Coca Cola Aniversary

This is my photo tribute to the 125th aniversary of the most popular soft drink of the world. On this ocasion they have issued a special set of three vintage shaped bottles. I think they are very nice. Happy Birthday, Coca Cola!

No Reservations Paris

I simply cannot believe to what amazing heights of knowledge and epicurean artistry have some people arrived to.

Anthony Bourdain rounds up his 100 episode achievement of the show No Reservations with a trip to Paris. Be sure to check out episodes 2 and 3 also. 

The Tulip

How's about these single serve plastic glasses of wine!? Well, they are PET, to be correct. They serve them sealed, like a yogurt can. Well, ...I guess I don't mind that much as long as the content is decent and draws people toward drinking the right kind of alcohol. I mean, let's drink less beer and spirits and more wine. Ooops, let me hide the beer from my desk...It's been a hard day and all...!:-)

They call them "The Tulip". Well, let's just say that glass does it better for me.

Anyway, check them out! At least they are weird!

Lavazza Espresso Cups

Espresso Style has received no less then 12 "demitasse" espresso Lavazza cups. They exhibit the sleek classic Lavazza Italian design with the vertical thick blue stripe on the white porcelain. I love many things Italian, and Lavazza espresso is quintessential Italian. The design and lifestyle culture of Lavazza is very cool and to my taste, not to mention that they roast a damn good coffee blend.

I enjoy my espresso once every few days in one of these cups.

Shooting Food

I never planed to be this thorough with my food photography, but ... talking about profesionals! This is Stephen Hamilton.

DeLonghi EC750 Espresso Machine

I finally bought my first home espresso machine. I got the DeLonghi EC 750 home machine. It is the top of the home line non automated from DeLonghi. I chose this one because it is a machine that works both with ground coffee and pods (in the E.S.E. system). There are very good pod making brands like Illy and Julius Meinl.

I've had it for three days now and I've brewed about 10 cups, both from ground coffee and pods. It's not instant, that I can tell you! But it's absolutely great fun. I really like tweaking the stuff, screwing in the porter filter and turning it on. Then the golden brown liquid streams down into the lovely (also new) coffee cups that I bought. I simply love it. It's the essence of all that I love about coffe and Italia.
It has a proprietary IFD system for frothing milk automatically.

Later edit: the milk frothing system broke after about 6 months of use. It was impractical anyway as it required immediate washing after use an for this you had to take it apart. I rarely drank cappuccinos during this period. Maybe once a month. My next machine will be one with a steam wand, for sure. I'd like to try my hand in a little late art. Other than that, everything peachy!

Esspresso Style Recommends: Bread & Roses, Paris

The Bread & Roses cafe and bakery in Paris is simply excellent! I recommend it with all my heart. On the 62 Rue Madame, 75006 Paris, France, that is right next to the Luxembourg Gardens, you can find on a little corner hidden away this little cafe, resto, bakery and tea place. When I was there with my wife we had  two cups of specialty tea (don't remember the blends), and they gave us the tea pots that allowed up to three consecutive refills and kept the brew hot for half an hour. We also had a nice little rhubarb muffin. The muffin was done just wright, more sweet then bitter, but you could still feel the rhubarb distinct flavor in it.

The space isn't that big, but what does big mean in Paris? 

The service was good, for Paris standards.

Anyway, it's a very good place, true Paris style, good food and drink and chic ambiance. After a long walk through the Luxembourg, it's just the place you would want to encounter.

Nespresso & George Clooney

You just have to agree with me that the Espresso/George Clooney combo is a killer in itself. And when the espresso is the ultra italian stylish Nespresso machines, than ... It simply cannot get much cooler than this. Just wach ...