What was my best restaurant moment of 2009?
Sometimes, the best moments don’t require a special occasion or fancy tableware. Sometimes, they can be captured in a simple cup of coffee and rambling conversation with loved ones.
A few months ago, I shared my Sunday morning with one of my closest friends and her scrumptious 2-year-old son. These two people, along with my friend’s husband, are family. The Kid has stolen my heart, or at least the part of it not already taken by my niece (another story, another time). Any time spent with them is utterly joyous. But this particular Sunday, my friend introduced me to one of the few cafes to which I had not yet been. This, in itself, is remarkable. I love, love, love coffee. I love cafes even more. I have probably spent more time in cafes throughout the world than any other place, except my bed.
We went to Lamill Coffee Boutique, in Silverlake.
It’s like stepping back in time. Or perhaps, just stepping through to Paris. Such a beautiful, whimsical and sophisticated space.
What about the food, you ask?
So many treats!
Delicious scrambled eggs. Served in a bowl – such a little change to the routine of a plate, but it invokes a smile of delight.
Homemade donut holes. Say what?! Decadent fun. And so cute!
Great, take-notice-of-me lattes. Augmented by those pretty swirls carved into the foam that I occasionally try to replicate with dismally CSI-worthy results. I truly never get tired of seeing someone else’s delicate art in my steamed soy milk.
And then there’s the Grilled PB & C. To quote the Lamill menu, this sandwich consists of “peanut butter, banana and your choice of Valrhona milk or dark chocolate.” They throw in a glass of cold vanilla milk, too. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I haven’t tried this because chocolate and I had a nasty breakup on the side of Crescent Heights back in 2005. But anyplace that puts something like this on their menu gets my enthusiastic and reverent thumbs up for clearly expressing joie de vivre.
With a delightful ambience and yummy food, who could doubt my experience would be fantastic. What makes it the best restaurant moment of 2009 for me, however, was the chance to share it with the people across the table.
One doesn’t get to see a child’s reaction to their first bite of a brioche donut hole liberally dressed with Madagascar vanilla creme very often. It is a sight not to be missed.
Delisha
/ December 3, 2009Great story. Looks like you had a good time.
emmajames
/ December 3, 2009Delisha: Thanks! So glad you enjoyed the recounting of it. I certainly enjoyed the living of it.