Kitchen Dilettante

There are no Starbucks in the town of Stratford, Ontario. Whether it is intentional or not, I do not know. Whatever the reason, though, I’m kind of glad about that because it forced us to check out some of the quirky local coffee shops instead of just going to what was familiar and comfortable.

For more information about each shop, please scroll past the slideshow.

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View of Sputnik from the sidewalk.

Sputnik: This tiny little shop is located right on the main street at 46 Ontario Street and is tied as my favorite with Balzacs because of the funkiness of its theme and the friendliness of the staff. The coffee is good, but it is not as bold as what I had at Balzacs, and I like my coffee bold. Still, I cannot demote it to second place because it has captured that edgier slice of my heart which was born in the hipster part of Minneapolis long, long ago.

There are only about four tables in Sputnik and I’m pretty sure it has the tiniest storefront on the block. Still, people go there to sit for hours reading the paper by the warmth of the large storefront window. The barista we have seen everyday memorized our regular order after the second day, so now we feel like regulars! It hasn’t even been a week!

It is a place familiar with and welcoming to the tattooed and the pierced, while being equally as welcoming to older folks with Members Only windbreakers who actually grew up when the Cold War first started. It appeals to the young because of its funky, grungy feel. It appeals to the older set because it reminds them of their youth. The lighting burns bright-white on the tips of spiky, atomic-age chandeliers. The shelves behind the barista are filled with mugs, cups, and glasses in the pinks, greens, yellows and grays so common in a time long gone with the fall of the Berlin Wall. A gilded, swirling clock clicks lazily on the wall, reminding people that time does indeed march on, even if they don’t build ‘em like they used to.

Sadly, Sputnik does not have a website. It’s the kind of place that seems too local for that, too funky. But go there anyway. You’ll immediately feel at home.

A poster in Balzacs.

Balzacs: How can you read the name of this place and not immediately fall in love? Yes, I became a 12-year-old girl and giggled uncontrollably upon coming across this little gem. Turns out, this place is named for Honore de Balzac, a 19th Century playwright and novelist who loved to poke fun at the French bourgeoise. But that is not all, dear reader. Suddenly, Monsieur Balzac is my new hero, a man who wrote an entire dissertation on coffee! (Allow me to pause here in order to fan myself so as not to faint from delight.)

As for the cafe itself, it, too, is sheer delight. The walls are a cheerful “Old World” yellow with brick-red wainscoting. They are adorned with colorful posters advertising each location and our hero, Mr Balzac. Shelves of old coffee cans and antique devices used for making coffee line other walls and run the length of the place.

But what of the coffee? So far, it has been my most favorite of all the coffees we have tried in Stratford. My favorite coffee drink in most situations is the Americano and Balzacs makes a cup that is bold without being bitter. On one of the days we visited, however, the espresso machine was acting up so the barista recommended I try their boldest variety of “regular” coffee. Her recommendation was spot on. That coffee was just as good and just as satisfying as my favorite Americano.

The bad news for those of us who live in the States is that there are no Balzacs to visit there. The good news for Canadians who live near Toronto, though, is that Diana Olsen, Balzacs’ founder, has expanded her coffee business by opening four other cafes in the Toronto Metro and slightly beyond. All I can say is that I am thoroughly and completely jealous.

Inside Cafe 10.

Cafe Ten: Mike and I stopped in to Cafe Ten for an espresso on a rainy night on our way to a play. Let me be honest. They pulled a good espresso. It wasn’t too bitter and provided the caffeine jolt I needed before attending an evening play. Having said that, though, everything else left a lot to be desired.

For instance, upon entering the cafe, it is quickly apparent that they serve more than just coffee and the occasional cookie, bagel, or fruit bar. Overhead, written in scraggly chalk, are menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That in and of itself is not the problem. I get that they are a cafe and not just a coffee shop. It’s just that when trying to quickly discern if they serve more than just drip coffee, and what range of coffee drinks they make, it takes digging through the menu to find it. I was cold and wet from the rain. I wanted to order and move on.

Beyond that, the environment just wasn’t comforting in a way cafes are meant to be. I didn’t feel warmed by the plastic benches and the plastic-wood veneer tables. Sure, the brick wall looks nice and the dessert case is appealing. But the floors were grimy, the tables dirty, and, again, it took me far too long to peruse the extensive menu overhead to find the coffee drinks.

There are other coffee shops in Stratford to try yet, but my focus will soon turn toward all the exquisite meals we have been having here. Stay tuned!