Something that has always fascinated me about the realm of food is the human interaction that influences it. Sometimes we eat solitary, but most often our nutritional consumption comes in the presence of others. Like the little bits of past that you get to hear about your coworkers in the lunchroom at the office, or that big Christmas dinner surrounded by chaos and children, even just listening in on other peoples dinner plans in line at the grocery store. Food brings people together, and is often one of the few times in our busy lives that we take any sort of break.
One particular food-related occurrence I enjoy are my frequent stops at coffee shops. No, I do not enjoy paying $5 for a coffee as much as anyone else, but I certainly get my money's worth from the experience.
The Starbucks across the street from my house has become ritual stopping place for me. After living in the Okanagan for three years, it has become like the bar from Cheers, "a place where everybody knows [my] name." I know every barista, and every one of the baristas knows me. They've seen me at my best, like dolled up before going to an art opening downtown, and at my worst, as in a Sunday morning coffee run in my pajamas. They understand my sense of adventure, and my attempts to try every single different drink on their menu, but know that my go-to is always a simple cappuccino. Above all else, they are always a great source for conversation, whether at six in the morning or at eight thirty at night, and will always perk me up on a bad day!
What entices me most about coffee shops though is their atmosphere. Who doesn't love that whiff of coffee beans when you walk in the door? Or the warm glow of the lights and the scratched up wooden tables that have seen years of tearful conversations, joyous news, and important business meetings? The patrons are almost always friendly, or at the very least polite, and are incredibly interesting to strike up conversation with while waiting for your drink. You meet people from all walks of life, and all professional disciplines. Some discussions last two minutes, but will be forever imprinted on your brain, but some last much longer, and those people become long-term friends.
There is so much to experience in a ten minute visit!
One particular food-related occurrence I enjoy are my frequent stops at coffee shops. No, I do not enjoy paying $5 for a coffee as much as anyone else, but I certainly get my money's worth from the experience.
The Starbucks across the street from my house has become ritual stopping place for me. After living in the Okanagan for three years, it has become like the bar from Cheers, "a place where everybody knows [my] name." I know every barista, and every one of the baristas knows me. They've seen me at my best, like dolled up before going to an art opening downtown, and at my worst, as in a Sunday morning coffee run in my pajamas. They understand my sense of adventure, and my attempts to try every single different drink on their menu, but know that my go-to is always a simple cappuccino. Above all else, they are always a great source for conversation, whether at six in the morning or at eight thirty at night, and will always perk me up on a bad day!
What entices me most about coffee shops though is their atmosphere. Who doesn't love that whiff of coffee beans when you walk in the door? Or the warm glow of the lights and the scratched up wooden tables that have seen years of tearful conversations, joyous news, and important business meetings? The patrons are almost always friendly, or at the very least polite, and are incredibly interesting to strike up conversation with while waiting for your drink. You meet people from all walks of life, and all professional disciplines. Some discussions last two minutes, but will be forever imprinted on your brain, but some last much longer, and those people become long-term friends.
There is so much to experience in a ten minute visit!