Bean Loved - Skipton

Another small Yorkshire town that Dan and I enjoy is Skipton. It's a short train ride from Leeds, being only 25 miles northwest of here. There's a wonderful castle that is over 900 years old and one of the best preserved in Britain. They also have a fun street market that goes up and down the high street. We just happened upon this lovely little cafe called Bean Loved the first time we were there and have gone back every time. Visiting the castle and lunching at Bean Loved is just about as close to a perfect day as you will have.

They serve up really good cups of coffee and hot tea, amazing home made soups and the world's best Cheese and Cheese Toastie that you'll ever eat. That sandwich makes me want to hop a train right now. It's just an ooey, gooey, cheesy bit of heaven on some tasty toasted bread. The place is small with tables on 2 floors. You order at the counter and they bring the food when it's ready. The staff is friendly and very willing to answer all you questions with a smile. They are located just off of High Street at 17 Otley St, Skipton BD23 1DY.

Koffiehuis de Hoek - Amsterdam

 

 

On Sunday morning in Amsterdam, Dan wanted to go to a little place we saw the day before. He noticed they had pancakes and he was craving them. The Koffiehuis de Hoek is a small place with about 10 tables and we just happened to walk in when they had one open. We sat and looked at the menu, Dan asked the waitress about the pancakes and she told him they were not as thin as crepes and not as fluffy as American. He ordered the Pannekoeken Natural for 5.75 euros and I chose the Ham and Cheese Omelet for 6.75 euros. We both had orange juice, me a large for 4.30 euros and Dan had a small at 2.40 euros. The oranges were freshly juiced at the counter and the juice was very good. The pancake was another story. It was like a cross between a custard and a pancake. It was served with powdered sugar and maple syrup and neither of us cared for it. The omelet was good, it was full of sliced tomatoes, which cooled it down and they weren't ripe so I just pulled them out. Not a bad place, just not the greatest.

 

They are located at Prinsengracht 341 1016 HK Amsterdam  020-6253872

 



Mamma Rosetta - Amsterdam

While walking through the neighborhoods and wandering the markets, a nice little coffee shop is always a welcome sight. Mamma Rosetta was just what we needed on our Saturday in Amsterdam. The little café had a friendly staff and tables inside and out. We chose to sit outside and people watch. Dan had a latte and I had a double espresso and we ate our caramel cheese cake from Kaashuis Tromp - Amsterdam . The little amaretto cookies are also a nice touch.  Just what we needed to reboot!
They are located at Lindengracht 158 1015 KK Amsterdam  020-7520603.

 

Costa Coffee

We arrived in Leeds England yesterday for our 3 month stint. The flights were all good, although we barely slept. There's definitely a chill in the air, but you hardly notice that as you walk through the streets and enjoy the sights. There are beautiful old buildings with new glass structures mixed in in. Old cobblestone streets and pedestrian shopping areas that have everything from The Gap to Marks & Spencer.

We came across a busy coffee shop and decided to stop in for some needed caffeine and a little heat. The shop is set up similar to the Starbucks model. I ordered a medium Mocha Latte and Dan had a Latte. We split this wonderful sticky toffee pudding muffin and though it was not a proper English meal it was delicious. The center had this nice gooey center and the muffin itself was moist and flavorful. We'll be back to try the other baked goodies that were highlighted in the cases.

They use coffee beans that are sustainably grown and sourced through Rainforest Alliance Certified Farms. 99% of their milk comes from their own cows raised on British farms. This place will be our new go-to coffee shop in Leeds.