Don Senneville and Jim White
Sitting outside at the Black Mountain Coffee Shop and Lounge, we resume the “burrito wars”. Perfect coffees preceded the arrival of what could be an Award Winning Bacon Breakfast Burrito. The green chilis and multiple fresh ingredients take this burrito to a new level. However, we will be suspending the burrito competition, maybe indefinitely, due to medical reasons. Don’s latest labs showed very high bacon levels. Once again, what you love may kill you.
But we are not deterred, as we have surrogate tasters standing by. Some of our loyal readers have volunteered to send in reports on bacon breakfast burritos within a 3 mile radius of the Sundial. We may have to switch to granola or best fruit. Any ideas?
In the meantime, just thinking, if bacon burritos carry the weight of their fillings, then by extension burros must carry the burden of human endeavor. One is physical and the other is mental. An excellent burrito can cure physical hunger, but only a burro can soothe the brain. A case for companion burros?
We thought we’d go meet some actual burros who do this for a living to give depth to our investigation. We visited The Donkeys of the Heart, out off Spur Cross where actual donkeys (burros) do in fact carry an important burden-–working with humans. Burros (donkeys), beasts of burden that they are, have prompted us to think about people in light of the life burdens they often carry. So we could say, “I feel like a burro today”, possibly with double meaning (as we suggested above): I’d like a breakfast burrito today, or, I feel like I’m under a heavy burden today. Feel like a burrito? Don may need to stay here and work with the little Dalai Lama burros! We may be overthinking this whole thing.
Turns out this little slice of perfect desert is home to Hilda, a friend from way back, who, with her very French “Burroista” partner, runs this very unique, fun, professional and important healing oasis. If it had an espresso machine, it would be perfect. We will not look at a donkey or a burrito the same way ever again.
Happy Trails. Google “Donkey Cross”: After discovering that some ancient religions worshiped donkeys, we learned that the practice is called “onolatry”, and was found in Roman and Egyptian records, referencing donkeys in their art and writings. Even King Midas had some touch in there as well. With respect to the humility, loyalty, and determination of the little donkeys, we thank you for your service. Look for the “ear of the burro” when you enjoy your next one at The Spotted Donkey. We are now ready to move on.
Back in Coffee Row, we met a loyal CUP fan at The Village Coffee and Creperie the other morning. She and her husband have been in search of the perfect coffee mocha. Wow! They are a wealth of coffee information regarding the use of chocolate and coffee.
OK, we have tried the Starbucks Iced Mocha with whipped cream. Ordering there is like taking a cognitive abilities test. Yes, 55 grams of ice, 8.5 grams cocoa powder, 1 oz. syrup, 12 oz. whole milk, and 2 shots espresso at 165 millibars pressure, In plastic, with whipped cream please. We asked our friends if you could just pour chocolate milk in a cup of coffee and be done. They looked receptive to the idea. So instead of a flat white, order a flat brown which equals a double espresso with chocolate 1/2-n-1/2! Brilliant. We will continue to report on our friends’ quest for the holy grail of mochas. My mother told me there were chocolate cows.
It will be Halloween time when you read this, and hopefully a cool and rainy November lies ahead. Coffee Row should be flourishing, so get out there and get “Carefree and Caffeinated” as they say at The Carefree Coffee Roastery! Contact us at The CUP, [email protected].
