I ask you, “Starbucks why are you still here in Australia?”
I finally got to see the Back on the Beach Cafe in Santa Monica on my second last day in L.A., which has a marvellous history Gordon has been telling me about. Nestled on the Annenberg Community Beach House site, the Cafe is a Green Business certified by the City of Santa Monica. PS — Dogs are not allowed on the site.
As we walked into the café I could see a glimpse of the ocean and the silky sand, peppered with jolly umbrellas and people enjoying their lunch. 
The view outside is of uninterrupted ocean, sky, beach, sand … and off in the distance is a mist-covered Catalina Island, which I love and will visit next time I’m in LA. Lunch arrives and Gordon’s seafood salad looks delish!
Seafood Salad at Back on the Beach Cafe
My fish and chips look divine — and the special treat is sweet potato (Kumera) chips – yumm-o!
Fish and sweet potato chips at Back on the Beach Cafe
After our delicious lunch, we went for a walk around the Annenberg Community Beach House site – unfortunately we missed seeing inside the Guest House by about 10 minutes, so I’ll add that to my list for ‘next time’. All of the buildings were amazing, and as Gordon walked me through the story of the wealthy Annenberg family and their bequeath to the City of Santa Monica, I was fascinated to hear about it all. The rebuild of some of the buildings has included some beautiful historical artefacts, and it’s a beautiful place to spend some time to while away the hours far from the tourist crowds.
Palm trees and sand
This view is from the Guest House looking towards the ocean – isn’t it gorgeous?
View from the Guest House (open until 2:00pm)
Here is a little video I made as we walked around:
[mappress mapid=”7″] 445 Pacific Coast Hwy (aka Palisades Beach Road) Santa Monica, CA 90402, USA Phone:(310) 393-8282 http://www.backonthebeachcafe.com Read more about my coffee adventures in Los Angeles >>
This morning I am meeting my friend Scott at Peet’s Coffee in Montana Avenue (Brentwood, on the edge of Santa Monica, Los Angeles, USA).
I couldn’t remember the exact last time I saw him, but I guessed it was about 15 years ago – so I was super pumped.
It has also been years since I had a Peet’s coffee (the last time was when I working in San Francisco on secondment for 3 months), but I did remember I kept trying Peet’s every day on the way to work until I worked out how much of their coffee would most taste like the Italian espresso lattes I was used to in Australia.
I needed three shots — 3 — that’s right – a TRIPLE SHOT :-)
When I told my Californian friends they were in awe of me being able to handle that much coffee — and no they’ve never been to Sydney or Melbourne, so don’t know that we are used to the best espresso from our Italians who brought the very first coffee espresso machine to Australia :-)
So today I chatted with the guy behind the counter and ordered a “triple” whilst crossing my fingers — at the same time hoping it would be perfect.
Note to self: stop looking for “perfect”, just be happy with “pretty good”!
I’ve learned to always ask how far up the side of the cup or glass the coffee will come, and I’m constantly amazed at how LITTLE the actual coffee is (generally about 10-15% of the depth of the cup). I’m also surprised at how weak the coffee is in some places (not all, but many I’ve tried so far). It just doesn’t have that thick, rich coffee flavour I’m so used to — it almost seems watered down. Add milk to fill 80% of the cup, and you’ve got one hot milky drink with a hint of coffee. [I’m used to at least 30% thick strong espresso, and if I make it at home — 50%. Yes, caffeine must run in my veins :-) ]
It’s Saturday morning and there are a lot of cyclists sitting out in the sun, their bikes resting up against the glass walls of the café, and it’s great to see so many people enjoying themselves.
My mate Scott is cycling over from Calabasas, which is quite a distance!
1401 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Hi there, my name is Teena Hughes and I currently live in Australia. Today’s story is about my latest visit to Los Angeles, where I lived for quite a few years, and where I return to visit my friends, whenever I can. :-)
My friend Gordon came to pick me up at another friend’s place where I was staying, and then we drove to his favourite cafe.
It’s a beautiful day today in Brentwood and Gordon is taking me to Cafe Laurent in Culver City.
We haven’t seen each other since I was in L.A. ten years ago so there’s going to be LOTS of catching up and reminiscing! We have had phone chats and text chats, but sitting across from each other and seeing each other smile is so fabulous and amazing!
A bit about Cafe Laurent:French corner spot serving traditional fare such as omelettes, quiches & crêpes in a casual space.Has outdoor seating · Has kids’ menu · Dogs allowed outsideLos Angeles, CA 90066, United States
We arrived at Cafe Laurent and the building had an art deco feel on the outside with the big curved corner displaying the café’s name, and as we stepped inside I was thrilled to bits — French posters, French words on the Menu, a Frenchy feel about it – I loved it! So Frenchified!! Ooh la la!
As I looked around and soaked in all of the French decor, I couldn’t stop smiling :-) one of my other loves is Paris where I lived for several years, so this is an absolute treat!
