Roast Master Cafe Baakens

Last Thursday (March 22) two of our Coffee Crawlers celebrated their birthday.  What are the chances of THAT happening?  Rhetorical question or not, I got answers from both Lou and Keith... no surprise there!  Well, it just so happens that, with 23 people in our Crawl group on Thursday at Roast Master Cafe, the chance of two people sharing a birthday is just over 50%.  Lou showed me the whole statistical formula that determines this percentage, painfully reminding me of all that I forgot from that one stats class I took in college!  Anyway, yes, there were 23 of us there to help celebrate Margaret's and Fran's birthdays.  Those enjoying the Sumatran single origin Guatemalan coffee (and other beverages) were birthday girls, Margaret Zoetmulder and Fran de Beer along with Dale Mitchell, Sandy Venter and her granddaughters, Sarah and Rachel, Keith de Beer, Gail Darne, Stella and Beryl Dawson, June Nash, Marie Nash, Leanne Waller, Sylvia Mynhardt, Colleen Le Roux, Antoinette Rose, Elaine Watson, Nomusa Nkomo, Les Baldwin, Fr. Dominic Griego, Matthew Nazer, and Beth Vieira.

This Week's Crawlers

Roast Master Cafe Baakens is located at 1 Bridge Street, on the corner of Upper Valley Road and Brickmakerskloof in South End.  The cafe opened its doors to the public on Oct 5, 2011 and has quickly become a popular PE spot to have breakfast/lunch seven days a week.  The shop's hours are weekdays, 8-5 and weekends, 8-3.  It was no problem for manager, Sarah Ward, and the Roast Master staff to accommodate our unexpected group as the cafe seats about 100 patrons inside and on the patio outside.  Our barista, Veliswa, has had a number of years of barista experience so easily kept up with our first, second, third rounds of coffee orders.  During the course of Thursday's Crawl I had two excellent double shot cappuccinos.  I ended up having to run a 5K when I got home so as to work off the jitters!

Meet the Manager
Sarah Ward



Meet the Barista
Veliswa



Sarah busy roasting the beans

At first glance, Roast Master Cafe looks like your typical coffee shop but after a few minutes to look around and a couple of questions posed to the staff, we discovered two unique features of the cafe:  1. they roast their coffee beans daily on site,  2. they offer the following courses through their on site Coffee Academy: Coffee Appreciation, Barista 101, Intermediate Barista, Advanced Barista, Roasting 101.  The two-hour Coffee Appreciation course looks like a lot of fun for the average coffee lover, and it is also a great idea for a corporate or team event or a private party.  For info re: the Roast Master Coffee Academy visit their website at  http://www.roastmaster.co.za/   or send email enquiries to:  baakenscafe@roastmaster.co.za  or call 041 581 1682.

Now with a group the size of Thursday's Crawl it's hard to keep track of the conversations at the tables so I gave up trying early on and just sat back, munched on a bagel and talked tennis and parenting with those around me.  Of course, at one point, we all joined in a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday" for our two guests of honor.  Happy Birthday, Margaret and Fran!  As the morning waned a bunch of us needed to get up and move around so we took a stroll next door to check out the micro brewery which opens daily at about 10 for coffee, drinks and light snacks.  Perhaps a Crawl at the brewery lies somewhere in the future!

~Thank you to Sarah and the Roast Master staff - tremendous service for our large group with no notice!
~Thank you to Linga Fan for your recent comment on the Linga Longa post.  It's good to get updates as the
   Linga Longa Cafe goes through its renovations.
~Happy Birthday to my nephew, Brenden (March 28)
~A tip from the "How to Win Money in Bar Bets" website - ... in a group of 50 random people there is a
  97% chance that two people will share a birthday.  Now, go out a win some cash with that info!!!

Until next week,

Ellen

Keg and Swan - 2012 St. Patrick's Crawl

Last year St. Patrick's Day fell on a Thursday, Coffee Crawl Day, so the Crawlers all met at Keg and Swan in Sunridge for some "wearin' o' the green" and a bit of Irish coffee.  This year St. Pat's Day was on Saturday which put Coffee Crawl Day on the Ides of March.  Well, we certainly weren't going to celebrate the assassination of Julius Caesar by Brutus and his lackeys so we just started our St. Pat's celebration a little early. 

Meet our Hostess
Bonnie

 

We all headed up to Keg and Swan and got the party started at 10 am.  We were greeted and seated by hostess/drink server extraordinaire, Bonnie (how appropriate!), who immediately began taking our orders of Sumatran Pride coffee as well as tea, Irish coffee and Guinness.  As we all enjoyed our beverages I brought out my trusty ipod and searched among the 8,000 songs (yes, Jeff, I know that many) for some Irish tunes.  Soon, Margaret and I were singing, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," "Whiskey in the Jar," and everyone's favorite, "Danny Boy."  Of course, we couldn't let the morning go by without singing, "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" as a tribute to our wonderful hostess!  We also listened to music by my favorite Irish band, Kilrush, my buddies in NY.

