Towpath Cafe, Regents Canal

The aptly-named Towpath Cafe is located on the bike-busy Regents Canal in East London.
Popular with the local (push) bikey gangs, this hole in the path is the perfect pit stop to refuel yourself and regain composure - for myself at least, it takes quite a bit of tight rope walker-style concentration on the bikepath so as not to end up 'in the dip'. The bike bell certainly gets a workout.
This lovely little sunny spot is casual and buzzing with energy - something in the water or so the saying goes? The local and seemingly regular crowd flock on a sunny day, armed with books and picnic rugs to lounge on the cafes makeshift small garden terrace.

Offering light meals, homemade cakes, cool drinks and of course coffee, we opted for the affogatos with homemade ice-cream, and were perhaps a little too impressed judging by the spoon on empty glass clinking sounds that continued well after 99.99% of the contents were gone.

The colourful array of small clusters of mis-matched tables and chairs are perfectly complimented by the bunches of jasmine in old glass bottles on the counter.

Try it out - go on, ON YOUR BIKE!

Towpath Cafe

Between Whitmore Bridge and Kingsland Road Bridge.

The Regents Canal, London N1 5SB

Pot of Paris goes to London - you can take the girl out of Paris...

Leaving Paris and 'crossing over' I felt a swarm of emotions. Farewell "un cafe au lait" and hello "one weak, hot, skim latte" almost seems representative of one of the many cultural differences between the French and British. The French enjoy, the guilt free pleasure and satisfaction of one small portion of full fat whilst the British seem to fumble around with 4 or 5 watery skims, never fully satisfied.

My first cafe I was drawn to in London was coincidentally (or perhaps, subconsciously not) L'eau a la Bouche (Direct Translation - The Water at the Mouth) in East London's Broadway. It seems fitting that a slow transition should take place and this Cafe is mouthwateringly good.

Located on the Broadway Market street which buzzes every Saturday with vendors offering fresh produce, deli goods and ready made, home cooked dishes (great for a picnic in nearby London Fields).

The Cafe gets busy at lunch time and hence why there is a sign notifying laptop wielding customers to back off between 12-2pm (the wi-fi is actually deactivated during these hours so dont try any sneaky sneak).

The great selection of food is immaculately presented at the counter - an array of very healthy salads, a variety of sweet and savoury tarts and cakes to name a few. There is also a small deli section with giant wheels of cheese, antipasto and breads to select from, as well as a small aisle of premium (mostly organic) dry goods on offer.

The cafe is a decent size and there are a few seating options. I have been here 3 or 4 times and have tried them all. Inside, you may sit at the long timber share table or around the windows at the small bar-like snaking table. Outside, you will find rustic tables and chairs which are the cream of the crop on a sunny Spring day.

L'eau a la Bouche - mouthwatering.

It is not very typically French however, skim drinkers beware - semi skim is as far as they are willing to fold.

L'eau A La Bouche

35 Broadway Market

London, E8 4PH

Tube - Haggerston

Le Voltigeur - A Sharp Shot

Like a leaf in the wind I am windswept through the streets of the Marais and go hurtling through the door. Finding myself slightly flustered, yet comfortingly smothered in all the contraire.

Like a summons, I was called to this place on a blustery, March day and my blue lips just could not refuse the golden glow illuminating from within Le Voltigeur.

Adorned with tiny mosaic tiles on the floor, woven cane chairs and antique lamps, I almost found myself searching the space for a crackling fire, marshmallows, wine goblets and big white cosy rug.

Offering peckish patrons peanut filled glasses on arrival, shelves of books (including English), the daily papers and house specialties of hot chocolate and quiche, this is no doubt a romantically cosy little corner.

The staff are very friendly, and offered advice and honest recommendations with as much passion that I am certain the owners must have to keep a very close watch on the staff/quiche love affair.

The actual Voltigeurs were created in 1804 by Emperor Napolean 1 as French Military skirmish units. Their name was derived from their original purpose as a horse mounted skirmish unit (Vaulters). The mounted aspect however, proved unsuccessful on the battlefield, and they were instead trained as elite skirmish sharpshooters.

Located in the heart of the lovely Marais (where food can be overpriced and disappointing), on the corner of one of my favourite shopping streets (American Retro, Zadig & Voltaire, Autour du Monde, MAC to name a few), this little diamond in the rough is a conveniently located must.

Go on, give it a shot.

