The Pigeon Hole - Singapore

The Cool Cafe Wars Are Brewing
It's like 00's NYC all over again.  Here in Singapore a cool cafe opens weekly.  In an eyeblink, we've gotten The Pigeon Hole, Loysel's Toy, Sarnies, Orange Thimble, Drips, Smitten and undoubtedly a few others while I wrote this post.  If you're an office-less worker like me the Pigeon Hole is remote-bot heaven. They have comfortable tables, coffee and free wifi.  After 20 minutes of work and 40 minutes of net-surfing I dug into their signature chocolate bread-and-butter pudding.  It's described on the menu as velvety creme brulee topped with chunks of fluffy buttery croissant and chocolate chips.  I wonder, is that really a croissant on top or pieces of you tiao?  The latter, I hope - that would be cooler.

Cupcakes with Love - Singapore

The Coming Cupcake Craze Crash
Cupcakes have gone global, they're multiplying like a virus.  Cutesie-poo cupcake shops have been popping up in Paris and now I'm seeing them sprout in Singapore.  Kinda reminds me of real estate in '07.  You knew things were crazy and it was going to end badly, you just didn't know when.  I enjoyed my visit to Cupcakes with Love and I wish them well but I suspect they're like a Miami condo a few years back.  It's all about timing.

Tacombi - Manhattan

This is What a Cool Taco Spot Looks Like
It's hot in NY, the past few days in the mid-90's.  The Dodomode is in town pretending it's not as hot as Singapore.  She's due to leave soon so we went on a Nolita shopping run and took note of Tacombi, filing it away for a future visit.  The future arrived sooner than planned when the swirling dark skies began to drop water and ice on us.  We ran back to Tacombi, only slightly wet, and tucked into some tacos.

Cafe Ole - Taipei

The Coffee-Crazed are My Kinda People
I immediately noticed all the cafes in Taipei.  They're everywhere and that warms a man's heart.  There's nothing better than lazing in a cafe, drinking coffee, surfing the net, flipping through magazines, wasting time.  It's the template for my retirement.  I don't think I could live in a city where it isn't possible.  NY excels at it, Paris fails - not enough free wifi.  Singapore is coming along - though they need more free wifi.  Taipei, it turns out, does pretty well, Cafe Ole being a good example.  We went a few times, surrounded by hip Taipei-ers (Taipanese?) and enjoyed it to the fullest.

Iris Cafe - Brooklyn

Newbie Cafe Test Run
When I was young and had game, I used to play ball on Columbia Place. It was a nice run where I tested my skills against the Puerto Rican and Middleastern kids from the other side of the BQE. The court became a victim of mindless 90's gentrification - it was torn up and replaced by a dog run and herb garden. Now, a decade and a half later even more has changed - I've become one of those type who gets all excited about trying out a new cafe - this one just 50 feet from where I used to float my patented finger rolls.

Noctudine - Paris

A Real Winner for Lunch
Rarely in Paris do you find the combination of good, quick food, good service and free wifi. One striking exception is Noctudine, a small cafe that offers all of this seamlessly. I've eaten lunch there a few times and simply love the place. Below is my risotto with lardons. Other times I've tried one of the pre-made sandwiches, which they'll hot press for you until toasty warm. A variety of hot meals, salads and desserts are on offer.

Moca Cafe - Hanoi

Warming Up with Something Easy
Puffin and I arrived in Hanoi this afternoon and were starving. We looked for something quick, easy and undaring (more adventurous eating to come.) We were in luck because the Moca Cafe was right across the street from our hotel. She got the beef noodles which were studded with greens, red peppers and mushrooms. (Shhhhh, don't tell her Dad, the practicing Buddhist vegetarion.) She described them as "not bad", which in a Singaporean way means she will eat it but won't necessarily list it for her girlfriends, who arrive a month from now on their own trip.

Cantine Auguste - Paris

Straight Outta Williamsburg?
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, USA - an interesting, recently gentrified "artsy" neighborhood HAD to be the spark for this eatery. Let me explain, please. Bearded, overall-wearing food makers? Check. Smoothies on offer? Check. Minimalist, white-washed brick? Check. Somehow related to/part of a clothing store cum "gallery" collective? Check. Matter of fact - the clothing store/gallery is right next door.

Clover Art Gallery and Coffee House - Brooklyn

The Right Place at the Wrong Time?
I never thought this place would open - it was "coming soon" for many months and man, what a bad economy to open a place, especially one like this. As you can guess from the name, they offer two things, one of which is considerably less in demand these days. The coffee bar is up front and sports a Clover coffee maker, which you can read about here. It was fun to watch my single drip-brewed coffee being made by the Clover, freshly-ground beans and all, but truth be told, it just tasted like a cup of coffee to the kid.

