Vovo Telo - Crawl #10 Revisited

I knew it was inevitable at some point in our Crawl "Revisits" and this is the week.  Our coffee shop #8 that we visited on March 31, 2011 (Angel Foods in the Perridgevale Shopping Centre) is no longer a coffee shop but rather a factory outlet store called Home and About.  After making this discovery I checked my notes for shop #9 then headed to Foong's to make a reservation for the Thursday, January 9 Crawl.  Well, when I arrived I found that yes, Foong's is still a coffee shop but would be closed for another week for the holidays.  We'll have to go back to them next week....on to #10.  Good news!....Vovo Telo, located at 16 Raleigh St. in Richmond Hill, is still a coffee shop and would be open for business on the 9th...YAY!

Since our first visit in April, 2011 Vovo Telo has changed management, staff and coffee brand but still remains one of the most popular bakery/cafes in town....and for good reason.  Vovo Telo's signature baked goods and artisan breads are to die for, and everything on the menu from delicious breakfasts to pizzas, salads, pasta and burgers is made fresh to order on-site.  For the many times that I've been to Vovo Telo in the past few years I have yet to leave disappointed, and last Thursday's Crawl was no exception.  Our waitress, Babalwa, was a bundle of smiles and energy during our entire visit, Vovo Telo's present manager, Vanessa Langner, checked in on us regularly to see that all was satisfactory, and baristas, Xolani and Sive, were on top of their game....the cappuccinos were incredible!

Meet the Manager and the Bakery Counterperson
Vanessa and Nolu

Meet the Baristas
Xolani and Sive

With Vovo Telo being a renovated house there is seating for patrons in various rooms and on the porch.  One of my favorite things about the shop is, regardless of how busy it is, it never feels crowded but always comfortable and homey.  The aroma of freshly baking bread just adds to the ambience.  Oh, and that's a "must-do" after coffee/breakfast/lunch....stop at the bakery counter on your way out and pick up a loaf or two of artisan bread or some other yummy goodie from the display case to take home....share the love!
Vovo Telo's hours are Mon-Fri, 7-3:15; Sat, 7-2:30; closed on Sunday.

Some of This Week's Crawlers
Gail, Vicki, Arthur, Babalwa, Lee, June,
Nicolette, Stella, Beth, Beryl, Nomusa

More of This Week's Crawlers
Arthur, Margaret M., Lee, Ellen, Colleen, Margaret Z., Elaine
foreground - Nicolette, Dale

There were seven Crawlers at Vovo Telo for our first visit in 2011.  On Thursday we more than doubled that with sixteen of us meeting for Ciro coffee, breakfast and cakes.  Crawlers, Vicki Minnaar, June Nash, Gail Darne, Margaret Zoetmulder, Margaret and Arthur Marshall, Dale Mitchell, Nomusa Nkomo, Colleen LeRoux, Nicolette Hijmans, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Lee Rodwell, Elaine Watson, Beth Vieira, arrived and were seated inside just in time before a horrific thunderstorm passed overhead.  I personally am a fan of thunderstorms though not all of the Crawlers share my feeling.  This storm, however, was child's play considering the outrageous weather my family and friends were experiencing.  Blizzard conditions, icy roadways, and -40 degree wind chills ( Fahrenheit and Celsius are equal at -40!) were plaguing most of the northern U.S. last week.  I happen to also be a fan of blizzards as well....I have to admit that I was a tiny bit jealous of those Stateside who were enjoying their coffee by a blazing fire.

The pastry display case

All this frigid weather and frozen precipitation talk baffled the Crawlers as most have never experienced such low temps or even seen snow!  I answered questions concerning outerwear, winter driving, home heating, shoveling, sledding, and skating on frozen lakes.  This conversation was the perfect segue into our talk about the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.  We're all looking forward to the change of pace that watching the Olympics brings....not to mention that warm fuzzy World Community feel.  I'm sure the Games will come up in our conversations again in the next few weeks.

~Thank you to Vanessa and the Vovo Telo staff

Until next week,

Ellen

Food Lovers - Crawl #7 (Sue-Anne's) Revisited

The sign to look for on Kragga Kamma Rd.

This, my first post of 2014, will feature the last Crawl of 2013.  On Thursday, December 19, the Crawlers met for the final Crawl of the year at Food Lovers located at the Garden Lovers Centre on Kragga Kamma Rd. in Theescombe.

Food Lovers is a revisit of our March 24, 2011 Crawl #7 when it was called Sue-Anne's.  (For those of you keeping track we did not revisit #6 because Keg and Swan is reserved only for our St. Patrick's Day celebrations.)  Since our first visit to this Kragga Kamma Rd. establishment, new owner, Robert Ferguson, has renamed and redecorated the place, revamped the menu and switched over to Masterton's coffee.

