15 Things Worth Knowing about Coffee

This link in courtesy of my friend Marielle. It comes from a site called The Oatmeal, which I quite enjoy! So, take a look, and remember the facts! There will be a quiz later.. actually not.

Le Pain Quotidien, Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica

I was headed to Santa Monica today to meet a friend. Obviously, I planned to get coffee with her, and immediately googled "Coffee Shops in Santa Monica." Ha, have you tried this? There are so many and all so close together - spanning from serious espresso shops to organic cafes, the options are nearly limitless. So, instead of fretting over which place was best, I did what I usually do - walked around until I found something that looks good. I walked down Santa Monica Blvd to 3rd street and stumbled upon 316 Santa Monica Blvd - Le Pain Quotidien.

Now, don't feel bad if you can't pronounce it, I couldn't either. Although, I tend to have trouble pronouncing things... so maybe this is easy for you. BUT, in case it isn't, and you want to sound smart next time you talk about it with a friend, so here is the break-down:

So there you have it. Now you can suggest going to luh paN koh-ti-dyaN to your friends (it's Belgian) - they may think you are a weirdo, but I'll know you are cool. The thing is, this place is in 6 different states, and has international locations! It is actually more of a cafe than a coffee shop, open from 8am to 7pm every day, and offering beer and wine (score!). The whole philosophy revolves around organic, homemade items with whole, local foods.

This place also has a "community table" concept with one large table in the center of the room - made from reclaimed wood. I think the first place I ever went with a community table was with my brother in Portland, OR. I tried to find it via Google, and suspect it is a place called Le Bistro Montage. It was packed and everyone sat next to each other, regardless of who came with whom. It was an exciting experience. Anyway, Le Pain has one, and all of the furniture and shelving is made of reclaimed wood which looks beautiful in the Santa Monica space.

After taking a seat, I had to decide what to order. It was a lovely day, so I chose to order an iced americano and a yummy mini sponge cake, called a madeleine cake. Most of the items that served here are made in-house, and can be purchased at the shop! I actually bought some cold-pressed olive oil!

At the end of the day, Le Pain Quotidien is just a great place to go to meet friends for a good meal. There is no free wifi, so it's more of a place to go to socialize. However, credit cards are accepted, and there is a nice staff that adds a touch of formality to the service. This would be a wonderful place to go for a bowl of homemade soup, fresh bread, and a hot mocha on a rainy beach day. Ohh, I'm getting excited just imagining the scenario! I'll leave you with a cute shot of the specials chalkboard, brick wall, and box shelving. Enjoy!