Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts

9.12.2012

this and that

this and that of early september: 


[latte art from Blue Bottle Coffee located in the Ferry Building Market Pier on Embarcadero in San Francisco]


[edamame hummus and red pepper spread vegan sammy. yum in my tum!]


[super succulent display. want the key to my heart fellas? gift me a succulent!]



[coconut kale chips i'm totally into making right now. got an oven or toaster oven like me? you're half-way there to enjoying these tasty, healthy treats! do it: 1) wash and dry some kale, 2) add a teaspoon of olive oil over the kale and lather - don't use too much or you'll have soggy kale :'( 3) sprinkle on some coconut butter, 4) bake at 225 degrees for 20 minutes or so - check 15 minutes in for crispness, 5) and ENJOY, doy!]


[rosemary marcona almonds from Bin 38 in the Marina in San Francisco]


[sea fog in the San Francisco Bay - taken from the ferry to Sausalito]



[Giant Dipper fun at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk! Sal, you're a legend...]

[favorite food combination at Cafe Brasil, one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz, is (drum roll please....) the Acai Bowl (top) and the Peixe De Baiana (simmered white fish in tomato sauce)]  

4.23.2012

planet earth eco cafe








Planet Earth Eco Cafe is this cute, comfy, and community-centered cafe on Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach. It's easily my new favorite go-to organic coffee shop. They serve certified fair-trade coffee, a wide selection of exotic teas, smoothies, and vegan and gluten free baked goods! I haven't tried anything from their breakfast or lunch menu (yet. I'm eating breakfast here tomorrow!), however, I hear their benny bagel for breakfast and veggie hummus wrap or quinoa bowl for lunch is delicious. Another great thing about Planet Earth Cafe is that their food and coffee won't break the bank, with most food items off their menu ranging from $5-$8. When I come here, I usually get their almond milk latte or vanilla chai latte with their vegan banana chocolate chip muffin. Mark my words, its YUM! 

If you're in the neighborhood, stop on by. You'll probably find me nestled in one of their comfy chairs on their outdoor patio. They're open Monday through Friday 7am to 5pm and 4pm, 8am to 4pm Saturday, and 8am to 2pm Sunday. Kind of wish they were open later...Maybe they'll extend their hours in the summer! 

Oh! and did I mention there's free wifi AND rad art EVERYWHERE? Score!


3.13.2012

this and that


Obsessed with Pictionary-inspired iPhone game "Draw Something." Is it considered an unhealthy obsession if I play this game first thing in the morning, on the john, at lunch, while making dinner, before bed, doing yoga (ha, jk, but I'd do it if I could) ? 

Like my Skrillex drawing on the left? How about my cousin Carly's Yoda drawing on the right? She has a degree in Art if you couldn't tell... :)  


[SO pho-king good veggie pho bowl from Saigon Pho] 

First Pho experience at Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Dish in Hawthorne. Pho is a traditional Vietnamese beef noodle soup comprised of basil, bean sprouts, onions and scallions, bell pepper, carrots, lime and chili,  and greens. I got the Tofu Veggie Pho made with veggie broth instead of beef broth! Yay to Saigon Dish for catering to vegans, seagans, and vegetarians! It's light, flavorful, healthy, and is large enough to leave you with leftovers!  
  

[liquid gold sunset in Manhattan Beach Saturday]

Saturday's breathtaking sunset in Manhattan Beach. This photograph was taken on my iPhone with no enhancements/filters/whatever. What you see here is what I saw that evening. 


[flat white coffee beverage from Two Guns in Manhattan Beach]

Have you ever heard of a flat white before? flat white is a coffee beverage originating from Australia . It is prepared by pouring microfoam (steamed milk from the bottom of a pitcher) over a single or double shot (I got 3!) of espresso. This type of coffee is a healthier alternative to a traditional latte because it uses less milk. You also will find that you don't need to add sweetener to a flat white. Don't ask me why, but you don't. It's sweet on its own... 

Two Guns Cafe in Manhattan Beach serves an amazing flat white for only $3

Starbucks beware. There's a new guy in town and he goes by the name of Two Guns! 

[image via pinterest]

My yoga instructor, Matt Rothert, on Sunday talked to us about the power of giving and how when you make a conscious effort to give (even if you don't have a lot), not only do you experience personal benefits, but receiving tends to follow. As the joy of giving flows out from you, new richness fills your life! 

Try it!

Keep in mind that giving doesn't necessarily need to involve your wallet. Giving can be done through small gestures such as smiling (smiles don't cost you a thing!) at someone you pass by, holding the door open for a group behind you, or picking up and throwing away a piece of trash on the ground. 

From Rabbi Harold Kushner, 
"We all have the power to give away love, to love other people. And if we do so, we change the kind of person we are, and we change the kind of world we live in.”