Le Voltigeur

45 Rue des Francs Bourgeois

Paris, 75004

Metro: Saint Paul

Gocci di Caffe - Paris Passageway

I came upon Passage Des Panoramas - a cobbled, covered passageway filled with cafes, restaurants and shops a few months ago and almost had forgotten about it when, by chance we stumbled upon it again - strolling the streets one night after Japanese on Rue Ste Anne (The best street for Japanese in Paris, Metro: Pyramides). We vowed to return for dinner at an overflowing wine bar tucked in one of the corners of the Passage.

I returned on Monday to check out the wine bar (Coinstat Vino in the background of the photo) but found it closed on Mondays. Blessing in disguise - as I pondered what else could be enjoyed in this quaint and historic place. I looked up and there it was right in front of me. Im not sure if I noticed the smell first, or the friendly smile of the owner - an Italian man named Antonio. This tiny, almost hole in the wall Italian Cafe was drawing me in.

I was impressed with the coffee and also with the personal nature of the owner. A one man band, he apologised for the lack of desserts on display, explaining that he normally made tiramisu but had overslept this morning and run out of time (after spending the weekend in Brittany and arriving back into Paris at 3am that morning). A very laid back character who chats freely with his seemingly regular stream of customers.

An Australian couple who were regular customers during an extended stay in Paris brought him a kangaroo which he proudly displays on a shelf behind the counter.

The Passage Des Panoramas is the oldest Passage in Paris -constructed on the site of The Montmorency-Luxembourg Private Hotel in 1799-1800. Historically speaking, it was one of the first covered, airy commercial passageways in the world. The so-called precursor to the shopping malls as we now know them.

Gocci di Caffe

25 Passage des Panoramas

Metro(s): Grand Boulevards or Bourse

La Cafeotheque de Paris

Soothing, slow country tunes play a drastic contrast to the speeding cars hurrying past The Seine outside. As my mind begins to decellerate and tick along to the rancher beats, I am presented with an artistically topped cafe au lait (complete with a petit chocolate and glass of water on the side).

This is the second time I have come to La Cafeotheque. Absolutely nothing to do with the cute Aussie guy who works here, I promise. The freshly ground coffee is creamy, and smooth as silk.

As I entered the Cafe today, there was a commotion going on with the roasting machine. In a very hands on manner, one of the owners was battling to regain control of the unruly, bright yellow contraption, but stopped to smile and usher me past with the assurance "c,est pas grave" (no big deal). After brushing off the remnants of bean particles from my hair, I proceeded through to the cafe.

La Cafeotheque is more than just a standard Cafe - offering barista courses and a small shop where patrons may purchase beans from all over the world (mainly South America and

Africa), jams, chocolate and coffee oil (a nicely presented gift that the owner tells me is great for salads or as a toppi

ng on icecream). The most expensive bean available to buy has been injested, processed and excreted by a special Brazilian bird - Nice!

Styled with a mix of decor including chocolate and dark olive green leather grandpa chairs, and a cow print chaise (my first seating choice but sadly it already was occupied). Randomly, a piano is positioned against the side wall - acting as a bookcase and blending in nicely with the warm timber tones. Loud and colourful South American photographs (for sale for 85 euro) adorn the walls.

Afterwards, cross The Seine via Ile St Louis and on to Rive Gauche, or wander the boutique strewn streets of St Paul Village and then in to the Marais. With the temperature (finally) rising, and the sunshine waking from its winter hibernation, La Cafeoteque is the perfect place for morning tea (small selection of muffins, cakes and quiche) before a pretty Parisian Spring stroll.

La Cafeotheque

52 Rue de L'Hotel de Ville

75004, Paris

Metro: Pont Marie

Voy Alimento - To the Amazonnn and Beyond!!

Sourcing the majority of their ancient originating ingredients from the Deserts, the Andes, the Amazon and the Oceans of South, Central and North America, Voy Alimento serves up simple and raw, yet daringly delicious dishes.

This petit cafe/restaurant (sorry, no coffee here) dictates grand ideals of balance - the importance of maintaining an equilibrium between nutrition, ecology, society and economy through their carefully selected and all natural herbivorical products.

There is a catalgue on each table which explains the various wonder ingredients on offer including chlorophyll, klamath, spirulina, jojoba, purple corn, maca, yacon, stevia, guarana

and cacao just to name a bunch. The catalogue commences with a mission like statement, desciribing the moral ideology of the restaurant - including its belief in the importance of respect for the earth and its people during the production, cultivation and preparation of the various plants on offer here.

