Death by coffee

Mocha with raspberry and chocolate swirl... topped with steamed milk... YUM!

Before leaving for Moldova, I decided to indulge myself in trashy magazines to ensure that I would have some reading with more photos and comments than actual words. One of the less trashy magazines that I picked up was of course, Vogue, mostly because the June issue donned a beautiful photo of Blake Lively (a secret obsession of mine... I’ve loved her since her debut in "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"). Besides an incredible feature on Lively covering her current movie undertakings and surfing lessons, the very last pages of Vogue were filled with an inspiring article exploring the characteristics and methods for a perfect cup of coffee (http://www.vogue.com/voguedaily/2010/06/brewed-awakening/). This article has led me to discuss the complete absence of an acidic, nutty cup of brew to tantalize my olfactory system.  Sadly, the majority of coffee available to Moldovans is instant. Yes, I said instant coffee. I know, it’s a disgrace. Sad, but true. The saddest part is the major brand is Nescafe. There are a few places that you can acquire a decent cup of joe, but they are mostly located in urban centers. Chisinau (the capital) boasts an overpriced but seductively similar to Starbucks establishment called Robert’s Coffee (http://www.robertscoffee.com/Englanti/sivut/index_eng.htm).

Robert's Coffee in Chisinau, Moldova

My friend Sam enjoying a milkshake at Robert's

Sadly, I have to limit my frequency to this location, as my Peace Corps salary does not support a 60-100 lei cup of coffee. So, I suppose it’s going to be mostly tea for me with a little instant coffee mixed in on those desperate-to-be-awake mornings. For those of you living and working in the USA… please sip your drip slowly and enjoy it… not everyone has the luxury of a Starbucks on every corner.

Oatmeal + freshly sliced apple + a sprinkle of cinnamon + cup of tea = breakfast of champions!