Rabbit Hole, Hong Kong

The name is inspired by the novel "Alice In Wonderland" where Alice falls deep-down into a rabbit hole and enters a world of fantasy.  The owner of this java haven aims to recreate Alice's whimsical experience to the customer, manifested in the various types of coffee creation and methods RABBIT HOLE serves.

After wasting around 20 minutes going up and down Central Midlevel's multiple escalators trying to find this easy-to-miss place, as soon as I entered the door the first impression I got was a trip down "not so happy" memory lane - high school chemistry class. Yup, the place looks like a lab fit for a geek - coffee geek to be precise!

Macchiato (Costa Rica) over ice

Cafe Cortado

The layout is more like an open kitchen cum communal pantry where various brands of coffee machines are lined-up ready to be tinkered by Rabbit Hole's java experts while preparing one's drink of choice. First, select from their single origin offerings - Costa Rica, Timor, Ethiopia, Honduras, and several others; Second step is to choose the type of drink you want with your bean of choice - espresso (americano, latte, macchiato...), pour over, drip, or syphon; Third and final step is to simply kick back and relax while savoring your order.

Rabbit Hole's Coffee Geek
preparing our order

This hidden gem is a must-visit for coffee lovers of any race, of all walks of life. Rabbit Hole caffeinatedly jolts the spot, thanks to their creative design and nifty store layouting. The end result creates more interaction between the baristas and the customers.

Rabbit Hole's balcony is the perfect spot to savor
your drink while people-watching 

Various single-origin beans and coffee
brewing equipment for sale

Never in my wildest dream (even Alice's) did I expect to find such a unique place in a predominantly tea-sipping-capital like Hong Kong. Im sure The Mad Hatter would be jealous...

Rabbit Hole Coffee & Roaster
2/F, 26 Cochrane St, Central,
Hong Kong
A rabbit hole is quite an obvious metaphor for the public if you have read the novel "Alice in wonderland", as she falls down into the rabbit hole, she enters the world of fantasy. Our journey is similar as Alice, but instead the rabbit hole that we fell into came from a cup of well made, well executed coffee. 

If you love coffee, you will always remember the best cup that you ever had. You will remember how fragrant and special the aroma is, how flavorful and balanced when the liquid hit your mouth, and how the wonderful aftertaste had lasted in your palate that you think you would never want to drink water ever again. 

Cafe Cortado

Cafe what?????? Despite aging in the coffee biz, and my almost-daily immersion with my coffee gods Tracy Allen of Brewed Behavior and Roberto Francisco of Boyd Coffee, this particular item on the menu board of Catalina Coffee in Houston Texas left me perplexed to the point that I had to order it to please my nagging curiosity. Nope, not in my past countless visits to the country of Uncle Sam have I heard of such... to think I've scoured the cafes of California, New England, and the Tri-State area.

For my regular blog readers, you all know well that I prefer my coffee strong - not watered-down, not drowned in milk, and definitely not too sweet or immersed with flavor of any sort. As I watched Catalina Coffee's artist/barista prepare my first crack at this particular brew,  I was pleased to learn that the espresso-based drink that's been a staple in my humble abode for the past 5 years is actually called a Cortado (Spanish word meaning "to cut/reduce") - that is, a shot of espresso (1-ounce) tempered with a dash of warm milk (2-ounces). Take note that "warm" milk is used instead of "frothed/foamed" milk, which morphs the drink into a Cafe Macchiato.

Coffee snob or not, it is humbling to know that despite our perceived industry expertise and/or age, indeed we discover something new daily. Cheers to learning!!!

Inversion Coffee House, Houston TX

As a follow-up article on Houston's coffee hotspots, honorable mention goes to  INVERSION COFFEE HOUSE. Infinite thanks to our second-to-none Sanfo mole turned temporary Houston native Les G for researching ahead, thus giving credibility to the posts this humble blog produces. And true to our aim in searching for non-starbucks-ish caffeinated options, Inversion Coffee House fits our credentials to a T!

Upon our arrival, a sprawling parking lot greeted us - a good omen that we're meant to try out this caffeine hub. Inversion (deriving its name from the infamous Inversion House that once stood in the place of the original Art League of Houston Building) rests in a medium sized warehouse-ish structure, right beside an Arts School since 2005. Don't be fooled by its humble exterior, inside it is artistically inspired, highlighted by ceiling-to floor paintings of all sorts which makes sipping your choice of beverage more invigorating.

The menu is straight forward, no pretenses and no coffee snob feel. Everything's well scribbled in a chalk board which makes it easy for those ordering to glance, navigate and select. Oh and did I mention that the baristas are well-informed and friendly? To them there are no silly questions, more so questions left unanswered specially for a far-traveling tourist like me. I asked if they roast their own beans, and quickly my barista replied that Inversion proudly sources their coffee from Katz Coffee, one of the leading roasters in Houston.