I recommend starting with one of the marvellous hot drinks - I had the Xocolatl which was really nice, but the people next to me ordered the purple power and another steaming green mug of spirulina something.....and I had just a touch of envy.

Next, have the plate of the day - a colourful array of veges and salads thoughtfully prepared and presented with purple corn blinis (small, round healthy pancakes).

Lastly (and bestly) dessert!!. The chocolate creme with coconut is to die for. I went back here again after lunch at home yesterday to have one of these with a hot drink.

The staff are really lovely here (typically for a slightly hippy vegie joint they may seem a tad off with the fairies but really do a great job and are very helpful when it comes to advising what's what).

The restaurant was an addition to what was originally just a shop selling ancient wonder ailments. You can buy all the ingredients in the drinks on offer to make at home.

Voy Alimento - Packs a punch that may prove too much for some booster packs!

Voy Alimento

23 Rue Des Vinaigiriers

75010, Paris

Metro: Jacques Bonsergent

Caffe Moro, Paris - The Battle of Italian Coffee

I have been on a trojan horse ride with this cafe....



Close to my house - tick.



Quiet Skype conditions - tick.



Really nice Italian coffee - tick.



Entered into a small trench-like petty feud with one of the serveuses - tick!




The timeline of events leading to battle:



I came here for the first time with a couple of friends on a lazy Sunday arvo and we ordered wine and an antipasto plate which was delicious. Cafe Morro is an Italian cafe on Rue Charonne (10 minutes walk from the Bastille), and boasts an array of panino, insalate, pasta and mozzarelle to knock many Romans warriors from their steeds (I am currently salivating over a little old lady sitting outside tucking into her perfect looking antipasti filled toasted panini).

So my first experience here was great - the Parisian born, Italian owner custom made us little fuss pots a very particular platter (we wanted more than just bread, cheese and meat which is near impossible in Paris) and we got a bit tipsy on Italian wine. A few weeks later I came back to try the coffee with high expectations. It is a little more exxy than our other locals at around 3.80 for a cafe au lait however, it is well worth it. The beans are high quality and roasted by the best in Italy. I come back as a patriotic little customer around once per week.

I started to feel quite loved 2 weeks ago when the serveuse asked me if I wanted my regular coffee in a mug instead - oh yes please I responded with a smile. Then came time to pay and I was up for just under 5 euro! As it dawned on me that had not made a new friend at all, rather, I had been the target of a calculated upsell! I puffed that it was too expensive and huffed away.

Returning a few days later....

I have since started jokingly referring to Cafe Morro as The Moron (TM) yet I come back religiously - its very strange. The nice owner and her wonderful coffee seem to be able to drown out my current mild dislike for TM (during my last visit here I asked for a jug of water with my coffee. Apparantly the biggest water 'jug' available here is shot glass which she handed me with a pesky smirk....)

The coffee here is really nice! When I arrived today I started talking to TM (we are beginning a slow recovery and I expect the signing of the treaty is imminent) and asked where the beans were from...."c'est un secret" that she could not divulge.

The cafe also stocks a small variety of Italian goods - chocolate, pastas, sauces etc.

So I will continue to return to Caffe Moro/The Moron and I would recommend it for its great Italian food, Italian coffee and lovely little Italian owner....and if im honest I think what is quickly transforming into an almost playful (pretend sword) feud makes it just that little bit more fun.

Caffe Moro

31 Rue De Charonne

75011 Paris

Metro: Ledru-Rollin

Sweat Shop in Paris

I am on my way to my first day at the Sweat Shop. Lugging an oversized sack bearing the 'tools of the (rag) trade' and experiencing a certain anxiously awkward first day on the job feeling.


With a subtle blend of curiousity and nervousness I ponder the prospects of what will come of me when I enter the facility. Questions like how long do I stay, will they feed me, how are the work conditions? Entering this unknown, slightly secretive domain I am drowning with many different manifestations of excitement!



I take a left turn onto the named street and start looking for signs -plumes of dark industrial smoke littering the already grey Paris sky, darkened windows shielding shady, secret affairs within, noisy machines, people with half fingers....but no...once again the imagination bolted.










Sweat Shop, opened in March 2010 is self described as "Cafe Couture"- 10 Singer sewing stations surround a big central craft table equipped with various tools and materials.





