Re: So, vancouver eh?

"fortune elkins" <frelkins@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:15115-43029558-486@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> my husband went to the artigianos when he was in vancouver last. he
> prefers the one near the art museum; he thinks it has a warmer
> atmosphere. sammy p. -- one of the world's best baristi -- travels from
> shop to shop so call before you go and politely ask where sammy will be
> pouring that day.
>

The most remarkable thing about the Artigianos was that they used
Intelligentsia Black Cat. In my own (not very humble) opinion, the rest of
it pales in comparison to oh so many places in Seattle that those of us who
went to the SCAA this year experienced.

Now that they are roasting their own beans, I would want to completely
re-evaluate whether they were worth the trouble to patronize. I say this
because both of the locations are in downtown Vancouver and hard to visit if
you are a tourist, unless maybe your hotel is within walking distance.
Parking is the most expensive that you will find anywhere in Canada
(according to Java Man, who joined me there on more than one occasion), and
there are long lines. The panini and pastries are good but overpriced
compared to elsewhere in Vancouver.

The next time I'm in Vancouver, I'll see what their straight shots taste
like. If the beans they are producing aren't exceptional, I doubt I'll go
back.

ken

p.s. F, I don't think that Sammy pours anywhere, if what you refer to is the
Latte art. They have someone working each shift, not him, as a dedicated
milk pourer in each location; the cup with the espresso in it is handed over
by the barista to the milk pourer, and that is that. The one that I saw the
most often almost always put too much milk into each drink with the result
being that you could not help but spill the drink onto your saucer when you
walked away towards your table.


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