We strolled through out to the courtyard which was filled with cute tables, chairs and umbrellas, like a rainbow coloured ceiling above us. Before too long we decided to move indoors, as it wasn’t quite as warm as I would have liked.
Inside we settled near the main windows and I was unbelievably happy when I saw they used my fave brand of Italian coffee — La Vazza – bravissimo! Fantastique!
While we were poring over the yummy Frenchified menu, we nibbled on a deliciously gorgeous berry muffin — and the presentation was so cool!
I tried not to hold onto too much hope for a good coffee, as I know I’m a bit fussy (hey, I know what I like!) so I chatted to the lovely lady who served us (Vicky) to find out how they make their lattes, and told her how I like mine. When the coffee arrived in its steaming mug, it had a gorgeous heart design, a smiley face drawn in chocolate, and two real coffee beans – oh how cute!
It just goes to show that with a teeny tiny bit of effort, every cafe can make a statement to show they care about their customers. I’m in love already :-)
Of course the real test is the taste … sip … sip … and OMG I am so excited! This coffee actually tastes like COFFEE! For the first time since I’ve been back in LA, I can TASTE the coffee (no more weasel p*ss watery weak stuff for me!)!
When the breakfasts arrive they look sooooo delicious — I had a ham and cheese omelette with potatoes which were so creamy they were almost like a thick custard. When I took my first bite of the omelette my mouth was shocked into a totally unexpectedly wonderful taste sensation! Oh yummmm!
The meal was delicious and ended up being the most tasty and delightful meal I had during my few weeks in LA.
Gordon had the salmon crepe with fresh diced fruit salad and said it was delicious too, so all in all it was a tremendous breakfast (well, brunch really, as we were so full for the rest of the day!):
Here is a vieo of the delightful VICKY from Serbia who looked after us so well:
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What better way to finish off a fabulous breakfast, than to have a yummy dessert to share? Check this out, my mouth is watering with the memory of this treat – a made-in-house berry tart with icecream and cream, and strawberry sauce curly designs on the white plate:
All too soon our breakfast was over, and we had talked for a couple of hours and caught up with each other’s lives, sharing stories amid much laughter. Friendship is the true elixir of life … and if there’s coffee at the same time, I’m a happy little possum :-)
Cafe Laurent scored 10 out of 10 today – I was super impressed and the coffee was absolutely perfect! When a new Barista actually listens to you and hears what you are asking for, it can turn into magic :-) thank you Vicky you were fabulous today!
I will definitely come back before I return to Australia, and will definitely visit next time I’m in Los Angeles :-)
Address: 4243 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230, United States
Phone: (310) 558-8622 / http://CafeLaurent.com
Read more about my coffee adventures in Los Angeles >>
Summary
This blog post by Teena Hughes recounts a visit to Cafe Laurent in Culver City, Los Angeles. The author details her positive experience, praising the cafe’s ambiance, LaVazza coffee, and delicious food, particularly a ham and cheese omelet. She highlights the friendly service and exceptional latte art. Hughes gives Cafe Laurent a perfect 10/10 rating and expresses her intention to return. The post is accompanied by photos and links to other coffee-related content on the author’s website, ShotOfCoffee.com.
Cafe, teena hughes, Coffee, Coffee Reviews, barista, cafe laurent, los angeles, culver city, usa, double-shot latte, latte,
Today I drove along Montana Avenue with Jayne and we decided to try Blue Plate Cafe for breakfast, and we weren’t disappointed!
I opted for the blueberry pancackes which consisted of 3 huge pancakes filled to the brim with blueberries, and was delicious with drizzled syrup.
Jayne went with the eggs (over easy) served with home fries (potato chunks) and a choice of muffin, toast etc.
We all know I’m fussy with my coffee so I asked about lattes, ordered one, and was pleasantly surprised. Not as strong as I’d like, but it looked great and tasted great – woohoo!
If you’re looking for a funky little place for brekkie, check out this cool cafe in Santa Monica, on Montana – I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!
1415 Montana Ave
Santa Monica CA 90403
(310) 260-8877
http://blueplatesantamonica.com
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Read more about my coffee adventures in Los Angeles >>
This week I’m heading to the Old Teahouse Gallery in Mudgeeraba (on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia). I’ve had a hankering for “high tea” or Devonshire Tea, and my friend Maz suggested we visit this place over the weekend, as she’s … Continue reading
I’m new to this area, so when I met some locals on the weekend (merci beaucoup Luke & Sarah!) who were as fanatical / excited about coffee as I am, I begged for suggestions of where to get a decent (great) latte near Broadbeach.
So here I sit after having just finished my first Canvas latte, double shot, and I’m thrilled to say it was thick and creamy and deeeelicious!
I was chatting with another customer as we queued to place our orders, and she highly recommended I try the home-made mini sausage rolls, and luckily for me there was one left so I became the lucky owner (well, until I digested it, at least :-)) – yum-O! These would be delicious hot or cold and at $2.50, are a tempting little treat.
