Leo's Bistro

Okay, now that the world didn't come to an end I figure I'd better get busy and write this last post of 2012.

Even with all the busy-ness associated with this time of year, the Crawlers managed to take some time out to celebrate the season on December 13th at Leo's Bistro.  Leo's is situated on the grounds of the Ibhayi Guest Lodge (owned by Lion  Roars), 144 Main Rd in Walmer.  Up until a few months ago, I was under the impression that the Bistro provided the food service only for guests of the Lodge.  Though as I have been out and about doing errands and such, I began to see signs for Leo's Coffee Shop on the 9th Ave. entrance to the Lodge.  One day I decided to stop and check it out and found that Leo's is open to the public, Mon.-Sat. 8-Late for breakfast, continental breakfast, lunch, tapas, dinner, and Sun. for breakfast or brunch until 3.  What a find!  The perfect place for the Christmas Crawl.

Reward tidying the dining area

Leo's is also the perfect place for any other function/event.  The Bistro has seating for a total of 50 in the 3 rooms and lounge area inside and for 30 on the outside shaded patio.  No event fee is a real plus.  Limited off-street parking is available.  Leo's provides a sophisticated yet relaxed venue amidst the hectic pace of Main Rd. Walmer.  PE residents, check out Leo's Bistro...it's not just for Lodge guests!

Meet the Manager
Kate Saunders

So, the Christmas Crawlers, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Gail Darne, Kathy Roppel, Margaret Zoetmulder, Fran and Mandy de Beer, Nomusa Nkomo, Leanne Waller, Vicki Minnaar, gathered at Leo's prepared to celebrate the holidays by breaking the No-Food-On-The-Crawl rule.  Everyone ordered their teas or Sumatran coffees and breakfasts and, while we waited for our orders to arrive, broke open the Christmas crackers I brought.  The usual mayhem ensued...paper hats being donned, prizes flying through the air, jokes and riddles being told, all while Gail practiced her new magic rope trick which was quite impressive once she perfected it. 




This Week's Crawlers
Gail,  Vicki,  Margaret, Nomusa, Leanne, Kathy,
Stella, Beryl, Mandy, Fran



Gail and her magic trick

At some point during the festivities, each Leo's staff member on duty came to the table to welcome our group and to chat.  The Crawl's Zim contingent had fun discussing their homeland with Zim staff members, Manager Kate Saunders and Waitress, Reward.  The very talented Barista James and Chef Darrel also made an appearance at the table to make sure all was right with our beverage and food selections.  This warm reception from Leo's hospitable staff coupled with the excellent coffee and breakfast has turned me into a return customer for sure. 

Meet the Barista
James

 

Meet the Chef
Darell

The Coffee Crawlers, June Nash, Fran and Mandy de Beer, Leanne and Luke Waller, Margaret Zoetmulder, Beth Vieira, Nomusa Nkomo, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Gail Darne, Kathy Roppel, my daughter, Liz, my husband, Lou, squeezed a very unofficial Crawl in on December 20th at Urban Espress just in case the Doomsday rumors were true.  No cameras, no notes, just coffee and hanging out.  A nice way to close out another year of Crawling.  Well, we did have one camera...Thanks to Mandy for providing the Dec. 20th Crawler pic. 

The unofficial Crawlers awaiting the end of the world

I'll be away for the next few weeks and we'll start up the Crawl again on January 10th!

~ Thank you to the Leo's Bistro staff, Kate, James, Darell, Reward, for making our Christmas Crawl very
    special
~ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!
~ Happy belated Birthday to my now 2-year-old granddaughter, Mia - Dec 19th!
~ Happy Birthday to my brother Bob - Jan 4th!
~ Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law, Joe - Jan. 8th!

Until Next Year,

Ellen

Kopi Luwak

After close to two years of Coffee Crawling and focusing on PE's seemingly innumerable coffee shops, the December 6 Crawlers were invited to spend some time at Leanne's beautiful Seaview home to sample one of the world's most exotic coffees.  This post then will not feature a coffee shop but rather Kopi Luwak Coffee aka Civet Coffee.

Leanne recently returned from a trip to Bali where she learned of this coffee that is produced mainly on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and Sulawesi in the Indonesian Archipelago.  This coffee refers to the beans of the coffee berries that have been eaten and excreted by the Asian Palm Civet.  The beans are removed intact from civet feces, then dried, roasted and ground.  The civet's digestive process supposedly removes bitterness from the beans making for a smoother taste.  The coffee sells for about $600/pound!  Upon gathering all this info while on vacation, Leanne purchased some Kopi Luwak with the intent of sharing the joy with the Crawlers.  She also purchased samples of more traditional Bali coffees .... just in case!!!

The "just in case" coffee

So, the big day, Thursday, Dec 6, arrived and Crawlers Stella and Beryl Dawson, Kathy Roppel, Fran and Mandy de Beer, Leanne Waller, Marie, Cayle and June Nash, Nomusa Nkomo, Gail and Roy Backstrom, and my daughter, Liz, met at Leanne's house to taste test the "poop coffee." 

