Coffee and coffee and coffee and food and coffee....
As always, the more going on, the less time I have to post about it. There's tons going on right now!
First of all, a huge round of applause for the new World Barista Champion, Stephen Morrissey of Ireland. Stephen is a great guy, and so dedicated to great coffee. He will be a great ambassador for our industry. I can't wait to see the wonderful things he does in the next year and beyond. Congrats to Stephen, U.S.A. champion Kyle, and all the great competitors! We all owe you so much!
Second, Bobbie and I had a great and delicious time on Saturday with our food and coffee pairing. As always, Bobbie outdid herself with the dishes. The prize for best dish was a close match between Bobbie's "breakfast quinoa" and the eminently edible steak and cheese sandwiches (I devoured mine like a hungry wolverine). But the dish that truly blew me away was the medium-boiled eggs with garden sprouts and fresh pea puree served with a Blue Batak Sumatra from Volcafé. I have been at this food-and-coffee pairing business for a while. I daresay I've done more of this than just about anyone in North America. And I can't say I have ever seen it nailed so well as Bobbie nailed it on Saturday. I kept going back and forth between the coffee and the puree, even rudely interrupting conversation, to taste the incredible similarities and contrasts. Wow! Thumbs up to Volcafe and the producers of the coffee, and double thumbs up to NYC's best-kept chef secret: Bobbie Marchand!!!
Thanks to Bobbie for doing all the work, Rachel G. for helping, and thanks to Cerise, Randal, Allie, Ashley and Ginnie for attending. (Ginnie has a rad science-writing blog here.)
Third, my colleague Willem Boot is in New York for two days on his way to Mexico for a conference on natural-processed coffees in Acapulco. We have big plans for the quality coffee scene in New York. I know I am more coy than revealing in these blog posts when it comes to future plans, but I'm not at liberty to say much now about our plans. But it will be cool! And it will result in better coffee for everyone in New York! Huzzah!
Fourth, the excellent and estimable Andrew Barnett of Ecco Caffé, of Santa Rosa, California, revealed to me last night that he's opening a roastery and café in New York City. AhhhhHHHH! Awesome. Anyone who knows me knows that I basically consider Andrew the pre-eminent coffee roaster in the United States. That he has been on the West Coast these two years that I have been on the East Coast has been a constant thorn in my coffee-loving side. There are many hurdles to clear and inspectors to placate in the meantime, but the knowledge that Ecco is on the way to Gotham makes me happy inside.
Go Andrew Barnett. Go Stephen Morrissey. Go Bobbie Marchand. Go Willem Boot. Go love it all.
