Once upon a time, in a town called Madison, WI there existed a lovely cafe named Cafe Soleil. This cafe had beautiful quiche and daily soups and the best damn almond croissant I've ever had. In my whole entire life. But what really set it this place apart, more than anything else, was the magic coffee.
Yes, they actually called it that. Though Cafe Soleil has sadly vanished, Graze on the capitol square (another baby of awesome, recent James Beard Award Nominee Chef Tory Miller) does still offer magic coffee (and those equally magical almond croissants). I had the good fortune of learning a little bit about the secret recipe behind magic coffee from a source who shall remain unnamed, and-although I don't make it exactly the same-I think my version is pretty. darn. good. Seriously people, who couldn't use a change in their daily coffee routine? Give it a try--it still gives you quite a kick, but it tastes...well...magical. There's also a cocktail based on this, wait for that, because I promise when I post that cocktail recipe, it will be legendary.
Magic Coffee
By Alexandra Rogers
Inspired by the Magic Coffee at Graze
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups freshly brewed coffee
1/2 cup milk (you choose--I like skim but the fattier the milk the creamier the drink)
1-1/2 Tablespoons brown sugar (do 2 Tablespoons if you like your coffee to taste more like sugar than coffee)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
dash nutmeg
Recipe
Combine all ingredients in a jar or tightly sealed tupperware container and shake. Place in refrigerator for about 1 hour. Serve over ice on a hot summer day! Serves 2.
Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have over 5 new dining options to explore this week. The new (and improved) Union South opened last week on campus, amid student fanfare. I had the opportunity to take a quick look around today and was stunned by the options.
Though I'm most excited for the opening of Ginger Root, a restaurant that will serve Asian cuisine starting in the Fall of 2011, I can definitely appreciate the various opportunities for pizza, sandwiches, pub fare, ice cream and of course...every college student's favorites...coffee & beer. In fact, and this may be a first, I think I'd like to go on a date in my student union. To go get Beer & Tapas. Or maybe wine from a wine bar! The possibilities are endless! Okay, well, that might be an exaggeration. But, the point is, Union South is amazingly cool. If you live in the Madison area and haven't checked it out yet, go there immediately. And, grab a beer. And maybe some pub fare. No matter what you eat, live it up.
