Round Two: Coffee Connection

Another South Wedge coffee shop: Coffee Connection.

Now this is definitely more my taste and I knew it from the moment I walked it.  

The shop lists daily specials on a vintage chalk board on the sidewalk outside.  This morning, around 11, the hustle and bustle of rush hour had died and coffee time was calling my name.  Immediately after walking in, the Barista (who I believe is also the owner) greeted me with a friendly hello and how are you.  The shop is splashed with color and unique furniture, a perfect location to cozy up to coffee and friends.  Though quite small, it has that "lets be friends" atmosphere about it.  To the left of the register is a case of pastries including cakes, rugelas, tapas and other varieties that would compliment your cup of coffee.  Most of these are homemade!

I ordered a small mocha, 3.00 + tax. A bit higher than expected but Coffee Connection supports a few great causes so it is understandable.  The shop receives all its coffee beans from fairtrade and organic coffee bean farmers in Peru.  It also helps reach out to farmers who switched their main crop to coffee beans instead of coca (the main plant in cocaine). In addition, Coffee Connection helps women in the Rochester area get back on their feet and learn the value of hard work and a job. What a winning combination!

Coffee Connection

681 South Avenue
Rochester,14620   

Right down the corner from Gregory street!

I will most definitely be stopping back and will hopefully bring friends next time.  New bucket list goal that I thought of while enjoying the first sips of my Mocha, Become a "regular" at a local store/shoppe! I still have to finish my coffee adventures before I pick which one to call home though.

Next: Java's!

Self-Determination

Last weekend I finished my second 5k, ever. It was a great experience and went much better than the last.  Not to say the last was awful but I wasn't in as great of shape as I thought seeming I had to stop and walk multiple times.  However, this race went a bit differently.

My mom and I arrived early, I mean 7:30am, early. There were already so many people warming up and getting ready to race.  I want to say there were over 850 people that showed up to the event.  It was extremely cold out for October 1st and with a chance of sleet and snow I bundled right up.  Luckily, the misty rain stopped right before the race and it stayed relatively dry for the half hour I was on the course.  

The course took us up past the Memorial Art Gallery and back down East Avenue past the gorgeous homes surrounding the George Eastman House. My one major mistake was not plotting out the route prior to the race because I was unaware of when to release. I'm not sure how exactly running works but I created my own type of plan for 5k's and plan to perfect it a bit as I continue to test them out.

1. start at a moderate pace, don't jump the gun too early

2. Mile 1 should mean you start to increase that speed

3. Mile 2 increase a bit more but make sure you wont burn out through 3

4. Halfway through 2m reach your optimal "fast" pace--at this point you should not be able to have a conversation with passerbys

5. last leg, SPRINT!

The problems that I encountered with this were not knowing when the "last leg" was coming up.  By the time I saw the finish arc I had less than a tenth of a mile to sprint.  Maybe this is the right way? I have no idea.

In any case, the race was a success in my book.  I ran the whole thing and still had energy to spare since I messed up the whole releasing thing. Get em next time.  I should really work on some speed for these shorter races as I embark on the half marathon (if I end up fully committing).

 Beast.

Equal=Grounds

Remember a week or so back when I promised reviews on local coffee shops?  It's okay if you forgot because I totally did too.  This morning after a short run I decided to venture down the street to Equal=Grounds, a Coffee Shop in the South Wedge at the corner of South & Caroline.

Of course I was a bit groggy from lack of caffeine and left my camera back at the house so photo credit goes to Scott LaForce.

From the outside of the building this appears to be a corner store coffee shop that appears eclectic and exciting and the inside has even more to offer.  Seating ranges from wooden tables and chairs to comfy couches in the second room and a few outdoor cafe tables.

The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming to just about everyone and everything.  I believe it is dubbed the "gay friendly" coffee shop in Rochester, NY and I most definitely got that vibe.  From the various pride flags and brochures to the people enjoying their morning cup of coffee (one man even brought his dog), it appears to be a relaxing and open environment.

I wasn't quite sure about their options for pastries and selections of the sort but I did notice an Ice Cream freezer and a chalk board with sandwiches for lunch time.  In terms of coffee and teas, there were multiple options to choose from.  I purchased a Green Tea Chai Latte (12oz for 2.85).  While the chai itself was from a mix, I didn't find it to be too heavy or creamy.  Not bad for 8am.

Overall: I would definitely check this out if you're looking for a different atmosphere and a step out of the ordinary.  It's truly unique for the area.

Equal=Grounds

750 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
(585) 242-7840

What's next: Coffee Connection

A Big Wish & A Little Bread

So today I made my way over to the George Eastman House to pick up my PhotoFinish5k race packet & Bib!  How exciting, my second 5k?  I should mention that I just signed up for my second race of the semester, I was initially hoping to do 5 but thats a lot, and you should think of joining me! The East Ave Grocery Run is sponsored by Wegmans & Foodlink and all proceeds go to help the hungry in your very own Rochester, NY.

Okay though, back to Crosby's Fund and the race this Saturday, which until today I thought was Sunday.

When I picked up my awesome bib & packet today I had the chance to explore GEH for the very first time, and wow, it was amazing.  I get free full admission on Saturday and plan to take full advantage.  Photography was never really a big thing to me, besides the fact that I carried my point & shoot everywhere for "fun" pictures, but now with my DSLR I love the art.

