Last Crumb Bakery and Cafe

Earlier today, I was at my grandparent's house. They live a block off Main Street, so I decided to take advantage of the warm, sunny weather and go for a walk to get a coffee. I originally decided on Kafka's and as I made my way down there, I passed by Last Crumb Bakery and Cafe and the place immediately caught my eye. Since I had a habit of checking out new cafes, I decided to stop there after coming back from Kafka's. If you know me, you know that I need more than one cappuccino a day to function.

Last Crumb Bakery and Cafe is located on 3080 Main Street, between 14th and 15th. The cafe itself is super new, just opening earlier this month. In fact, when I last walked by the location, the place was yet to open and that itself was recently.

If you're a food network junkie like myself, you've probably seen numerous shows that feature cafes that are based in the upper East Side in New York. Well, that's what this place reminded of. While I've never been to New York myself, I felt like I was transported to a sophisticated, modern cafe. It looked very becoming and hip. There was tons of floor space and plenty of seating room. It almost reminded me of the cafeteria at my old college, Langara but much nicer and more appealing. The amount of pastries, baked good and other food items was amazing. If you're health conscious or have special dietary needs, you're in luck. The place has tons of vegan and gluten free items, all which look absolutely delicious. Yes, vegan and gluten free food items can be good for you and they can taste good too. If I had not eaten at my grandparents house before I left, I certainly would have bought something but in this case, I was content with admiring everything. However, as I was waiting in line, a woman walking there walked around, offering customers a sample of curry chicken salad on a piece of bread. I love curry and samples, so I gladly took her up on her offer. I was glad I did, because it was absolutely delicious. I promised myself that I would get the bigger version next time I was in. The menu was perfectly placed and easy to read. There's nothing worse than a menu being out of sight or too small. Even though I knew what I wanted already (a cappuccino) it was comforting to know that I had an easy to read menu there for me.

I was immediately helped. Most cafes only take your order at the til but in this case, I was approached in line by a worker who was kind, efficient and helpful. So efficient that by the time I got to the til, all I had to do was pay instead of reminding the person what I ordered. Talk about fast, effective service! The only thing I had to wait for was my cappuccino.

I'll admit that because the cafe was fairly new, I didn't have high expectations. I've been to a couple new cafes where I was let down because my cappuccino was either burnt, too bitter etc. I was hoping for this place to be the exception & my hopes were granted. The cappuccino was phenomenal! A lot of the cafes I frequent use the same beans from the same roasters so eventually, all cappuccino's end up tasting similar. Luckily, that wasn't the case here. It was smooth, creamy with body but in its own,unique way. Needless to say, I was pleased that the cappuccino wasn't horrible and that I actually enjoyed it.

Would I recommend this place? Absolutely! It's like a taste of New York in Vancouver, with amazing service, coffee and food choices that appeal to everyone. Next time I go, I plan to bring a friend so we can sit at one of the marvelous tables and soak the ambiance and main street vibe in. For a new cafe, it seems like it's being run by professionals who have been in the cafe and baking business for years & that is something I gladly welcome. I cannot wait to become a regular here.

Caffe Cittadella

Ever envision having your own personal cafe located inside your home? Caffe Cittadella is like that. Located at 2310 Ash Street, Caffe Cittadella is seconds away from the Cambie Street Bridge and Canada Line. The cafe itself is fairly young, having just celebrated its second year anniversary just this past August.

I'll admit it. I nearly got lost trying to find this place. However, it was because I kept trying to locate a building that looked like a cafe. Well, imagine my surprise when I found out that Caffe Cittadella was located in what looked like a two story house! The outdoor seating arrangement was plenty, with lots of outdoor room as well. It nearly looked like a country club or a European style outdoor coffee shop or even your own patio. The indoor of the cafe was just as gorgeous. There was plenty of indoor seating too. The cafe had a warm, inviting, homely intimate vibe. It was cozy and comfortable. The ambiance made it feel like you were at home with your own personal coffee bar and barista. Whether you were a student on your laptop or someone catching up with a friend over a cup of cappuccino, this place is for you. Some cafes make you feel like you should leave as soon as you have your drink but this cafe told you to stay. It was spacious, not tight and compact. Space is key. On the other hand, the space between the bar and the area where the server takes your order can be an issue too. I know this one cafe where you place your order at the same place where they make your coffee so that when the line gets long, it can become a nuisance to be able to order your coffee and than move it over to the till without bumping into someone. However, that wasn't the case here. The bar was two steps over from the till.

I was immediately served. The server was fast and efficient. Another nuisance is when you stand at the till, waiting forever for someone to take your order while the cafe is dead and the server is unable to be located. That was not the issue there. It was organized well enough so that the only thing you'd wait for was your coffee. As I stood at the bar, waiting in excitement for my cappuccino, I took in a deeper look of the cafe. The lids for the beverages were located inside an adorable mini cabinet. The set up of the sugars and other coffee essentials reminded me of my own kitchen. I didn't really take a good look at the pastries but from what I hear, they're quite good.  There was even stairs.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that my cappuccino had foam. Cappuccino's are actually supposed to have foam but usually when I order a cappuccino to go, I get latte art instead. When I placed the lid on, nothing spilled or ran over, indicating that the amount of foam was perfect. I took a sip and my tastebuds were greeted with a smooth, creamy rich body and flavour. It felt like there was a nutty aftertaste too. I hope to one day pick up on undertones of the espresso used, such as caramel, orange peel etc. The ratio of foam, milk and espresso was perfect. There is nothing worse than when a cappuccino tastes like a latte because of the milk or when a cappuccino tastes like an espresso because the espresso was too strong. In this case, the milk complimented the flavour of the espresso. It was not flat, but it was not overpowering. It was perfect.

I highly recommend checking out Caffe Cittadella. Lots of cafes claim to be a home away from home but this place is literally like that. Don't rush. Allow yourself to be be awed by the ambiance, service and coffee. If you're not good with directions like myself, keep your eyes peeled for a sign that reads Caffe Cittadella. And if you get lost like I did don't worry because the cappuccino will be worth the mini adventure.