Friday, August 1

back in the swing of things

After settling back in, first on my agenda was to try two of the most-hyped establishments in the area: Barefoot Coffee Roasters and Mama's on Washington Square. (Really, if I don't end up working, this is a clear indicator of how the next year will pass for me: deliciously.)

Barefoot was a kitschy little cafe with some really nice-looking coffee roasts...although the ennui-struck teenage/early-20's crowd leaves something to be desired, and the dead-sprawl-suburbia location isn't great.

Because I don't have a grinder, I typically get 150 grams (~2 weeks-worth) of fresh-roasted beans, and have the roaster grind them up for me (in Japan). Unfortunately, Barefoot only lets you buy huge 1-lb bags of roasted beans. I guess you can only specify small amounts of beans/grounds at larger chain stores like Starbucks or Peet's. SIGH. So I didn't buy beans, but the cappuccino I had was delicious, and you could see the barista putting a lot of attention and care into the cup (not just the foam art!). The register guy, though, was bizarrely friendly - TOO friendly. It was exactly like the weird uber-polite-service-robots you'd get in Japan, except this was an uber-casual-jive-talking-best friend-service-robot. JUST TALK TO ME LIKE A NORMAL PERSON! I can see how it would be a refreshing change from your typical disgruntled 'bucks barista, though. I wasn't overly impressed with the overall atmosphere, but I'll be back for the coffee.

Mama's was pretty good. It was my first time being back in the city after two years, and it was a great way to get reacquainted...except for the wait. It was 10am on a Thursday, and we had to wait an hour-and-half from line to food. It's such a tease - you wait in line outside, then you get in only to have to wait in line to place your order, and then after you order you wait some more to get seated. Then, you wait a good while at your table for the food (although the drinks come fast). It's not unlike waiting for a Disneyland ride, when parts of the line are hidden from you and you keep thinking the end is JUST around that bend.

All the horrible waiting aside, the place is an adorable, homey corner shop with an all-day breakfast menu and a pretty enticing lunch menu. My spread was a heart-attack-inducing eggs benedict with prosciutto and tomatoes, with red potatoes on the side, and my sister had chocolate cinnamon french toast with seasonal berries. My dish was perfectly seasoned - no alterations/additions necessary - and the textures were sublime. I really enjoyed the meal...but I think it was 45-minute-wait-great, not 90-minute-wait-great. It's not stuff you couldn't make at home with a little practice, and it's a bit pricey for what you're getting. But, if you love breakfast and you're in the city, I think it's worth considering.

FOOD! AGH! The sheer number of tiny eateries and cafes in the city was making me hyperventilate (with joy). I want to move out there so I can be in food heaven...I plan to get some stupid job downtown just so that I can take fabulous lunch breaks.