Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and Cayenne! Oh, my!

It has been an interesting couple of weeks in the Triad. First, an unexpected (aren't they all?) earthquake. Dogs, cats, residents of the NC Zoo, and critters everywhere were going berzerk in the hours before the event. Fortunately, humans carried on as usual, and some didn't even notice the quake. Thank goodness it was mainly a source of amusement for newscasters and water cooler conversation groups, and didn't do much damage in our area.

On the heels of "The Shake," meteorologists started forecasting gloom and doom with Hurricane Irene, first expected to hit our coast as a Category 3 or 4 storm. Fortunately, Irene chilled somewhat and hit land as "only" a Category 1. Irene did plenty of damage and destruction in North Carolina, so we are glad she weakened before she paid us a visit. In the Triad, Irene was primarily a tropical breeze event, so we can consider ourselves lucky.

Another interesting event that has been much less publicized is the invention of the Spicy Mayan Mocha at Cafe Roche in Winston-Salem. Sarah Hummell, owner and chief barista, likes to study the drink, its many variations, and create something new and delicious for her customers. Just this summer, she and her husband Justin have created an espresso steak rub and Bananas Foster Belgian Waffles. Sarah's newest creation is based on the Mayan tradition of combining peppers and chocolate. The Spicy Mayan Mocha combines cayenne pepper, espresso, Gherardelli Chocolate, and steamed organic milk, topped with a sprinkling of cocoa powder, ground cinnamon, and ground cayenne. For the non-coffee drinkers, the Mexican Hot Chocolate includes the same ingredients without the espresso. What a tantalizing combination!

Sarah is a great example of the many local coffee shop owners and staff who put time, thought, and effort into creating a pleasant and unique experience for their customers. The local coffee shop is not bound to a menu created in a far away board room by executives and focus groups. Each of the shops on our Guide page has a unique atmosphere and menu, and owners and staff who rely on excellent products and service, not mass marketing, to bring us back to the shop time and time again. For that, we are thankful!

Share your favorite coffee shop experiences with your fellow readers by posting a comment!