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Flavourville sold out?!

Coffeeman

By Coffeeman
in Eastern Canada: Dining

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Coffeeman

Coffeeman

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I had friends (read: mild acquaintances) in from out outside the city and they asked about the local eats. I knew they would be shopping downtown so I told them to drop by Chapters/Indigo on Ste-Catherine to pick up Lesley C's book, which would save me from regurgitating what she's written (not that it's stopped me before :wink: ) but alas, it was sold out. When asked when a copy would become available, the attendant staff member was suddenly paralyzed with fear like Bambi caught in high powered halogen high beams until my friend eventually walked away *vewwy vewwy carefully* on his tippy-toes with his middle fingers and thumbs firmly held together with the three other fingers extended, in order not to wake the sleeping animal.

My other beef with an otherwise fine bookstore? They have books listed on Coffee that I would like/need to purchase. Some of these books range in the hundreds of dollars. Considering most coffee books, contain the informational equivalent of a Bazooka Joe comic, I think I should have the right to peruse them before purchase (e.g.: this isn't a "I'll see you in the court...of HELL" John Grisham/Stephen King straight-to-paperback collaboration for 12.95$, if you know what i'm saying). Not surprisingly, due to low demand they do not stock these in store (if not in Montreal, then why list them at all, but I digress...). If I want to SEE them before purchase, I have to pay for them and pay shipping. I then have the right to return them for a full refund as long as I absorb all shipping charges, TO AND FRO. Considering these are encyclopedia sized books, it will be a sizeable sum (read: more expensive than Marc Bellemare's daughter's annual tear-a-way g-string budget).

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identifiler

identifiler

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This is a bit off topic but has anyone bought the "Quartier Gourmand guide". I'm told for 5 dollars, it is very nice and gives a complete market review of Montreal areas. This is not restaurant oriented like Lesley's book (a great buy also) but I am told some are mentionned. Apparently it is more of a regional buying guide.

I'd like to know if anyone got their hands on it and were I can get it ? Thanks.

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Coffeeman

Coffeeman

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I'd like to know if anyone got their hands on it and were I can get it ? Thanks.

I picked one up at "Toi, Moi et Cafe", which I have to return every three months to remind myself how much I dislike their coffee (for the record people, anyone that serves coffee in Styrofoam cups doesn't know the FIRST thing about coffee) and I saw a copy there and bought it. It's a great little book. I wonder if they have English copies available?

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carswell

carswell

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(for the record people, anyone that serves coffee in Styrofoam cups doesn't know the FIRST thing about coffee)

Thanks so much for the lesson...

For the record, all the coffee I've drunk there has been from a stoneware mug or porcelain cup or bowl. Or are you referring to take-out? (In which case, what do you suggest they serve the coffee in?)

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  • 4 weeks later...
Coffeeman

Coffeeman

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For the record, all the coffee I've drunk there has been from a stoneware mug or porcelain cup or bowl. Or are you referring to take-out? (In which case, what do you suggest they serve the coffee in?)

Sorry for the extremely late reply...

Yes I am referring to take out. I'm not a big fan of coffee shops, for the reason that it takes me 5 minutes to drink a double espresso. I don't even see the point in sitting down. It's not like having a leisurely drink...coffee is best drank hot. And I never get the urge to hunker down and get myself primed up for 8 coffees. Besides most good coffee shops are the surgeon general's version of hell. The smoke is so thick it makes your eyes water. I know there is a "non-smoking" section, but in a small coffee shop where people are chain smoking it's the equivalent of having a "non-peeing" section in a baby pool. But i'm going way off topic....

So for take out coffee, the container of choice is paper cups. Hot coffee actually melts down/absorbs traces of styrofoam. Although I'm not qualified to speak of its possible toxicity, it most definitely affects the flavour. If you doubt me, do a test. Try the same coffee in a paper cup and a styrofoam cup and you'll see the difference is huge. This fact is well known in the industry.

I just think it's a huge oversight on their part, given they consider themselves one of the premier coffee shops in the city. If it's a business decision (paper is a bit more expensive) then it's just sad. It's not like a restaurant that has hundreds of variables that need to be well chosen to create the perfect experience....

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SteveW

SteveW

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Lesley, are you doing much Montreal media appearances in late-November or early-December, for the release of the Flavourville 2004? I'm thinking mostly of radio appearances(I assume you won't do television, as you're suppose to be anonymous). I'm aware of one upcoming Montreal radio appearance for you.

-Steve

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  • 3 weeks later...
SteveW

SteveW

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I was in contact with the radio host again today, he had originally tentatively scheduled you for November, but it now seems to be for December(no firm date yet).

-Steve

Was told by the same radio host today(might not be appropriate to mention his name here), he would like to have Lesley as a guest very soon on his radio show, but not sure if she's interested. He had scheduled her for October, but she cancelled without giving a reason(that's what he told me). So if you're interested Lesley in appearing on his radio show(I'm sure you know who I'm refering to), you should contact him soon. He's a bit hesitant to contact you again, as he's not sure of your interest.

-Steve

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SteveW

SteveW

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I contacted Lesley privately last night about this, & she just responded. I'll just say, I didn't just make things up, to post on eGullet. Anything more, you can contact me privately Joey for the full story. And to protect Lesley, my intention was never to post this type of thing on eGullet.

-Steve

Edited by SteveW (log)
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