Bean There…Done That ~ Johannesberg

When in JHB it can be very easy to lose sight of adventure. Time goes by at a pace that has no remorse for humans and before you know it the year is up and you don’t really have much to show for it. Help me please if I ever fall in to this rut. But yes, it does happen.
However, when I feel I need a bit of bohemia in my life, I whip up a mismatched outfit, call up a friend and off we will go to 44 Stanley Road, Johannesburg. This enclosed web of design, decor and deliciousness is two streets up from Empire Road, and when the sun is out it is possibly the greatest escape from any hum of traffic or screaming kids.
The coffee shop I have chosen first is Bean There. The wonderful thing about this place is that it is quite small, therefore very intimate and perfect for a morning getaway. Unique in its layout, Bean There has massive buckets filled with coffee beans and anyone can come by, smell the beans, weigh your pickings and purshase either whole or grounds beans. It is magnificent when that smell seeps up out of the buckets and it consumes the entire room. Yum!!!
Bean There is a memeber of Fair Trade therefore the beans are sourced straight out of Africa and are truly some of the most delicious coffees you may ever taste. Great for gifts, as the prices are so reasonable for the quality you are getting, and to top it off you are supporting a coffee farmer and his family.
So let me just say that this is definately one for you to remember. I still have my eye on more of 44 Stanley’s surprises so expect to hear more very soon.
Cheerio!

(p.s. the bicycle in the picture is hanging on the wall in Bean There. One of the reasons I just love that place.)

Talented friends

Good morning :)

I want to share some of my pictures I took of a very talented young woman’s creative flare. My darling friend Meg had a tea party and the way she set up her table was so magical that I could not help but take my camera out and document it!

Such a beautiful ensemble!

Cape Delish ~ Starlings Cafe

During my years of studying in Cape Town I was fortunate enough to live in a digs (a house of students) with 3 of my very close friends. Our gorgeous little abode was named Gardenstate, fitting to our surnames, Bush, Bird, Reid and Coffey. I loved that year so much and one reason was because we lived a few blocks away from the most delicious Flat White coffee EVER! Where can i find this? you may ask… look no further than Belvedere Road, Claremont, Cape Town.

Starlings restaurant is one of my top spots to chillax. I once found my digs mate, Candice Reid, there and she had drunk about 4 flat whites… hence her constant shaking and wide eyes :)

We loved this place.

The setting is an old house that has been transformed into a little piece of magic. Inside you can enjoy the coffee aromas and take in the goodness of the freshly baked goods, while outside is a calm paradise of fountains and greenery, mixed with antique decor and a little book shop.

My recommendation for your first visit would be to indulge in a flat white coffee and a piece of their delicious carrot cake.

Try it out friends and let me know what you think :)

Patisserie Delights

The first cafe I would like to share with you is one a friend of mine suggested we visit.

The Patisserie is located in Illovo in the Post Office Centre off Rudd Road, Johannesburg.

This quaint ensemble of cakes and tarts is perfect for a lunch time outing or a morning pick me up. The mish-mash of tables and chairs is pulled together by their delicious cuppacinos and one of my most favourite treats on the menu has to be the banana bread! The atmosphere is relaxed and patrons can sit inside or under the black and white umbrellas on the veranda.

So the next time you feel like putting on a hat or a scarf, take a trip to The Patisserie and you will fit right in.

Enjoy :)

Welcome to Coffey and Cake

This has to be my most favourite way to start a day, a good cup of coffee and my keyboard.
In this blog I hope to convey some of the hidden gems that South Africa’s food and drink industry has to offer. As one of my past times is sharing great conversation over cake and a yummy latte, I have decided to share these moment with you too.

My inspiration for this blog came when I moved to Johannesburg and my free spirit lead me to explore the suburbs and hence coming across some incredible coffee shops and cafes. So a year in I have russtled up a few of my favourites and will continue to add as I stumble across, what im sure will be, many more taste sensations.

I would love for anyone to share the names of their favourite coffee shops and I will most certainly make it my mission to get there and most certainly enjoy every moment of trying out a new place.