I was looking at some articles to share with you, but I got sidetracked and didn’t post them on Friday. I hope you’re having a nice weekend, meanwhile.
The weather here in Portland is great for a change, clear and cool. My husband and I went for a walk with the dog this morning, and stopped at a new coffee shop in our neighborhood, nestled in among the older, single-family homes. Ordinarily, when I go to a coffee shop, I buy a cup of coffee. What we used to call “regular,” with just enough milk to change the color. But at this coffee shop, a cappuccino is a special treat — almost an occasion. It tastes amazing, and it looks so pretty.
I visited Italy when I was young and carefree. I quit my job, took the money I had saved while working and living at home, and went off to see the world. Anyway, I loved Italy. It seemed like every street in every city had its little coffee shops, and people would stop in on the way to work. I didn’t notice at the time, but Italians only drink a latte or a cappuccino in the morning. In the afternoon, it’s just espresso. No milk.
If you’re ordering a coffee drink in Italy or here at home, take note: a cappuccino is not the same as a latte. Cappuccino should be one third espresso, one third steamed milk and one third foamed milk. A latte, on the other hand, is a double espresso (two shots) and the rest is steamed milk. No foam. In France they call that “cafe au lait.” If you like your espresso with just a touch of milk, try a macchiato. That’s one shot of espresso, that is “marked” (“macchiato” in Italian) with a dot of milk, just a small spoonful. Photos and definitions can be found at Starbucks.
More about food: My colleague Kevin Scullin recommends the Road Food web site: www.roadfood.com. It highlights authentic, local eateries across the country. Just a glance at the home page made my mouth water, with color photos of the house specailties: and amazing-looking hot dog in Baltimore, a deep-fried grilled cheese sandwich platter in Omaha, and fried chicken in Seattle. Kevin blogs about CSA, EOBRs, SmartWay and other regulatory issues that affect trucking — but he has many interests outside of work, too.
There has been some interesting news lately about trucking too, but my colleagues and I will be publishing additional blog posts in the next few days, so stay tuned!
