Cafe Delicia

"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.  Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot.  .......  Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. ......"  ("Cheers" theme lyrics.  Portnoy; Angelo)
If there was a South African coffee shop version of the 1982-93 hit television series, "Cheers," Cafe Delicia would get my vote for the setting!

Meet the Owner
Kewan Voysey

Cafe Delicia is situated in a quiet, out-of-the-way neighborhood at 16 Lutman St. in Richmond Hill.  Owner Kewan Voysey pretty much knows everyone who walks through the door of his shop by name.  His regular customers include businessmen and working people, coffee groups, writing and book clubs, along with many of the shop's neighbors.  Patrons (even the "not regulars") are all warmly welcomed into this cozy shop and are immediately made to feel like old friends.  Crawlers, Gail Darne, Beth Vieira, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Colleen, Ralph, Aiden and Maddy LeRoux, Margaret and Arthur Marshall, Nicolette Hijmans, Nomusa Nkomo. June Nash, Lee Rodwell, were certainly feeling the love on Crawl Day!

This Week's Crawlers
Maddy, Colleen, Margaret, Nicolette, June, Stella, Beryl,
Gail, Nomusa, Beth, Ralph, Aiden, Arthur
not pictured - Lee

Cafe Delicia, with its eclectic decor, accommodates about 45 people.  Seating is available in the downstairs main room or in the upstairs area which is set aside for meetings or for those who wish to have some quiet time for computing, reading, or relaxing.  The shop features LavAzza coffee and specialty drinks prepped by barista Jeffrey, as well as a variety of other hot and cold beverages.  Many of Thursday's Crawlers tried the Cafe Delicia Affocato (single espresso, honey, vanilla ice cream, chocolate powder, served with a double espresso shot on the side).  Delicious!!!!  Though that, along with the cappuccino I had earlier in the morning, contributed to intense caffeine jitters for the rest of the day...(I tore it up at the gym that afternoon!!!!)  The chalkboard menu also lists breakfast, lunch, and specialty sarmie selections.

Meet the Barista
Jeffrey

If you're not up for leaving the house on these cold winter days just give Kewan a call for a delivery order at 041 582 5202.  Cafe Delicia also offers on- and off-site catering for special events/weddings, small and large groups.  Call the same number given above for details.  Though the shop's regular hours are Mon-Fri, 7:30-4 (closed Sat, Sun) you can book the venue or order catering services for anytime including weekends. Plenty of parking is available on Landsdowne and Lutman Streets.....Cafe Delicia is right on the corner.  For some excellent coffee, warm and friendly service, and an at-home atmosphere join the regulars at Cafe Delicia!  CHEERS!!!

Coffee Crawl Day happened to fall on July 18, Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday.  Every year on "Mandela Day" people in South Africa and around the world are encouraged to spend 67 minutes doing something good for others.  This day has become a world-wide day of aiding humanitarian causes in commemoration of the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent in public service.

Along with each of the Crawlers' individual responses to the call for 67 minutes of service, many also came to coffee on Thursday bearing donations of clothing, outerwear, and blankets which were donated to a local charitable organization.  Thanks to all of the Crawlers for their generosity, and a special thanks to Keith de Beer for delivering the donations.

In the spirit of making every day "Mandela Day" we got to talking about those who give of their time daily in an attempt to make the world a better place....a weighty topic over coffee.  I told everyone about a friend of my family, Fr. Symon Ntaiyia, who we met in NY but is originally from Kenya.  With monetary donations from private individuals and tons of effort on his part he started the Friends of Fr. Symon Jubilee School for Nomads situated just north of Nairobi, Kenya.  Check out the website: www.schoolfornomads.org   It's amazing what an ordinary individual can accomplish!

The conversation turned to a topic closer to home as we began to discuss the wonderful work that the volunteers at SAMREC (South Africa Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre) do.  The Crawlers visited their coffee shop, The Flying Penguin, in March, 2012 (see March, 2012 post), and toured the facility. We, as well as future generations, not to mention the penguins, sincerely appreciate the work you do.

Gino Fabbri interviews a competitor

A quick note on the July 25 Coffee Crawl:  Fourteen Crawlers joined me for the opening day of the SCASA (Specialty Coffee Association of Southern Africa) Regional Barista Championship held at the Home Expo at the Moffet on Main Lifestyle Centre.  Enjoying beverages from local coffee shop stalls at the Expo, we were entertained by event emcee Gino Fabbri and awed by the talents of the best baristas of the Eastern Cape. We observed the early round of the competition in which each barista had fifteen minutes to serve espressos, cappuccinos, and their specialty coffee beverages to four judges, and all the while with three additional judges literally breathing down their backs.  Now there's some coffee stress!  Congrats to the top six baristas: Donovan from Urban Espress, Byron from Friendly Stranger, Joe from Urban Espress, Victor from InFoods, Zuko from Wimpy Boardwalk, Roberta from Lavenda Blu.  These six will go on to compete in Johannesburg in September.  Lou and I are planning to go to Joburg to cheer you on!

Judges testing the espressos

~Thank you to Kewan, Kewan's Mom, and Jeffrey
~Happy Birthday to Colleen LeRoux - Aug 1
~Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela!

Until next week.....Cheers!

Ellen