Patrons may book in for one of the creative sewing and knitting classes (about 5 are held each week) or you can attend solo with your projects, find a seat and get to work - Singer machine hire is a very reasonable 6 euro/hr.

Open everyday from 1pm, Sweat Shop is much more than just your standard cafe. Its a cafe with environmental conscious and supports the notion of reusing what we already have - creative therapy over retail therapy.

The tea and coffee here is served in intricately crafted and painted tea sets - no doubt sourced by the sweet (and very helpful, English speaking) Sweedish owner from the local broccante (antique) market. The room out the back of the cafe has a nice comfy seating area where you can perch yourself with your tea and cake and knit, sew or just drink tea until your hearts content.



We spent about 3 hours here yesterday and I would highly recommend it. I am already rummaging through the drawers to find something I can revitalise for next time!










All without a bead of sweat...

Sweat Shop Paris

13 Rue Lucien Sampax
75010 Paris
Metro: Jacques Bonsergent
http://www.sweatshopparis.com/

Merci - No No Thank YOU!!

I was introduced to Merci by a friend a few months ago (thanks Kezza) and it has now become a bit of an inspirational hang out place for me when I feel like wandering the shops for nothing in particular, followed by some down time in the attached library cafe.

Located on the edge of the Marais, the store is fit out and arranged in a vast warehouse-like space. The store is large yet it has managed to keep its boutique, non-department store-like feel.

An array of beautiful and qwerky objects are neatly arranged over 3 levels - connected by staircases. Qwerky gift ideas, beautiful clothes and bags, one off jewellery pieces, raw furniture, homewares and stacks of concept 'things' (my fave being a fashion conscious pollution mask - bearing Angelina Jolie-like lips and a models angular jawline. I'm sure its only a matter of time until the increasingly popular yet still a tad strange lung protector becomes a must have accessory for city dwellers) - visually thought provoking and truly inspirational.

Back to the Cafe. I have introduced a few friends to Merci Cafe now and everyone loves it!! The staff are super friendly and deliver your coffee with a big glass bottle of fresh mint water, contrasted by a (complimentary) little shot glass worth of petit morcels of the daily cake on offer.

When you enter the cafe from inside the store you walk down a short hallway-like passage lined with a wall of books on one side (English included) and a tiny and very busy open kitchen on the other. Choose your book quickly and take a seat or you may end up with egg on your face - seriously.

Merci Cafe reminds me of one of my favourite cafes in Bondi, Sydney - Gertrude and Alice. Here, you can spend hours carefully selecting an array of books to devour in a dark corner whilst you sip away on your steaming latte. The perfect way to pass a rainy day.

The menu at Merci is small but there is still a good mix of sweet and savoury snacks. There is generally one plat du jour (plate of the day). I can vouch for the smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel as well as the carrott cake. For around 7 euro you can also get 2 dippy eggs complete with soldiers and marmite.

Merci ....Thankyou!!

P.S - Vegemite is better!

Merci

111 Boulevard Beaumarchais

75003 Paris

Metro: St-Sebastien Froissart

Merce and the Muse - Took me back to Nan's Place

A tiny, quaint, inviting cafe - decorated in a way that stirs an incredible feeling of nostalgia. Vintage typewriters, cameras, and purple violets adorn the window sills whilst timber chairs, a bright green couch and a timber bench with a selection of blue cushions surround 2 timber coffee tables - yes just 2! and everyone shares in an ad-hoc, comfy fashion.

I love everything about the way this place is decked out - a big timber counter displaying the days goodies (today its heart shaped carrot cakes, salads, quiche and soup - made by Merce herself in the kitchen upstairs), the cream SMEG, the little diamond shaped blue and earthy coloured tiles on the floor. You sit where you can and you do what you like. Today, I brought along my knitting project and have managed to get a spot on the cushioned bench next to the brilliant blue feature wall.

The coffee here is good - I would probably say a close second to the coffee at Le Bal (my fav so far). However, it does win in size - the place to come if you feel like a quality, TALL , steaming latte.

A big jug of water sits on the counter next to recycled glass lavendar filled bottles. Its the little personal touches that give this space a warm vibe. Grandpa fedoras hang from the edges of the shelves in the kitchen whilst a blend of instrumental beats seem to humm along to the chit chatter.

A sweet spot where I can time travel for a couple of hours back to Nan's.... and I'm sure Pa Fred had that exact fedora.

Merce and the Muse

1 bis Rue Dupuis

75003 Paris