Le Cafe Chinois - Paris

Place des Vosges Tea House
This is the perfect place to decamp and unwind after exploring Place des Vosges or shopping along rue des Francs Bourgeois. The name, "The Chinese Cafe", doesn't quite explain this pleasant tea house. First, it is decorated with what appears to be vietnamese furniture (though I am no expert in such things.)

Pozzetto - Paris

All the Gelato You'll Ever Need
As luck would have it, our hotel is on the same street as this lovely gelateria. It has a walk-up window for sidewalk orders or you can sit inside and relax, jump on their free wi-fi and eat at a leisurely pace.

Keko Cafe - Manhattan

Not All Breakfasts are Created Equal
Sometimes, for no apparent reason, things turn out perfectly. Keko Cafe is usually just a coffee spot for me but the Puff suggested trying their breakfast. It is a cozy, warm, closet-sized space with no more than 5-6 small tables. Every inch of the walls is covered with interesting bric-a-brac and a tv on either end, tuned usually to European soccer matches. It feels as if you've left Manhattan and stepped into a cafe in Paris or Amsterdam.

This photo from nosh and nibble.

Baked - Brooklyn

For Me, It's All About the Space
Yes, they have freshly baked goodies, coffee from Stumptown, friendly staff and free wifi. The B61 bus even drops you at the front door. These are mere trifles because what struck me immediately about Baked was the space. I sunk into a cushioned bench with my latte and took it all in. The faux crystal chandelier above the counter contrasts against chocolate walls on one side.

Blue Marble - Brooklyn

I Scream, You Scream....
I was during this morning's breakfast search on Atlantic Ave that I discovered Blue Marble, an ice cream purveyor. I made a mental note to return in the afternoon and continued on my way. No further than twenty steps later I did an about face and jogged back. Nobody is gonna know that I had ice cream for breakfast, right?

Bryant Park

What, No Food???
Ok, this is an entry that is not about food - I changed it up a bit. It does belong on the list, however. Where else can you get the great outdoors, free seating, a nice table to put your laptop on and free wi-fi! Yes, you read that correctly - the whole park has free wi-fi.

So, pull up a seat and get to work! Oh, you may wanna bring your sunglasses....

42nd St to the North, 41st St to the South
6th Ave to the West, 5th Ave to the East

Subtletea

Just Plain Tired of Coffee?
Fancy a cup of tea, love? Why not change it up every once in a while? This Madison Ave tea house may just be what you are looking for, Puff.

It looks like an ideal place to work. The space is clean and bright, spa music plays almost imperceptibly in the background. There is a long work table with electrical outlets and free wi-fi. Plant yourself here and get a lot of work done. When not working, peer out the window and do some people-watching.

There are myriad teas and coffees offered as well as other goodies baked by International Delights. I chose a blueberry scone, which was shaped like a boomerang. It was alright, nothing special. You should check out the teas - you know more about that than I do.

http://www.subtleteastore.com/

121 Madison Ave

Manhattan

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Gorilla Coffee and Trois Pommes

Breakfast via the B63 Bus
Long live the B63! I hopped on, heading for the Slope this morning. This sign look familiar, Puff?

Within minutes I was at the first stop: Gorilla Coffee. I jumped out, dodged traffic and jumped in the long line inside. It was especially hipsterish today. I, like usual, looked like a homeless.

In your honor, I got a latte. Yes, still delicious. Yes, still rich and strong. Stiffened my spine right up. I sat in the window and read the NY Times for a while. When I was done, I jumped back on the B63 again, headed down 5th Ave.

Next stop: Trois Pommes Patisserie. Yeah, well, there were like 33 things I wanted but I decided to go for an old favorite: the peanut butter sandwich. It was even better than I remembered, if that is possible. So crumbly and delicious.

I then followed it up with a red velvet cupcake. It was tiny - I popped the whole thing into my mouth in one go. Highly recommended Puff.

Gorilla Coffee

97 5th Ave, Brooklyn

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Trois Pommes Patisserie

260 5th Ave, Brooklyn

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Mercury Dime

A Coffee Shop You Could Take Grandma To
Don't get the wrong idea, in her day my grandma could kick your ass. What I'm saying is that I felt totally at home in this cozy, two-story coffee spot. Yes, it is slightly dog-eared and worn, but that only adds to the charm. It is manned by a single barista who greets you from behind a tiny coffee bar when you walk in.

There are four small tables upstairs, two of which look out onto E. 5th St. I took a seat at the window and people watched as I sipped my coffee.

What a peaceful view onto E. 5th St, no? As I stared out the window, I could hear the muffled conversations from the floor below.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot - the target of my visit- coffee. It is strong and bracing, just a step below Gorilla coffee, Puff. Throw in the fact that they offer free wifi and sell gelato from Il Laboratorio del Gelato and I think we have a winner.

246 E. 5th St
Manhattan

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