Thursday, March 5, 2009

Cafe Liegeois... and Why It is Good Luck to Help A Friend

Today is a happy day. Yesterday I passed what is supposed to be one of the toughest ordeals in my cooking career. Not to mention here the details but... you know, if you're smiling like a clam, you want to celebrate it over coffee or nice dessert.

This is a version of the cafe liegeois (leej- wah). Ask a French/ Belgian to pronounce it for you and rest assured he'll give you a better "zshwa". Like that. This is Belgian coffee dessert that is as good as it is easy to prepare. Made with coffee syrup (or espresso), mocha ice ice cream and cream Chantilly (sweetened cream flavored with vanilla), I personally prefer biting into the whole coffee beans on top. I luvit. This made my day yesterday.

Another reason to be happy is I got a new watch over coffee today. There's a story behind it though.

Three days ago, I saw this display of watches (Swatch) and I thought one of them was beautiful and I considered getting one. But then, schooling myself in self control against impulsive buying, I said if it's meant to be mine, then it will be. I went ahead with my day.

Then just this morning I met up with a friend over a morning coffee. I have been working with this fellow (for free) for two years now as I help him go through graduate school, i.e., reports, English translations, etc. Let's say, simply because I enjoy reading his books.

Then before the coffee ended from his pocket out came a watch. A Swiss watch. A Swatch. Much better (and costlier) than the one I would have wanted for myself. And I reckon it could stand the kitchen heat.

If you agree with me that there's such thing as magic, the Force, or whatever you call it, or that you just choose to be lucky... raise your hand and for sure that watch you are wearing also has a story of its own.


And hey, enjoy the coffee!

2 comments:

Lisa Johnson said...

That coffee looks so good and love the watch! Your story sounds so much like something that I read in books written by Florence Scovel Shinn. I love her writings and way of thinking. She would say that you had a demonstration. You would love her books!

1Northeast said...

Anali, I looked over Florence Scovel Shinn. Wow, thanks for mentioning her- she looks like my kind of literature- can't wait to read! now I am learning something new again. Thanks. :)