Meet the owner's wife
Ula Ferguson

Coffee-themed wall hanging

Inside seating

Food Lovers' new tables and chairs and the coffee-themed decor give the eatery an intimate coffee shop feel even though there is seating enough for up to 100 customers inside and on the patio.  The revamped menu includes five different breakfast options and light and main meals along with desserts, cakes, hot and cold beverages, kids' selections, platters, and a Sunday buffet.  In addition, Food Lovers is fully licensed, and offers day and nightime catering services for any type of occasion from corporate functions to family parties for up to 100 people.  For your next special event consider the beautiful country setting at Food Lovers....call 041 379 1695 or email: foodloversrestaurant@gmail.com

A very creamy cappuccino

Ho, Ho, Ho!
Meet the Assistant Chef and the Barista
Jake and Nadia

Excellent Carrot Cake

Food Lovers' hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9-4, Sundays and Public Holidays, 9-3.  Booking is essential for the Sunday buffet.

Meet the Waitrons
Robyn and Arrmando

I want this wall hanging for my house!

Yummy Cheesecake

Owner Robert Ferguson's wife, Ula, Assistant Chef Jake, Barista Nadia, and Waitrons Armando and Robyn, greeted, served, and chatted with the 27 Crawlers who showed up for this end-of-the-year Crawl.  Margaret and Arthur Marshall, Colleen LeRoux, Margaret Zoetmulder, Prudie Brown, Stella and Beryl Dawson, June and Howard Nash, Gail Darne, Graham Wood, Lee Rodwell, Nomusa Nkomo, Dale Mitchell, Fran, Keith, Paul, Therreza and Mia de Beer, Nicolette Hijmans, Beth Vieira, Leanne, Lodie and Luke Waller, my husband, Lou, and first-time Crawler, Lee Rands, enjoyed Masterton's coffees, milkshakes, teas, soft drinks, and a variety of cakes, muffins and breakfasts.

On the patio - Some of This Week's Crawlers
Howard, Lodie, Luke, Leanne, Lee, Lou,
Nomusa, Beth

We had a really long table on the patio!
More of This Week's Crawlers
Colleen, Dale, Margaret Z., Stella, Gail, Arthur,
Nicolette, Graham, Lee, June, Prudie, Beryl, Margaret M.
not pictured - the de Beer family

Everyone was in a festive mood and we lingered over two additional rounds of beverages until about 1:00 p.m.  Kudos to the Food Lovers' staff members who were hospitable and efficient, especially considering that when I made the reservation it was for only 15 people for coffee!

And now for the segment of my post where I recap our "talk at the table."  Well, with 27 people over the course of three and a half hours I wouldn't even know where to begin.  Suffice it to say that there was plenty of chit-chat and catching up with "visiting Crawlers" who we haven't seen in a while, conversations with "new-ish Crawlers" who we're just getting to know, and general banter among "Crawl regulars."   It was confirmed at the December 19 Crawl that my husband and I would be hosting a Crawlers' New Year's Eve Party which, by the way, was a hell-raising, smashing success.  I'm still finding wine stains, sparkles, bits of balloons, and millions of pieces of confetti all over my house....way worth it!!!

Happy New Year to one and all.

~Thank you to Ula and the Food Lovers' staff
~A Belated Happy Birthday to my brother, Bob, in Erie, PA - January 4
~Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law, Joe, in Binghamton, NY - January 8

Until next week,

Ellen

More inside seating

Marilyn's - Crawl #5 Revisited

The Crawlers have spent the last two Crawls celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas.  For our December 12 and 19 Crawls we are winding down 2013 by continuing our Crawl Revisited Series.  Thursday, December 12, fifteen Crawlers, June Nash, Fran de Beer, Nomusa Nkomo, Margaret Zoetmulder, Dale Mitchell, Beth Vieira, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Sylvia Mynhardt, Colleen LeRoux, Lee Rodwell, Nicolette Hijmans, Heather Anderson, and first-time Crawlers, Graham Wood and Ken Heusinkveld, joined me at Marilyn's, 123 Villiers Rd. in Walmer.

This Week's Crawlers
Standing: Ken and Heather
Sitting: Nomusa, Fran, Colleen, Margaret, Nicolette, Beth,
Graham, Lee, Stella, June, Dale, Beryl, Sylvia

Marilyn's was the fifth coffee shop we visited back in 2011, and so much has changed at the shop since then.  New owner, Alan Fryer, and his new staff welcome patrons into the totally renovated shop.  The decor still features Marilyn Monroe but with updated artwork.  The old orange color scheme that locals associate with Marilyn's has been replaced with a more modern black/gray scheme that better compliments the photos/paintings of the mid-20th century celebrity.  I was especially drawn to the Marilyn Monroe umbrellas/"light shades"..... where do you get something like that?!?

Meet the Owner
Alan Fryer

Marilyn's revamped menu offers breakfast (served 8-12) and lunch selections, a variety of cakes, and most importantly, Illy brand coffee prepped by Thursday's barista Leisel (and other staff members).  The shop seats sixty-seventy customers in three intimate inside dining rooms, and twenty more patrons can enjoy the beautiful summer weather at outside shaded picnic-style tables.  Marilyn's is open seven days a week from 8-5.  There are a few parking spaces in front plus a large additional parking lot in the back.  If you haven't been to Marilyn's in a while stop in and check out its new menu and decor....you'll be glad you did!

