Tea Time: A Trip to Balzac's

I'm something of a person of contradiction. You see, friends, I love coffee shops, but I really hate coffee.  Like, never have I ever had a cup of coffee.  I think it smells delicious but it's totally not the way it tastes.  Thankfully, with the rise of lattes, fancy tea drinks are easily found.  But not all are created equal.

 

My favourite fancy hot beverage right now (and frankly since I moved to NotL) is a Parisian Mist, from Balzac's.  It's a delicious French Breakfast tea (which I think is amazing all its own, and very flowery) with vanilla syrup and steamed milk.  The tea itself is a big distinguishing factor for this drink.  I can't go back to a London Fog from Starbucks anymore, it's just not the same.  And it's not nearly as cute in Starbucks, besides!

I know it's silly, because it's a chain coffee shop and all... but living in a small tourist town where the majority of people who visit this coffee shop are only passing through, I can't help but feel a sense of ownership over my Balzac's. I like it as a place to sit and read, or grab a drink to go and sit on the quay and look and/or yell at the United States.  Because they used to throw cannonballs at us from there! And the town won't let me forget it. But that's another story.  The Balzac's is decorated with these sweet posters designed for each location.  I foresee a NotL poster in my future.  And a Parisian Mist.  Because come on.

--Erin

Quebec City P2: Paillard Patisserrie

I know that the photos I have posted thus far indicate otherwise, but I promise that my trip to Quebec wasn't ONLY filled with hot caffeinated beverages and sweets! In fact, I saved those macarons till I got home.  And I even shared some.  Brownie points (can those be exchanged for real brownies??).  Wow, I am seriously sugar obsessing right now. MOVING ON!

Paillard is a bakery and cafe that was located just a few doors down the street from our hotel, in the old city.  The place is gorgeous, but also incredibly casual.  There's a small number of individual tables (many of which were occupied by travelers FaceTimeing their mothers) and the majority of seating is at long galley style wooden tables.  The place basically encourages you to chit chat with your neighbour, or read the paper, but generally take it easy.  Coffee and tea are of course offered, but so are a selection of beers (on tap!), soft drinks, and juices of all kinds.  If sweet things aren't your thing, they serve up sandwiches (I just mistyped that sandWISHES.  I'm hungry), and soups.  I wish we had gone in earlier, instead of the last day there while we waited for our cab! No bother, I'll be sure to head over for an afternoon tea and nibble next time I visit :). Oh, and the macarons were totally as good as they look.  A just barely crispy shell, and then nothing but moist cookie and filling.  Yum.

I'm off to Toronto today to visit my Alma mater, York University.  I'm participating in a panel of recent graduates asked to talk to the first year Theatre students and answer their questions about our time at York, and our lives after graduation.  I still find it totally weird that I'm being used as an example of "success" after graduation.  Dudes, I live in a tiny ass town and I can't afford a car.  Although to be fair, success in theatre tends to mean you're still over the poverty line.  Alright, it could be worse, I'll quit my bellyaching.  I love my job, and I hope I can motivate some little 18 year old to haul ass and make something of themselves.  Kids these days...

--Erin

The Heritage House Cafe

While up in Haliburton for the Thanksgiving long weekend, Ephraim and I took a short trip into the town of Haliburton to stop at the drugstore and seek out a cup of coffee (or in my case, tea). After some driving around, we came across the Heritage House Cafe.  The building had previously been Banks' Heritage Store, but has since been converted into a nice little cafe with an adjoining shop, and rooms for rent, b&b style I assume. 

The place was sparsely but meticulously decorated, with rustic wood floors, original molding, crates stacked to create the hostess' stand, and lots of little elements to indicate the cafe's former life as a heritage store.  It was a great place to sit tight and enjoy a hot drink, and though we didn't get anything to eat, I heard tables around ours remark how good the food was.  Large leather chairs, dark wood tables and glass topped rock "filled" (they were hollow!) wire crates created the bulk of the furniture, creating an industrial image and a comfortable atmosphere simultaneously.  Though I am not in the area often, the Heritage House Cafe was a great place to escape the commotion of a family filled cottage. 

--Erin