Welcome!

The coffee is brewing, the fireplace is crackling, and the muffins are baking. So come in to my virtual Village Blend to warm your bones and hang out for a little while.

 

—Cleo Coyle

  

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  Today Cleo's
Talking About...

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

U.S.A.!

& HAPPY

JULY FOURTH

TO ALL OF YOU!

 

Enjoy Your

Holiday Weekend!

—Cleo

  

 

H O N O R   F L I G H T

 

HONOR FLIGHT is a program that was created by a VA doctor when he discovered that his elderly patients (veterans of World War II) could not afford to make the trip to Washington D.C. to actually SEE the WWII war memorial dedicated to them! HONOR FLIGHT Is now a national organization, raising money and donating time to help the 6,000 vets across the country make the trip to see the memorial that would not exist without their bravery and sacrifice. Our WWII vets are dying every week. Time is running out to honor them. Cleo has happily donated. To learn more or donate yourself, click here.  

 

 

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New Coffee Drawing

Next Wednesday July 9

LIVE!

@ 9 PM (eastern)

 

Cleo will announce her
July Coffee Pick
next week, too!

 

 

If you signed up for Cleo's free newsletter, then you're already entered for her next FREE COFFEE drawing and all of her future monthly drawings. To sign up, hit the button in the left column or send an e-mail that says:

SIGN ME UP to
VillageBlend@aol.com 

 

 

 

Cleo's two latest FREE COFFEE drawing winners are:

 

"Robyn" from
Livonia, Michigan
&

"Karen" from
Port Orchard, Washington

 

Congrats Robyn and Karen!
You've won a package of Cleo's
May-June Coffee Pick:

 

Papua New Guinea

 

Roasted by Williamsburg Coffee and Tea

 Scroll down this page to read more about this excellent coffee -
"Jamaica Blue Mountain"
of the South Pacific!

   

 

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3 TIPS

TO HELP OFFICE COFFEE TASTE BETTER!

So when I worked in an office some years back, a co-worker tried to improve the taste of the heinous pre-ground, pre-packaged coffee that our Office Overlords supplied to us.

     We had this flat-basket drip coffee maker in the break room and he'd make the coffee first thing in the morning by ripping open the aluminum bag, pouring the grounds in and adding a generous sprinkle of cinnamon.

     The cinnamon didn't work miracles: The coffee's taste was very mildly improved. But it DID send an amazing aroma through the office every morning!

     That said, I remain skeptical about suggestions like the ones in the article that I've linked to below. But the 10 suggestions of Mr. Curry's did remind me of three things I tried myself when faced with nothing but what the Overlords supply.

 

IMPROVING SEMI-HEINOUS
OFFICE COFFEE

 

CLEO'S TIP #1: 

Poor Girl's Mocha: Mix a half package of instant hot chocolate into the cup with the coffee. You want to pour it into the cup after your coffee is brewed. Then add your cream or milk.

 

CLEO'S TIP #2: 

 Pump up the Creamer Quality: Use heavy cream or half & half instead of skim or whole milk. To those folks worried about calories, here's the way I see it. Satisfaction with a really good cup or two of coffee will curb snacking so the extra calories for a better class of dairy will most likely help you stay on your diet.

  

CLEO'S TIP #3: 

Clean the pot! If your company's break room has a standard drip coffee maker, you can clean it with white vinegar. Pour a mixture of 1/2 part white vinegar and 1/2 part water where you normally pour the water. Run the coffee maker. Discard the pot of vinegar that's "brewed" up. Then run 2 more cycles with plain water. This will help clean the build up of bitter oils and mineral deposits in the machine (it shoud really be done once a month).  Click here for step-by-step instructions on cleaning your drip coffee maker.

 

For more tips on improving office coffee, and to read the article that inspired this one, click here!

 

—Till next time

Cleo Coyle

 

 

 

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SMELLING THE COFFEE

Science Daily reports that just smelling coffee may reduce stress and wake up genes in the brain that diminish the effect of sleep deprivation (in rats anyway). Click here to read more about this fascinating study - the first of its kind ever done.

—Cleo

 

 

 

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  Behold the Kona
Happy Dance.  

 

Cleo's Quick
Coffee Tip

 When Kona's
Too Expensive

A lot of you have told me how much you enjoy Kona coffee (that smooth, delicious bean grown in Hawaii). Many of you have also mentioned to me that there are no local coffeehouses near your hometowns so you usually frequent Starbucks. That said, I'd like to give you a heads-up on a good buy this month. (And who couldn't use a good buy these days! Sheesh!) 

I'm often skeptical of Kona blends but single-origin (pure) Kona is very expensive. Well, I noticed my local Starbucks is featuring "Kopelani Blend" this month, so I gave it a try, puchasing a pound and brewing it up. It's very good! I went back and bought 2 more pounds of it!

The blend is 10% Kona coffee beans blended with African and Latin American beans. It's a very smooth and refined cup, and I can't imagine any coffee drinker not enjoying it. The price is $13.45 for 1 pound, which is about the price of my online recommendations (but without the delivery charges if you're picking it up yourself!). If you try it, let me know what you think! (Click here to read more about the blend.)

Till next time,

—Cleo

 

 

 

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This year's World Barista Championship was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Barista champs from over 50 countries competed for the top title, including the US barista champ, Kyle Glanville of Los Angeles.

     Winner Stephen Morrissey finished ahead of the national champions from Australia and the Netherlands in a competition to serve judges (in 15 minutes or less) four perfect espressos, four foamy cappuccinos and four signature drinks using espresso. Stephen impressed judges by flambeing a drink of panna cotta, blueberries, chocolate and espresso. Next year's competition will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA!