Meet the Bsrista
Leisel

Outside seating

Just coming off of our December 5 Crawl when eight Crawlers "Christmas cracker whistled" their way through four Christmas carols, Thursday's Crawlers wanted to give it another shot.  Wow.....what a difference a week makes!  This week's whistlers sounded awesome....and with hardly any practice.  Great job, folks!

So with all the celebrating we've been doing it seems that Margaret Z. can't get enough.  So much so that she volunteered me, my husband and our house (!) to host a New Year's Eve party.  Lou and I will just be returning from our Christmas holiday in Namibia but I think I can pull something together.  I may need a little help from the Crawlers but if they're up for it, I'm game.  No promises on playing "Auld Lang Syne" on the pipes though!

~Thank you to Alan Fryer and the Marilyn's staff
~Happy Birthday to my granddaughter, Mia, in Cleveland, TN - December 19
~Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Until next time,

Ellen

Christmas Crawl 2013 at Borca Lorca

It was agreed upon by all the Crawlers months ago that this year's Christmas Crawl would take place on December 5.  We debated for weeks about the venue before deciding on Borca Lorca at the Moffett on Main Lifestyle Centre in Walmer.

We just visited Borca Lorca on August 8 of this year so the shop is not new for us nor is it an official "revisit."  However, we all loved it so much back in August and agreed that its fun and friendly atmosphere would provide the perfect setting for the 2013 Christmas Crawl.

Meet the Owner
Ryan Plakonouris

And perfect it was.  Borca Lorca's owners, Ryan and Tania Plakonouris, pulled out all the stops to make our December 5 visit especially festive.  They even put up with our Christmas cracker whistle antics.  Eight of our very talented (?) Crawlers whistled their way through "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," Good King Wenceslas," "O Come All Ye Faithful," and "Joy to the World."  The tunes started out pretty rough but, after a bit of practice, were actually somewhat recognizable.  Kudos to all of our "musicians."

Eight Whistling Crawlers
do-Lee, re-Leanne, mi-Stella, fa-Margaret Z.,
sol-Nomusa, la-Sylvia, ti-Colleen, do-Ann

The Christmas cracker whistles

Along with these favorite Christmas carols Thursday's Crawlers, Nomusa Nkomo, Celeste Hudson, Beth, Carl and Ann Vieira, Margaret Zoetmulder, Margaret and Arthur Marshall, Colleen Le Roux, Stella and Beryl Dawson, June and Cayle Nash, Leanne Waller and her sons, Daniel and Luke, Sylvia Mynhardt, Nicolette Hijmans, Lee Rodwell, and first time Crawler, Shelley Floate, also enjoyed Sumatran coffee, breakfast, chocolates, and lots of holiday cheer!

This Week's Crawlers
Margaret Z., Colleen, Nomusa, Beryl, Stella, Margaret M., Celeste, Ann, Beth,
 newcomer Carl, Lee, Luke, Leanne, Cayle, June, Daniel, Sylvia, Nicolette, Arthur
not pictured - Shelley

Readers, be sure to check out my August, 2013 Borca Lorca post, and PE residents get yourselves to Borca Lorca for great food and coffee and awesome hospitality!

~Thank you, thank you, thank you to Ryan, Tania and the Borca Lorca staff... you are the reason we chose
   BL for our Christmas Crawl!!!
~Happy Birthday to Crawler Sylvia Mynhardt - December 14
~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

3rd Annual Thanksgiving Coffee Crawl

Last Thursday, November 28, was Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., and hence, the day of our 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Coffee Crawl.  As has become tradition, the regular Crawlers and a few extra guests come to my home for pie and Masterton's coffee to celebrate the holiday.

This year Crawler Lee Rodwell came to my house on Wednesday (Thanksgiving Eve) for a pie baking marathon.  In ten hours we cranked out ten pies..... 4 pumpkin, 3 apple, 2 pecan, 1 mincemeat (and a whole ton of Oh Boy rolls!).  Then Lee went home and baked a carrot cake just in case there wasn't enough food for the 26 people who would be eating dessert on Thursday morning!

Thank you to Lee for all your help.  Thank you to June and Leanne for letting me borrow your coffee makers.  Thank you to all the Crawlers and guests for celebrating Thanksgiving with Lou and me.

Enjoy the pics everyone!

Until next week,

Ellen

The kitchen counter during the marathon

Pies all done!

Chervonne, Margaret, Lou, Vicki and Dale

Nomusa, Leanne and June

Beth and Deirdre

Clary, Les and Arthur

Margaret and Celeste

Lee, Nicolette and Lee

Eugene, Colleen, Elaine and Dale

Arthur, Margaret and Ellen

Gail, Stella and Sylvia
not pictured - Beryl