really strengthened my faith. I wont go into any more than that as that is not what this blog is about- but this is the book I am currently reading, so I wanted to share.
Thank-you for reading and please feel free to post a reply!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Red Moose Coffee Company, Salt Lake City, UT
I actually found this coffee shop on my way to visit a new to me Starbucks location. But while sitting at a stoplight, I noticed to my right Red Moose Coffee Company. It looked inviting, so I decided to go there instead.
The first thing I noticed is that although the time was 5:15 pm, the parking lot was nearly full. I walked inside where I noticed at least three employees, all ready to help me. After pondering the menu of 11 hot coffee options for a moment, I settled on a 12 oz. Milky Way latte and then looked in the display case holding their 6 bakery options and decided on a Strawberry White Chocolate muffin. The man who rang my order asked if this was to stay and if I would like my drink in a mug, to which I replied yes. I do enjoy using actual mugs and plates when possible, but I rarely think to request on my own, so I appreciated his offer. I also took note that the girl who got my pastry out of the case did wear a disposable glove.
Once I received my coffee and muffin I chose a table near the middle of the dining area and pulled out my copy of "The School of Essential Ingredients" by Erica Bauermeister.
Cafe review:
Strawberry White Chocolate Muffin: $2.49, Approx 10 oz, excellent. The strawberries were obviously fresh and not dried, which is always a delight.
Milky Way Latte: $3.50, 12 oz, ok. I give this drink an ok because while it was actually good as far as lattes go, I did not taste what made it a milky way. It actually tasted more like a hot chocolate drink, which is good if you prefer not to taste too much espresso flavor.
Service: Excellent, no complaints.
Cleanliness: Dining area appeared clean. All empty tables had been wiped down. Women's bathroom was clean and freshly painted, although the tile could certainly use some fixing.
Atmosphere: Very inviting and homely. As soon as I walked in I knew I would feel comfortable spending at least an hour there, although my visit was cut short when I noticed they close at 6 pm Monday - Saturday. There is an area with a couch, two armed chairs, and a coffee table, which seemed very inviting for a small group. On the walls, a few paintings and pictures of moose were displayed and appeared to be for sale.
Exterior: I was quite impressed. The building was freshly painted, grounds were very well trimmed. Three outside tables, including two shaded by some trees in the late afternoon.
Would I recommend? Yes, definitely.
Red Moose Coffee Company
1693 South 9th East
Salt Lake City, UT
Coffee. Tea. Espresso. Soup. Sandwiches. Salads. Bakery. Ice Cream. Wi-Fi.
Reference: www.redmooseroasting.com
Book Review: So far I am really enjoying this book. I am currently on page 148 of 240. The basic synopsis is about restaurant owner Lillian, who also offers a cooking class on Monday evenings at her restaurant. Each chapter focuses on one of the 8 students and tells of their life story, or how they came to enrolling in Lillian's class. The story line of the classes themselves is fit neatly into each chapter, from the point of view of that chapters' featured student. I think the author does a great job of fleshing out the characters, despite the short amount of space each is given within the book.
Introduction
First I would like to thank-you for taking the time to visit my new blog!
As you can see from the title, I will now be known on this blog as Daisy, the Coffee Princes. Daisy because it is my favorite flower and always makes me a little happier when I see one. Coffee because this will be the focus of the blog, more specifically coffee shops. And Princess because I can be dramatic, self centered, and like to think that I will never grow old (at least not by heart nor attitude). Oh, and my favorite color is pink.
So onto the purpose of this blog. One of my favorite things to do to relax and get away from the crazy and hectic world of life is to visit a coffee shop. I must forewarn that until now I have been an avid Starbucks visitor. But I hope to expand my horizon and yours by venturing to many different coffee shops in the Salt Lake Valley.
My goal is to visit at a minimum, one new coffee shop per week. I will always go inside to order my coffee and when possible, I will enjoy my coffee and snack at the cafe to allow more time to observe. I am also an avid reader and usually visit coffee shops alone, so I will also share what I am currently reading and a brief review of what I think of that book.
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