The staff are delightful and the ambience is very cool, surrounded by gorgeous trinkets and local artwork (the cafe owner is an artist and hosts painting lessons for kids and adults).
Absolutely check this place out — the Barista Calum and gorgeous Bee are both delightful and it’s obvious to me that Calum makes the coffees with love. Thank you!
Website: http://www.ilovecanvas.com.au
Shop 7/2221 Gold Coast Highway
Nobby Beach, Qld 4218, Australia
(entrance on Lavarack Road)
espresso:
Mon to Sat from 6.30am til 4pm
Sun from 7am til 4pm
Today for example, I did it in a Melbourne cafe. Did your mother ever tell you, “Don’t talk to strangers!” – yes, mine did too, but over the years I’ve discovered that it’s by talking to strangers that you learn more about everything in life, and often don’t realise you’ve actually heard a gem of wisdom until much later …
I was in a café in Melbourne called “Dead Man Espresso” (my first visit), and it was very busy with lots of people waiting to be seated. I started chatting with two couples waiting for a table, and after our coffees, my friend Heath and I chatted some more with these 4 people who were seated at a long table next to us.
It turned out that one of the chaps (Warren) is off to Paris in two weeks (what a coincidence! I’ll be there in about 10 days!) and he runs organised bike tours in France.
I was speaking with the two women, Alvina and Andy and telling them about wanting to start coffee and cocktail get-togethers in Melbourne under my label LusciousLatteLadies.com. It felt like it was quite serendipitous meeting these lovely folks today, and I hope to meet up with them again when I get back from my holidays at the end of July.
Now – to get down to the coffee review.
It was my first time in South Melbourne and I was to meet my friend Heath to check out one of his favourite cafés. What I didn’t know is that the first cafe was right next door to the big South Melbourne Market, so finding a parking spot could be classed as a miracle of the highest order.
As the only seating was outside (and it had now started sprinkling with rain), we decided to check out another cafe – Dead Man Espresso – in Market Street, South Melbourne. We parked around the block and as we approached the cafe we could see a few people waiting on the outside porch. There were more people waiting inside, so we added our name to the list.
The place was packed, including the small outside balcony. We waited about half an hour and eventually begged to just sit at the stools at the counter, as we only wanted a coffee, and the server/waitress finally agreed. Our coffees arrived relatively quickly considering how busy the place was, and I was filled with anticipation. As the latte was placed in front of me, I could see that it looked good, albeit a bit pale in colour.
the anticipation has built to fever pitch!
I tasted, I savoured, I sipped and breathed in the aroma, making sure to enjoy the experience …
Oh no.
I can’t believe it.
Despite being assured that the coffee here is ‘great’, I was very disappointed. Don’t get me wrong though – the consistency was the best I’ve tasted so far in Melbourne, thick and creamy. Unfortunately there were two major drawbacks:
I was forlorn, disillusioned and sad. This is now the 6th cafe I’ve visited in Melbourne in two weeks and I feel like I’m still searching for the Holy Grail.
Heath and I were discussing this as I knew I’d be writing my coffee review when I got home, and after stopping to chat with the people we’d just met, we discovered that they were all terribly disappointed too – for the exact same reasons! What a shame, we’d all waited such a long time to get the coffees, but it appeared as though something wasn’t right with the temperature (was the milk sitting on the bench too long, cooling?), or the quantity of actual coffee.
So wht did I think overall?
Score: 5 out of 10
Don’t be put off by the one experience I had today. Please do visit and taste for yourself, you might have a much different experience on a different day, different time.
Dead Man Espresso
35 Market Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205
tel: (03) 9686-2255
http://www.deadmanespresso.com.au
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The Pour Kids cafe in Malvern Victoria
Today I’m off to try my third café since moving to Melbourne, and I am quite excited – not just because I’m looking forward to finding a delicious, thick, creamy latte, but because I’m meeting up with my friend Lise who is a Francophile like me. The name of the café – THE POUR KIDS – looks French and so I’m keen to see what the place (and the coffee) is like :-)
It’s now a couple of hours later and I’m back home after visiting Pour Kids café.
I realised I had been there before, back in February and so my expectations were high.
When the latte arrived in a small coffee cup I was a bit surprised, and then I could see the broken bubbles on the top of some kind of froth, and I had my suspicions. After drinking a mouthfull, my suspicions were correct – a mediocre coffee – not even a latte – which tasted odd. I was so looking forward to a cup of robusta coffee, made as latte with a thick and creamy consistency. So disappointing. Lisa ordered a cafe mocha and she too was disappointed. I let the waiter know and he did offer us a second cup each – made by the same young lady, but we both declined. I asked if they would have a Barista making coffees on weekends but evidently it’s the same young lady.
The toasted baguette sandwich was a surprise too – chicken and leek, tasty enough, but rather small for $11.00, and no garnish or salad on the rather large white plate.
I’ll think I’ll be waiting a while before I return to the Pour Kids cafe.
1E Winter Street, Malvern
ph 9077 3847
http://thepourkids.com.au
Coffee in Paris