GIFT

每周都會跟多美妮小姐有二個小時左右的語言交換，剛開始三次都在Paul，我建議應該來一個倫敦咖啡大冒險。她立刻拿出Timeout的清單出來，想要一家一家來評比。於是 我們就開始了第一家 Bea's of Bloomsbury!

這家是位在Bloomsbury，照夏老師的說法，是一個很學術文化氣味很濃的一區，他最愛在這裡逛。二月初，我跟多美妮出了Holborn車站後，往東走約十分鐘，來到了這家店。空間設計是分為兩半部，後半是廚房，前半是座位及吧台，但兩者之間並沒有很明顯的分開。這家是以杯子蛋糕著名，我們都被蛋糕吸引，完全忘了咖啡也是評比很高的。我點了Latte及一個花生奶油巧克力杯子蛋糕(本人在英國的第一個)，一整個覺得幸福。實在不太會形容咖啡如何的好喝，但覺得不苦澀，非常的順口，而杯子蛋糕驚為天人，我的花生香濃而多美奶的覆盆子鮮美，巧克力蛋糕部份很鬆軟濃郁。加上整個空間都散發著溫暖地麵包香及咖啡香，我們給它，六顆星!

當我們要離開的時候，他們正在準備午餐，看了也是直流口水。下次要來再試試!!!

Every week, I have a two-hour language exchange with Dominique. To begin with, we met each other in Paul, a French bakery, around three times. In comparison with other cafés, Paul is much quieter. While we were there, I came up with a great idea, why not try something new for every meeting?  Whilst I posed this idea to Dominique, she immediately responded with a list of the best cafés from Timeout London Website. What a wonderful thing to do! And so, our adventure of London's cafés began.  

In February, the first café we visited was Bea’s of Bloomsbury. Bloomsbury, according to my teacher Professor Summer, is a hub of academic and cultural events. The nearest tube station is Holborn and it is a ten-minute walk away. The café / bakery can be divided into two spaces. The back space is the kitchen area, where the bakers busily prepare desserts and food. The front space is for service and table area. In fact, there is no apparent boundary that separates the whole space. Therefore, customers sitting close to kitchen can still catch a glimpse how busy the bakers are.

The café is famous for cupcakes as well as for coffee. I ordered a cup of Latte accompanyed with a peanut butter flavored cupcake, which is the first one I have had in London. I have no words to precisely describe the taste that I enjoyed in that moment. Let me try!  Latte was really smooth with body and not  bitter. As for the cupcakes, they were amazing as well! My peanut butter flavored one was creamy and intensely whereas Dominique’s raspberry flavored one was fresh and sweet. The cakes were spongy and chocolatey. Taking into account the smell of coffee and desserts that filled the space, we definte in the decision to give the cafe six stars!

I must come back soon!

(17 Feburary)

Bea's of Bloomsbury :44 Theobald's Road  London Borough of Camden, WC1X 8NW