During the morning's celebration, Keg and Swan owner, David Goldberg, and staff member, Charles Raven (see their pics on Keg and Swan, March, 2011 post) came over to the group to wish us all a Happy (early) St. Patrick's Day and to invite us to Saturday's party at the pub.

Bonnie kept the coffee and Guinness coming and then someone, who will go unnamed, had the brilliant idea to order Irish Car Bombs..... "Beware the Ides of March!"












SLAINTE!!!!





Joining me at Keg and Swan on Thursday were Margaret Zoetmulder, Sandy Venter, Fran and Keith de Beer, Gail Darne, Stella and Beryl Dawson, June Nash, Colleen Le Roux, Beth Vieira, Fr. Dominic Griego, Les Baldwin, Nomusa Nkomo, and Coffee Crawl newcomers Vicki Minnaar, Antoinette and Colin Rose, and Megan Snyman.  Thank you all for making the 2nd Annual St. Pat's Coffee Crawl a celebration to remember.  Be sure to mark your calendars for our 3rd Annual on March 14, 2013 at Keg and Swan!  Who knows, maybe I'll bring by bagpipes along next year!

This Week's Crawlers
Beryl, Stella, Gail, Vicki, Colleen, Keith, Fran, Beth, Sandy,
Antoinette, Megan, Margaret, Nomusa, Les, Fr. Dominic, June
not pictured - Colin 

Hey, Lizzy, check out my nails!

~Thank you to Bonnie.... we love you!
~Happy Birthday to Fran de Beer and Margaret Zoetmulder who both celebrate birthdays on March 22.

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Until next week,

Ellen

The Coffee Stop

Lou and I make a trip to Builders' Warehouse, 17th and Buffelsfontein Rd. in Walmer, a few times a month to pick up general household and pool maintenance supplies.  Every time we go there I see The Coffee Stop whose main entrance is located inside Builders' Warehouse.  We have never stopped for coffee, breakfast or lunch there because, I have to admit, there is a disconnect in my brain in having a coffee shop inside a building supply store.  My bad....

Thursday's Crawlers, Margaret Zoetmulder, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Sylvia Mynhardt, Gail Darne, Beth Vieira, Nomusa Nkomo, and Fran de Beer, met at The Coffee Stop and, as soon as I entered the shop, I was pleasantly surprised.  The shop is much larger than it appears at first glance, providing seating for 80-90 people.  Tables are situated inside as well as outside on the patio that is adjacent to the garden center/greenhouse of the warehouse.  The Crawlers chose to sit outside and enjoy the fountains, flowers and plants on display and for sale for warehouse customers.  Considering there is a huge parking lot and a busy store just meters away, The Coffee Stop feels totally removed from all the hustle and bustle.

Meet the Assistant Manager
Pinky

The Coffee Stop has been at Builders' Warehouse since 2008 and operates under similar hours: Mon-Fri, 7:30-6, Sat, 7:30-4, and Sun, 7:30-3.  Upon entering the shop a board listing hard-to-resist specials greets patrons.... Breakfast Special  R25,  Coffee/Cake Special  R30,  Burger and Shake Special  R49.50.  Before deciding on one of these specials, though, guests must be sure to check out the full breakfast/lunch/kids' menu if for nothing else than the cool quote reading it provides.  One quote I know that Nomusa and my BFF Jackie will love... "Tea is liquid wisdom." 

Meet the Barista
Sinethemba

So while Nomusa had her usual wisdom, the rest of us ordered coffee and were treated to TriBeCa brand filter coffee, cappuccinos, and Americanos with mini cappuccino muffins on the side, served by our very charming barista, Sinethemba.  Excellent coffee, Sine, thank you!  The owner was not in the shop on Thursday so, after all the Crawlers left to go on a shopping spree in the greenhouse area, I talked with assistant manager, Pinky, and barista, Sine.  The shop's owner is very fortunate to have such a personable and hospitable staff.  I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to The Coffee Stop and will definitely return for breakfast with Lou the next time we need pool chemicals!?!

This Week's Crawlers
Margaret, Beth, Nomusa, Beryl, Gail, Fran, Sylvia, Stella

At the table our burgeoning book club briefly discussed two books that have now been added to my ever growing list of must-reads.... Makiwa by Peter Godwin and The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer.  (Oh, an aside to Jeff, Liz and Chris L. -- get your hands on a copy of Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela and read it before your visit here... I just finished it... an incredible read!)

Okay, so back to the Crawler conversation....
Nomusa and I regaled the Crawlers with a rundown on our 4-hour tennis marathon on Wednesday (Crawl eve).  I'm tired right now just thinking about it!  After all that tennis I felt no guilt about eating those mini cappuccino muffins.
The Crawlers then talked about Daylight Saving Time which began this past weekend in the U.S. and starts in a few weeks in Europe.  The time change puts all my family in the U.S. only 6 hours behind PE now... much easier for skyping! 

