"King of the American Breakfast Table"

A few days ago someone walked into Ultimo Coffee here in South Philly and laid a book on the counter. As she turned immediately to walk back out the door she said over her shoulder "Just thought you'd enjoy this!" She left behind a thin hardcover book called Coffee: Recipes Customs Facts & Fancies by Jean Gordon.

It's a funny little collection of stories, illustrations and recipes from 1965. Coffee consumption has changed a lot in the last 50 years (even the last 10) so it's slim pickens for relevant information, but it's great fun to read through. It includes some fun recipes like the one for "Coffee Glazed Ham Loaf" and this wonderful poem written as "a beautiful tribute to coffee":

No wonder there is magic about the effects of a good cup of coffee.

It has gathered to itself the glory of Southern seas and the mystery of tropic nights.

It has been wooed by the winds of romance and lulled by the song of the seven seas.

It recalls the music of soft tongues, the melody of strange instruments

and the rhythm of languorous dances.

It has seen the droop of dark eyes, the deep flush of olive cheeks,

when love songs fall upon the palpitating night.

No wonder it conveys to the senses the subtle perfume of surcharged blooms,

the rare memories of wondrous journeyings and the aromatic fragrance

of exotic and opulent nature.

I also found both of these pages fun to read over, though the one on processing is a bit outdated in an age where Direct Trade is becoming more common. I dont think, however, the "COFFEE THESAURAUS" page will ever be outdated (worth a once over just to expand your coffee vocabulary).

My favorite part was this "PICTURE COFFEE MAP of the WORLD" in the very back of the book.

Truly a great read. More on coffee soon I'm sure.

Friday/RideDay/WrightDay

With a high of 65 and all the sunnythenovercastandbacktosunnny skies, today was a perfect day for a bike ride.

Jonathan got an incredible deal on an eBay find this week. It wasn't even being bid on when he picked it up for a cool $525.
It's a 1974 (or so) Dawes touring frame that has recently had extra water bottle bosses added as well as being professionally repainted. It's dressed to the 9s with a Brooks team pro, moustache bars (not the Nitto's like mine, but so far so good/all the same) good planet bike fenders, a looooooong technomic stem, tough and fat Michelin City tires and cantilevers to stop any load it can carry.









It has a Deore LX drive train on a small triple chainring, all runnin on Ultegra barend shifters.

But the best steal of the purchase? A Phil Wood rear free-wheel hub laced with 40 spokes to a Mavic t519 ceramic rim, paired with a 36 spoke (generic hub) set up front.



I couldn't believe it when I first saw it on eBay, especially since it seemed to be going under the radar with no bids and low views. It was really perfect for Jonathan since its a rustic old English all-rounder, it can handle any load, its a dead match to his frame fit, and it was close enough for local pickup. I did a build list of everything on it new and it came to over $1500 too. Well, fair enough. A great purchase.


We did a moderately long ride today to see how it faired, though we probably looked a little funny rollin side-by-side on our twin mustaches, but we know what we like I guess.

We rolled out to Manayunk to meet up with our friend Chris Wright. He was riding his daily commuter and tourer the Schwinn Voyager SP - More on the bike another time, but we had a great cup of coffee together, an eye opening number of rare beers at the Fork and Barrel and came back to have a pizza in Rittenhouse in the cooling temperatures. About 20 miles round trip and not a complaint could be made about the bike (or our matching bars), so it lives to be ridden again - much much more I'm sure.


Really a great day to try out a new bike and spend times with great friends.

BIKES, COFFEE, ART, FOOD, TRAVEL, MUSIC, TELEVISION...

I'm easily fascinated. I'd like to share what I'm thinking about with you all.

This is my bicycle, and I guarantee Ill post more about it soon.