My Sassy Appetite

Frappuccino

Frap•puc•ci•no [ fràppə chnō ]
Trademark
Definition: a trademark for a drink made of coffee blended with milk
crushed ice, and flavorings

I hate to admit it but I am becoming, wait, nope I am a coffee snob. I grew up in a family of tea drinkers and had never tasted coffee until I was in my college days. As the years have gone by I have come to love my ‘joe’ and did not realize just how much until my recent visit to the Big Apple.

My first New York experience was a frozen mocha which they referred to as a frappuccino and I said no…frozen mocha. They said no, a frappaccino! Hello people this is not Starbucks and I know what a frappaccino is and this drink was not a frappuccino. In fact it wasn't even a good frozen mocha.

My next experience with a coffee drink was at Chelsea Market in a coffee shop. I ordered a mocha and I waited and waited…and waited. For some reason ordering a mocha appears to have been a foreign language order in New York. There was much confusion about how to make a mocha. The person making it came out of the kitchen with a plastic tub, took a cookie scoop and scooped out something chocolate looking and put it in my coffee. At home our chocolate is generally in liquid form and pumped into the cup not scooped from a tub. I drank it with a bit of trepidation.

I next tried ordering coffee at Oro Bakery and Bar in Little Italy. I ordered a mocha once again thinking that three times is a charm. Eve our barista made this mocha using large discs of chocolate, like king sized chocolate chips. That was another new one for me. Of the three times I had tried for a simple mocha this one was by far the best of the lot. It sure made me appreciate how coffee is made right here at home. Huge thanks to the gang at my downtown Café Lladro, Ian, Sheena, Celeste and Leizel, who spoil me endlessly. I just walk in the door and they say, ‘the usual’, I nod and next thing I'm holding a mocha!

My new favorite place to hang out and drink great cups of coffee is Via Vadi Caffe' in South Park at the corner of 14th and Cloverdale. This new little shop is owned by the vivacious Maria, who can hold her own no matter who is in the room. She makes a great cup of coffee delivered with the most fun sense of humor wrapped around a total family experience. Once you go there you are already family. Her shop is new, only one month old but she is busier every day. Maria is introducing South Seattle to the delicious Italian desserts she has loved all her life. Favorites so far have included the maple twists and real Cannoli. Yes I’m talking REAL Cannoli, with the cream made right there by her brother Otto. Until our next meal, and cup of coffee…roux the day.

1 Sassy Tomato