This Week's Crawlers
Stella, Liz, Beryl, Kathy, Mandy, Marie, Leanne,
Gail, June, Nomusa, Fran, Roy

The anticipation heightened as we enjoyed the aroma of freshly brewed Kopi Luwak.  Leanne did the honor of pouring for everyone.  We all grabbed a cup, went onto the deck overlooking the ocean, and waited for someone else to take the first sip.  As a pod of dolphins played in the distance we all eventually downed our Kopi Luwak then, being the coffee connoisseurs (I use this term very loosely) we have become, proceeded to critique this unorthodox coffee.  Long conversation made short... we all agreed that it lacked flavor, body and substance... the qualities that make good coffee good.  Clearly, passing through the digestive system of the Asian Palm Civet robs the beans of their natural character!  Food writer for the Washington Post, Tim Carman, describes Kopi Luwak as "Stale.  Lifeless.  Petrified dinosaur droppings steeped in bathtub water."  I heartily agree.  We all took our second and third rounds from the "just in case" coffee and found it to be delicious.  Good choice, Leanne!

Okay, who's going first?



Looks like coffee.... tastes like...?

While enjoying the cakes and coffee that Leanne provided we discussed the newspaper article that Nomusa brought with her regarding "Black Ivory Coffee blend made from coffee beans digested and excreted by Thai elephants."  Anyone up for a quick trip to Thailand?  This elephant dung coffee goes for about the same price as the Kopi Luwak.

The next topic of conversation concerned the controversies surrounding the Kopi Luwak coffee.  Animal rights and wildlife conservation groups denounce Kopi Luwak producers for cruel and unethical treatment of the Palm Civet.  Also, claims exist that much of the Kopi Luwak on the market is imitation "as fifty times more is sold than produced."  Hmm.

Wow, what a Crawl it was.... fun, educational, eye-opening... never a dull moment!

~Thank you to Leanne for opening your home to us and providing some interesting coffee choices from your
   trip to Bali.
~Happy Birthday to my sister, Carol, in Millersville, PA - December 16
~Happy Birthday to my sister, Mary, in Edinboro, PA - December 17

Until next week,

Ellen

Leanne's very cool Christmas tree

Thanksgiving 2012 and "Christmas in the Home"

With the holidays upon us the Coffee Crawl has taken on a different flavor the past few weeks.  Thursday, November 22, was Thanksgiving  in the U.S., so continuing with the tradition we started in 2011, the Crawlers met at my house for pie and (Masterton's) coffee.  My daughter, Liz, and I spent Wednesday evening making apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies (the pie-fest) to share with our SA friends for our second annual Thanksgiving Coffee Crawl.  Crawlers Leanne Waller, Marie and Cayle Nash, Fran and Mandy de Beer, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Vicki Minnaar, Nomusa Nkomo, Colleen Le Roux, Margaret Zoetmulder, Kathy Roppel, Beth Vieira, Rebecca Marx joined us to celebrate the holiday.  A huge thank you to all of you for making it a very special Thanksgiving for Liz, Rebecca and me!

The Thanksgiving Crawlers
Leanne, Marie, Vicki, Mandy, Nomusa, Colleen, Margaret,
Kathy, Stella, Beryl, Liz, Fran, Beth, Rebecca

On November 29 the Crawlers met at the "Christmas in the Home" event.  This annual PE affair was held at the Moffett on Main Lifestyle Centre lower level from Thursday, November 29 - Saturday, December 1.  Three local coffee shops were represented at "Christmas in the Home."  The Crawlers chose to gather at the Roastmasters stall (their regular shop is located on the upper level of the shopping centre).  The seating area was large enough to accommodate all of Thursday's Crawlers, June Nash, Beth Vieira, Colleen Le Roux, Margaret Zoetmuler, Marie and Cayle Nash (this little one is becoming a regular!), Fran and Mandy de Beer, Kathy Roppel, Vicki Minnaar, Stella and Beryl Dawson.

"Christmas in the Home" Crawlers
June, Stella, Beryl, Vicki, Kathy, Fran, Mandy,
Marie, Margaret, Colleen, Beth

Barista Sivile was the only Roastmasters employee at the stall on Thursday morning.  He was very busy with all the event patrons' orders, but was gracious enough to pose for a quick pic... he looks cool as a cucumber... no holiday stress here!  After coffee and some conversation about the upcoming holidays and Kathy's impending move back to Canada, we all spent some time looking/shopping around in the craft areas.  This Crawl certainly put us all in a festive mood.  My big purchase of the morning was a gingerbread house and gingerbread nativity scene.... I left all my Christmas decorations in NY!

Meet the Barista
Sivile

The next two weeks' Crawls will have a bit of a holiday flair... stay tuned for the Crawlers' final adventures of 2012.

~Happy St Nicholas Day to everyone! - December 6 .... don't forget to put your shoes out!!!!
~Thank you to my wonderful daughter and pie baker extraordinaire, Liz, for all the help on Thanksgiving
   Eve!!!

Until next time,

Ellen