• Chocolate,  Global Chocolate Makers,  Writings

    Omnom Chocolate Reykjavík Raises the Holiday Chocolate “Bar”

    Omnom Chocolate

    A year ago in October, we were in Paris and it was absolute magic. It was a last minute decision. A purely incredible deal on Iceland Air. (Note that if you’re willing to stop-over in Reykjavík while en-route to another destination, airfare can be a bargain, and you can even extend your trip, apparently with zero penalty.) Don’t get us started on how magical Paris was, but this post is about a different landscape — a frozen dusk with quiet, twinkling stars, warm, crackling firelight, snow falling —…

  • Travel

    Watching: A Film About Coffee

    Though I do not have affiliation with this film, from the moment that I heard about it, I became excited. This past week it went live online.  Stunning cinematography and a wonderful weaving of stories.  Rent or buy this journey through coffee on Vimeo; highly recommended for coffee lovers.

  • Coffee,  Travel,  Writings

    Folklore Coffee & Co.: Musings from Hershey

    Ah, Pennsylvania, USA, the lovely location for chocolate, happiness and sunshine. It’s not just the dairy state, people, it has “Chocolate Town,” USA! I was in Chocolate Town a few weeks back for business, and knew immediately that there would be some amazing desserts to try. Not just desserts, but the chocolate specifically, and also the coffee. With big cows moo-ing all around the PA pastures, I figured the cafe-au-lait would be a delicious choice; PA is known for its milk.  I love my coffee with milk, as you can tell from past reviews. Rare…

  • Coffee,  Travel,  Writings

    Blue Crab Coffee Co: Great Coffee, Great Town

    St. Michael’s, Maryland, is one of those awesome and special places that feels sort of frozen in time. It’s preppy, in the best way, a-la a scene from Wedding Crashers, and is the quintessential boater town. I’ve been going to St. Michael’s ever since I was little, but never spotted Blue Crab Coffee Co. on one of the many adorable side streets. Blue Crab Coffee feels like a beach-y place right down to the details. The shop sits proudly, almost alone, on a little back street.  You can see…

  • Coffee,  Washington, DC,  Writings

    Kaldi’s Coffee Bar: Fresh Perspectives

    Kaldi’s Coffee Bar in Silver Spring is a great getaway for anyone seeking some coffee solace. Abnormal to my routine, I was at Kaldi’s fairly late in the day but felt the same sense of calm that I might feel at another coffee shop just opening its doors. Kaldi’s was busy, yet quiet. It just had a lovely energy. The baristas were extremely welcoming and friendly. Quickly sensing it was my first time inside, the barista…smiled widely, explained the shop is Ethiopian, and handed me a menu and…

  • Coffee,  Washington, DC,  Writings

    Bayou Bakery: The Cafe that Created a Time Cupsoul Award

    Memorial Day Weekend started off excellent. Completely dazed after seeing X-Men Days of Future Past, my friends and I exited the theater completely riveted and starving. Go see X-Men right now. And then, like I did, go to New Orleans. You don’t need a plane because you have Bayou Bakery. Stepping inside of Bayou Bakery really was like walking into Louisiana. It was an instant…vacation. The decorations in this bakery and coffee shop are superb. Absolutely as if you’re in the Bayou. I hold some legitimacy here because I…