For our March 15 Crawl we will be having our 2nd Annual St. Pat's celebration (this year, two days early).  We'll be meeting at the same place as last year, The Keg and Swan in Sunridge at 10:00 am.  All Crawlers and PE Coffee Crawl readers are welcome to join K and S hostess, Bonnie, and me for an Irish coffee or two (or three).  Hope to see you there!

~Thank you to The Coffee Stop staff, Sine and Pinky
~Happy Birthday to Mandy (March 15)
~Happy St. Patrick's Day to all (March 17)
~Good luck and have fun to all participants in the Lake Farm Charity Run/Walk on March 17.  Come and
   join us to support a good cause.

Until next week,

Ellen

 

The Flying Penguin Cafe

Last May when my son, Jeff, came to SA for a visit he and I went to Cape Recife Nature Reserve (off Marine Drive just a few kilometers outside of PE) one day to check out the beach, the lighthouse and the bird hide.  During our time at the reserve we also stopped at the SA Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre, commonly known here as SAMREC.  SAMREC offers visitors a unique and interesting insight into the world of the marine life of Algoa Bay and the challenges it faces.  The centre rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured marine animals but concentrates primarily on marine birds, specifically the endangered African Penguin.  Jeff and I took a tour of the SAMREC facility and had an opportunity to watch a penguin feeding session.  As we were saying our thank you's and good bye's to our guide, Eddie, I noticed The Flying Penguin Cafe on the premises and made a mental note to have the Coffee Crawl there someday.  Well, that day happened to be last Thursday, March 1.

Meet the Owner
Michelle Brackenridge

Cape Recife Nature Reserve is well worth visiting for the day, but if you're going specifically to SAMREC just tell the guard at the main gate, and the fee to get into the reserve is waived.  As is usual on Crawl day I arrived at the coffee shop early so I could have a chat with the owner.  Michelle Brackenridge is not only The Flying Penguin's owner but its barista, waitron, and "chief cook and bottle washer" as well!  She also does some volunteering at the SAMREC reception desk.  Michelle gave me a quick tour of the cafe pointing out the beautiful framed ocean photos by local photographer Luc Hosten, and the artistically displayed indigenous shells under the glass of the cafe's table tops.  Michelle brought me over to the window of the cafe that overlooks the penguin area.  Cafe patrons can enjoy Masterton's coffee or a pot of tea while being entertained by the antics of SAMREC's recuperating penguins.



This Week's Crawlers
Fran, Gail T., Stella, Sandy, June, Nomusa, Gail D.
Leanne, Beryl, Sylvia



The Flying Penguin Cafe is open Tues-Sun, 10:30-4:00 and seats about 40 customers.  The shop is available for small functions and events and also kids' birthday parties which come complete with a treat bag for each party guest and an age appropriate fun lesson on marine life and conservation.  The cafe's menu consists of a variety of cakes, scones, muffins, light lunches, and hot and cold beverages.  This week's Crawlers, Gail Darne, Nomusa Nkomo, Fran de Beer, Sylvia Mynhardt, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Gail Taverner, Sandy Venter, June Nash, and Leanne Waller, assembled at The Flying Penguin and spent some time conversing over coffee/tea and Michelle's special carrot cake and cheesecake.  Because it was such a warm day (and we were at the beach!) I ordered an Iced Coffee Shake... it really hit the spot!  Delicious!

Meet Our Tour Guide
Philipa

Following our refreshments the Crawlers were given a tour of SAMREC by volunteer guide Philipa, who took us first to see the penguins up close then to the hospital facility and, finally, to the Education and Discovery Centre.  Permanent displays, temporary displays, and hands-on activities are available for all visitors and school groups.  On-site educational programs offered by SAMREC and presented by their trained volunteers include field work, hikes, lighthouse tours and rock pool lessons.  Volunteers also make off-site visits to clubs, schools and retirement homes in order to share their passion and knowledge of the sea and its creatures with those who are unable to visit the SAMREC facility.

The SAMREC staff consists mostly of adult and student volunteers.  SAMREC is a non-profit organization that relies on private and corporate monetary and material donations.

A wonderful time was had by all the Crawlers.  We enjoyed the hospitality, awesome coffee and the tour.  PE residents and visitors---- get out to SAMREC and support a great cause!!!!

For more information regarding SAMREC, to make a tax deductible donation or to volunteer, check out their website  http://www.samrec.org.za/

~Thank you to Ocean Fresh Deli who supplies the fish for the penguins and other marine birds at SAMREC
~Thank you to The Flying Penguin owner, Michelle
~Thank you to our tour guide, Philipa
~Thank you to the entire SAMREC staff for "saving the penguins!!!"

~Congratulations and Best Wishes to Jennifer and Kenyan on your wedding, March 10!!!
~Happy Birthday to Daniel, March 11

Enjoy the pics and until next week,

Ellen