thoughts on food

in my stunning barista "career" to date, i have worked at a grand total of 7 different coffee venues. i use the word venues because they differ so drastically i don't know how else to identify them: there was the college coffee house (a dark den of deliciousness), a small local roaster's teeny-tiny cafe, the only non-corporate coffee shop in my home town, the "drink station" at a local restaurant, the cafe section of a local bookstore, a totally awesome local roaster of single-origin coffee and the latest: another small, local coffee joint that offers pastries and the like.

one thing i have come to understand is that--in my opinion-- coffee and FOOD food, do *not* belong together. if you want soup or a sandwich, go to a restaurant. if you want coffee- go to a cafe. coffee shops should offer some things- for sure. small items, meant to compliment coffee, not meals in and of themselves. biscotti's okay. not my personal choice, but acceptable. muffins are alright. bagels are pushing it because then patrons will want cream cheese and peanut butter and jam and it's really just opening a whole new can of worms. but anything truly substantial should be verbotten!!!