Once more I succumbed to the call for a Cafe Cortado, my end-in-mind is to test and appreciate the espresso more as compared to having a milky latte which dilutes the profile of the beans. My verdict for my drink... Enjoyable in each step of the sensory evaluation! From the simple yet inviting latte art, to the initial sniff of the well-rounded aroma, and finally to the taste of the robust/sweet-toned liquid with hints of cocoa. Just the way I like it!

INVERSION COFFEE, 1953 Montrose Blvd., Suite A Houston, Texas 77006

Catalina Coffee, Houston Texas

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to find tons of excellent coffee joints in Houston, Texas... And like the MVP of an All-Star Game, CATALINA COFFEE in my humble opinion stood out as the best among the best. Aesthetically there's  really nothing over-the-top fancy about this independent coffee house, but if your end in mind is to seek great coffee (particularly in the morning to fill your barely-awake being) then this place is certainly one to impress!

nothing like a cup of Cafe Cortado in the morning
to warm one's barely-awake being!

So what really makes this place tick? First off the owner Max Gonzalez is hands-on in his business, and roasts his own beans under the company name AMAYA Roasting Company - nothing massive, just micro lots he himself hand-picks from Ethiopia and other green bean hotspots globally.

with the owner and master roaster Max Gonzalez

Next up is Catalina's skilled baristas who handcraft  various cup-after-cuppa joe's with scientific precision, each and every time resulting in a consistent caffeinated elixir worth lusting for.

And as a finale, limitless forms of latte art with cotton-candy-like consistency based on the Barista's mood and feel, thereby making each and every visit something to look forward to. Catalina's owner refer to his Baristas as "Artists", and true to their billing, each cup they make is their canvass of expression. Drinking, after all, begins as a visual experience... And in my visit, the experience was superb from beginning till end!

Long live independent coffee houses...


CATALINA  COFFEE
2201 Washington Avenue,
Houston Texas 77007

Zabar's New York City

Founded by Ukrainian Jewish immigrants Louis and Lillian Zabar, what began as a humble stand at a market in 1934 has progressed into a H.U.G.E. store famous for its globally-sourced fine quality products and good eats!

Ask any typical New Yorker about ZABAR'S and they'll tell you it's a famous Upper West Side gourmet epicurean emporium specializing in gourmet coffee, fine teas, smoked fish, caviar, cheese, deli, and many other exciting foodie-finds...

A landmark of sorts in the Big Apple, as Zabar's appeared in episodes of Sex and the City, Will and Grace, Seinfeld, and in the movie You've Got Mail (starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan) among others...

It was a rainy morning in Manhattan, totally uninviting at all,  yet we braved the cold-wet weather just to visit this much talked-about food mecca to witness first-hand what the noise was all about - "Fast, Inexpensive and Extensive Menu" is what they're known for (from sandwiches, wraps, croissants, to paninis; paired off with your choice of drink from Mochaccino, frappes, smoothies to their signature coffee Zabar's House Blend). We arrived at 9am just in time for brunch, and although there was quite a long line of people waiting in line, seat turnover was swift and efficient... Oh, and our verdict?! Most definitely gut-satisfying!

happy camper!

This is just the tip of the iceberg: once we were done eating, we headed to their grocery store right beside their cafe to sample various cheeses and air dried meats from their well-stocked deli counter, AND shop for things to bring home (from pantry staples to kitchen stuff).

Kid not included...

What highlighted my Zabar's visit though was their treasure chest of coffee beans, and upon my probing they highly recommend the Zabar's Blend (light roast yet full-bodied); and the French Roast (medium-dark roast with a hint of chocolate).  Belonging to opposite ends of the coffee profile wheel, upon sampling, both are fantastic -- it simply depends on the mood you're in!

This will definitely be a New York staple for my family, and as proven, it's not a "fair weathered" statement!

Check it out:

Zabars is located in Broadway and 80th street, Upper West Side, Mahattan, NYC

Gavino's Donuts

After dinner last night we finally had the chance to visit the "rapidly-gaining popularity" gimmick place called Greenhills Town Center, and mind you it is quite a distance from THE already-famous Greenhills Shopping Complex. This modest strip-mall houses several good-eats, but what caught our fancy was this new donut shop named GAVINO'S (on soft opening). Catchy name/logo, whimsical interior, inviting menu!

The place was packed not only with patrons, but also with Donuts in all flavors and shapes possible: from Basic (Pon De Ring);  Premium (Premium Pon De Ring); to Extra Special (Pon De Ball). So little tummy space, so many Donuts to choose from... we finally made our pick: Choco Glazed and Triple Chocolate.

