caffeine and sunday

My friend began an email exchange when bored at work last week asking a number of would you rather's. Before the exchange descended into filth we were faced with would you rather live the rest of your life without wine or coffee. I couldn't decide. I love wine, but I also really really love coffee. For one semester of my university days I would have a triple-shot flat white every morning. That was before I embraced long blacks with all the angst of a fifth year student. When I made coffees for a job, I would mix it up with anything from short black shots to picollo lattes to get me through the day. These days my stock standard is a flat white, as long as I know it's going to be in a small enough cup with a big enough double shot. Pretty safe in Wellington.

My weekend was dotted with trips to three of my favourite Wellington cafes. They all serve Havana coffee, and I note that many people hold this brand as an undisputed favourite. I have room in my life for more than one favourite coffee brand and I regularly get delicious coffees spanning the many roasters featured around town. Deluxe cafe saw me yarn and laugh away Saturday afternoon, and then Queen Sally's Diamond Deli and Maranui, both in Lyall Bay, hosted a lazy Sunday cafe hopping catch up with a friend of mine.

If it's possible to simultaneously be in love with a cafe and want to be personified in a cafe, then I long to be and I love Queen Sally's. The attention to detail of cuteness, as well as inspiring cabinet food and delicious coffee makes this place an absolute treat. Even though they had melting moments with raspberry cream filling (my favourite biscuit and my favourite berry), I went for a pear and date oaty slice, served with yoghurt. The baking is just gorgeous - last year I made those chocolate peppermint delights after a visit here too.

My weekend was dotted with other things - kebabs, sadly yes. A burger at 3am, unfortunately also. Shots? Tequila, vodka, japanese rice wine. Karaoke? Meatloaf (what wouldn't he do for love? anyone?), Madonna (this may have been my ringtone for about 3 years), Bonnie Tyler (sung in the style of Old School) and unfortunately, it also involved the unleashing of my karaoke-possessed microphone-hogging alter ego, to an unsuspecting group made up of friends of friends, people I'd just met and people I didn't know at all. Friendships were solidified over Elton John though, and judging from the incriminating photos I took, any hostile thoughts should have been forgotten by now. Until next time a microphone appears.

In the meantime - tune in on Tuesday when I'll be cooking on Good Morning - I promise to keep my microphone hogging to a minimum!