There’s this little gem of a bistro/cafe I found last summer and it was perfect because no one really knew about it and they renovated a downtown shop leaving the brick exposed and putting cafe tables with umbrellas outside and every Saturday after the Farmer’s Market I would go there to get a cuppa. That turned into an egg dish and a cuppa. Then some French Toast and a cuppa. Then a cookie to go. Until last weekend when I realized every yuppie and their mother-in-law’s nanny knew about this place and I had to order just one thing because they were out of the egg dishes and the white hot cocoa caught my eye and comforted me, telling me it would all be ok and that this would be my place once again. I am so going to kick some yuppie ass next weekend if they’re still there, no matter how zen this cocoa makes me feel.

I wanted iced tea but the weather turned on me so as I rolled down the window to place an order for tea I heard myself say, “Chocolate raspberry truffle coffee. Large. With some cream. And three Splenda.” And now I have cause for concern for getting out a larger pant size during this cool weather.

When I pulled up to my little coffee hut today I just asked, “Ok, Sweet Thang. What’s brewin’ that’s good?” and then a string of beautiful words came out of her mouth. My eyes glazed over after hearing “rhubarb” and “peach” and “ginger” when she described her iced tea. A luscious earthy flavored tea that rang all my bells this morning. It made me lose my powers of speech for a while.

Sweet, sweet Shash has sent me some coffee. I’ve tried many Boca Java blends before, but she insisted that I try the Bananas Foster Float and only because she got us a kick-ass hotel room in Chicago last summer did I agree. Plus, she had it shipped straight to me. I have to admit that I sang B-A-N-A-N-A-S from that annoying Gwen Stefani song the entire time it brewed. I was irritating myself with it. Still skeptical, I poured it into my travel mug and headed for work. Now, I was annoyed at Gwen and myself and wondered if this would be any good. Honestly? It really was. I’m surprised. I didn’t expect to like it, but I did. I’m no longer upset with Gwen. I like myself a little more, but I truly love Shash now.

I believe in the health benefits of jasmine tea. In fact, “tea is dew of heaven” sums up my current love of tea in all its forms. Sure, it lowers your cholesterol. It is a strong and sweet tea that I enjoyed today and it made me fear that I would be too calm to deal with the rigors of education, but it proved to be exactly what I needed. These are probably the best I’ve had and not because they’re “hand rolled”, either. Though, pretty much all hand rolled things are delicious. What? I was talking about buffalo chicken wraps. Honestly.