Gavino's Donuts have just the right amount of sweetness (not overly sweet compared to the "commercial" brands); best of all their unique texture is soft yet springy, giving the eater a little more time to savor each and every mouthful. The verdict - it was "love at first bite!"♥

But what good is a donut shop without good coffee to pair with it? Necessary evil is the apt-most comparison, much similar to a Lennon-McCartney song. Gavino's serves coffee (hot and cold) extracted from a semi-automatic La Speziale espresso machine and flavored using Stasero Syrups, an indication that the owners are not scrimping on cost and quality. Take your pick from a simple espresso, to cappuccino, to the house specials Caramel Macchiato, Toffee Nut Latte and Hazelnut Latte. For the kids and kids-at-heart (a.k.a. adults with cardio problems, hahaha!) Milk Tea is also a staple, from the Classic Milk Tea to the Rock Salt and Cheese varieties. There's just something for everyone in this happy place!

Donuts freshly made, an open kitchen
where the magic happens!

Check them out:

Gavino's Donuts.Coffee.Milktea
Unit 5 Greenhills Town Center
#2 Granada St., Brgy. Valencia,
Quezon City
Tel: 09228358076

Part 2: Studio SnR's Coffee, Tea By ME!!! Workshop

After months of prodding from the organizers for a repeat, Part 2 of Studio SnR's Coffee, Tea By Me!!! Workshop finally became a reality on February 25, 2012. During the 5-month hiatus my think tank and I constantly thought of ways to further improve our craft, making it more fun, active, and value-for-money for the participants. The added pressure for us to immediately come up with a "follow-up" and elevate it a notch further happened in January 15, 2012, as we got the precious vote of Spot.ph, as ONE OF THE TOP 20 THINGS TO DO IN METRO MANILA IN 2012.

The hands-on workshop in progress...

18 knowledge seekers, both young and young-at-heart, braved the anticipated traffic, since our event coincided with the annual Edsa Revolution Anniversary festivities. Worse, our venue is located in the Ortigas, CBD - quite a near distance from the Esda Shrine. Their efforts paid off though, as they brought home with them not only the handsome prizes and loot bag courtesy of our sponsors, but best of all the very essence of this workshop - LEARNING! ♥

Our never-ending thanks to our Brand Partners for their continued generosity and belief in the vision of our Coffee, Tea By Me! Workshop:

Mr. Robert Francisco of Boyd Coffee for providing us with their second-to-none coffee beans. Always an honor to have the leading coffee roaster in the Philippines on-board!

Evergood Unlimited Corporation (distributors of world-famous and reputable brands Saeco, Cuisinart, and Imarflex) for providing the essential hardware to make this "hands-on" and "interactive"workshop possible.

Far Skyes Enterprise (distributors of Stasero Flavored Syrups/Sauces and Far Skyes Frappe Powder Base) for literally and figuratively providing this workshop with superior taste.

And of course to Studio SnR Workshops for their active vision and passion for spreading the learning-love!

Once again, Caffeinated and Creamy Cheers to all!!!

Frozen Hot Chocolate (Home Version)

courtesy of somethingswanky.com

Established in 1954,  SERENDIPITY 3  is a New York institution best known for its decadent desserts, particularly its infamous Frozen Hot Chocolate!

The chocoholic dessert-drink made even-more popular by Jonh Cusack's movie (with Kate Beckinsale) with the same title has tickled my fancy, thus I'm sharing with you an easy to make, home-version (not to mention tummy-friendly) of this masterpiece. Come to think of it, the timing is simply apt with "heart's day" just around the corner.

our Serendipity 3 date in April 2006,
225 East 60th Street New York City

Frozen Hot Chocolate Drink (16-ounce)

Ingredients:

3 ounces (90ml) Stasero Dark Chocolate Sauce
2 tablespoons (25 grams) Far Skyes Vanilla Frappe Powder
1.5 cups milk (fresh or skimmed depending on your dietary preference)
3 cups ice
whipped cream (optional); or could be substituted by milk froth as shown in our Seasalt Caramel Latte post
chocolate shavings (or chocolate sprinkle) for garnish

* for Javaholics, a possible variation is to add 1-shot Espresso or 1 teaspoon instant coffee

Procedure:

Step 1: In a blender, combine the Far Skyes Vanilla Frappe Powder with milk until dissolved

Step 2: Add the Stasero Dark Chocolate Sauce and blend again fully incorporated

Step 3: Add the ice and blend until crushed

Step 4: Pour into wide-mouth glass and top with whipped cream (or frothed milk) and garnish with chocolate shavings (or your favorite sprinkle)

Serve and enjoy!!! Happy Valentines Day to all...