Here's my gear for Saturday morning:

After picking up my packet I made my mom stop at the South Wedge Farmers Market.  Its situated right on the corner of Alexander & S. Clinton behind Boulder Coffee & Napa Pizza.  It is more quaint and local than the Public Market, and I surely regret not bringing my camera.  However, they have a great selection of breads, pastas, LOCAL fruits and veggies and even a few stands that support local charities.

This loaf that I am munching on now is from Flour City Bread Company.  Its a multigrain sourdough, heavy on the sour, and absolutely amazing.

Enjoy your night.

Ina Garten: Vecchia Bettola

Italian? Yes please.  I can always make room for some good italian food, especially as the weather starts getting colder.  From the last post you already know that I was at Colgate this past weekend so I figured I should share a great new recipe that we discovered.

Introducing PASTA.  Well, okay, Vecchia Bettola, a vodka type sauce that is named after the restaurant in Florence where it was invented.  While it's a bit think and heavy I do suggest trying it if you have 2-3 hours in your day to set aside to sauce making.

Adapted from Barefoot Contessa/ Ina Garten.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup good olive oil
• 1 medium Spanish onion, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 cup vodka
• 2 (28-ounce) cans peeled plum tomatoes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 pound penne pasta
• 4 tablespoons fresh oregano
• 3/4 to 1 cup heavy cream
• Grated Parmesan cheese

My personal spin on this recipe would be to decrease the amount of heavy cream and posssibly add in some greek yogurt to substitute.  I am not very fond of heavy cream and even found that the pre-cream sauce was delicious.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat the olive oil in a large oven proof saute pan over medium heat, add the onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent. Add the red pepper flakes and dried oregano and cook for 1 minute more. Add the vodka and continue cooking until the mixture is reduced by half.

Meanwhile, drain the tomatoes through a sieve and crush them into the pan with your hands. Add 2 teaspoons salt and a pinch of black pepper. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid and place it in the oven for 1 1/2 hours. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente. Drain and set aside.

Place the tomato mixture in a blender and puree in batches until the sauce is a smooth consistency. Return to the pan.

Reheat the sauce, add 2 tablespoons fresh oregano and enough heavy cream to make the sauce a creamy consistency. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and simmer for 10 minutes. Toss the pasta into the sauce and cook for 2 minutes more. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan. Serve with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan and a sprinkle of fresh oregano on each plate.

Yum, right?

Chocolate Train

This past weekend I drove myself down to Hamilton, NY to visit Brendan and his friends at Colgate.  I feel silly calling them his friends since I have known then for as long as he has but clearly not as well since I come and go so often.  Besides the usual weekend college activities we accompanied John and Ali, two amazing people who I cannot get enough of, to the local farmers market.  The farmers market sets up in the middle of town amidst a fountain and lovely trees in the middle of the main town area.  This past weekend they were celebrating a Chocolate Train Festival.  Now I am not quite sure what that means since I did not actually see a chocolate train but there were most definitely many things to taste and purchase.

If you're ever in Hamilton, NY check out Maxwells Chocolate.  It reminds me of an old world candy shoppe that serves up the most amazing shakes (We shared a chocolate coffee/ expresso one).  Of course I had to bring my camera and take a few pictures along the way:

Brendan took the photo below of a little boy that was beyond fascinated with this train set and turn tables or something.  He was so cute! Side note, we drove to Sherbourne the next day (another VERY small town in rural "upstate" New York) and this kid was sitting down to breakfast with his dad.  SO yes, let me emphasize the VERY SMALL town.

The town surrounding Colgate is beautiful and I have been in love with it since the first time I visited when Brendan was a freshman.  It seems so long ago! 

In any case, Fall Break is quickly approaching and we are all heading up to Brendan's house on Bisby. Its going to be so nice to get away and spend time with both him and his friends.

Cream and Sugar? Neither.

I love ordering coffee drinks at locations that do not specifically cater to self proclaimed coffee connoisseurs such as myself.  Ordering a specific flavor of coffee (not latte, I mean flavored bean) and having them ask if you would like "cream AND sugar" is more of an insult to coffee expertise than anything.  Then the barista or whomever is working the counter quietly slugs off to fill your cup of brew while they have this puzzled look about them as if coffee should not be appreciated for its amazing flavor but should be distorted and altered to save the stomach from medical atrocities such as ulcers.

Needless to say, I love a nice cup of Joe in the morning and am working on the whole expresso shot thing.  I can barely muster the strength to drink a latte, one because i'm lactose intolerant, and two it just ruins the taste and aroma of the actual coffee itself.  I will not lie to you though, I do have my weak moments of needing a Mocha on a chilly afternoon or a skinny vanilla latte.

As you already know, I am living in the South Wedge this semester and have yet to fully explore the shops and area just a block or so down the street from my house.  So, to make sure I do, I am creating a list of coffee shops (both in the wedge and elsewhere in Rochester) that I plan to visit over the coming weeks.  Reviews will most definitely be posted.

The List:

1. Java's

2. Coffee Connection

3. Equal Grounds

4. Spot Coffee

5. Muddy Waters

6. Jembatat

7. Boulder Coffee*

*- Already visited but plan to return for full review.

Hopefully more will follow if I discover them anytime soon.