Click here or click here to read more.

 

 

 

 

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 MEET THE HEAD LIBRARIAN

 

 Have you ever wanted to review cozy mystery books for a review site? Or start your own Web community? Then SCROLL DOWN and read my feature on the founder of Cozy Library.com, the amazing Diana Vickery.

 

 

 

 

 

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O  R  I  G  I  N  S

 

In the movie Sideways,when one of the characters opens a bottle of wine, she finds herself considering the origins of that bottle—where the grapes were grown, who harvested them, what the weather was like on the day they were picked. Was the sun shining? Was it raining? 

     Here's the thing...I like to approach my coffee-drinking the same way. I marvel at how the beans can arrive at my doorstep from half a world away; how they can be grown by people of vastly different cultures, speaking different languages, living a completely different way of life.

     When I learn about the coffee beans, I also learn about the people who grew them, about their world, about the care they took to cultivate the coffee I drink. (Now let's move along to my May - June Coffee Pick!)

 

 

 Click here to learn
more about this quirky,
award-winning film.
(Not for everyone,
but I loved it!)

 

       

 

 

CLEO'S MAY - JUNE
COFFEE PICK:

  

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

 "Jamaica Blue Mountain"
of the South Pacific

 

 

As usual, my article below includes a link
for purchasing this coffee online...

  

  

   Click here to see more PNG images.

For those of you frustrated with the high cost and limited availability of Jamaica Blue Mountain,
the coffees of Papua New Guinea should interest you! This tiny Indonesian island is a great source
for the very same Blue Mountain varietal...

 

My coffee pick this month is grown by the Agoga plantations, which are located in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, west of the rural township of Kainantu.

     Agoga is composed of 2,000 family, clan and village members. Each member has been involved with the production of coffee his or her whole life. But let's backtrack a moment...

   Where exactly is
Papua New Guinea?

     Papua New Guinea (PNG) is located on an island north of Australia. It's a diverse country with an ancient people who've developed unique cultural traditions (in art, dance, costumes, music) and speak over 800 languages.

 

 

      Most of Papua New Guinea's population live in traditional villages and communities and practice subsistence-based agriculture. Over 70% of this countries' coffee crop comes not from huge corporately-owned farms but from tens of thousands of small village coffee gardens that range in size from 20 trees to 500 or 600.

     (By the way, one coffee tree will yield about one pound of coffee during a growing season. So when you drink a pound of coffee, you're essentially drinking an entire tree's worth!)

     Much of the seed stock on Papua New Guinea is planted from the Jamaican Blue Mountain varietal, so it's no big surprise that many of the coffees offered from PNG share the same unique flavor characteristics as Blue Mountain: a mild, medium body with fruity undertones.

     The harvesting of coffee in Papua New Guinea begins in April and peaks in July and August. So now is a good time to purchase this coffee if you're interested in trying it.

     My interest in the Agoga plantations coffee came about because of their fantastic showing in this year's SCAA competition for the world's best coffee. (SCAA is the Specialty Coffee Association of America - the world's largest coffee trade association). More than 30 SCAA judges ranked Papua New Guinea's Agoga Plantation Limited submission as the 7th best in the world (over 100 coffees were judged).

     I was eager to try the coffee grown by Agoga, so I searched for a vendor or roaster online who would sell their coffee to me retail (one 12-oz bag at a time as opposed to giant lots of it). Lucikly I found one: Williamsburg Coffee & Tea. Click here and scroll down to the PAPUA NEW GUINEA selection on the Williamsburg Coffee & Tea website. It's organically grown and fairly traded, and I was pleased with my experience ordering from WCT, which is based in Williamsburg, VA. My order was confirmed by e-mail and came quickly by post, freshly roasted.

    I was extremely pleased with the coffee, as well. My husband and I both tasted the Agoga plantations coffee. Here are our impressions:

 

"Fruity-citrus-lemony notes balanced with an earthy-woody favor and a slight chocolaty/spicy finish...

Like a cross between an African coffee and one from Sumatra – lighter than a Sumatra yet still substantial in body and flavor. Hard to believe this is not a blend! High notes and low notes, like a wonderful blend, yet it’s single origin. Remarkable amount of flavor...brightness without bitterness..."

     The Agoga plantations grow the Blue Mountain varietel at altitudes of 4,500 to 5, 000 feet. "High grown is high quality," as Clare Cosi would say!

     Congrats to "Kristen" from Huntsville, Alabama, who won a free package of the Papua New Guinea coffee during my last Free Coffee drawing. My next drawing will take place June 22. Good luck!

 

Until next time,

–Cleo Coyle

 

 

 

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Cleo's April Coffee Pick:

 "Purple Princess" 

Click here to read about this amazing coffee, grown in Honduras by the farm owner pictured above, and featured in my latest Coffeehouse Mystery: French Pressed. (As always, links are provided on where you can purchase it, too.)

 

        

 

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MEMORIAL DAY

A SOLIDER COMES HOME
CLICK HERE to read an essay by military veteran Jim Kerick, who reminded me what the Memorial Day holiday
is really all about.

 

 

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 IS THAT DOG REALLY
DRINKING COFFEE?

SCROLL DOWN this home page and meet Maisy Jo,
a coffee-drinking cocker spaniel.

(Photo courtesy of Coffeehouse Mystery
reader "Victoria" from California.)

 

 

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NUMBER ONE!  

The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association posted its lists of bestselling hardcovers and paperbacks for April.

 Cleo Coyle's
Coffeehouse Mystery:
FRENCH PRESSED
was the #1 bestselling paperback!

 

 

 

  

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VISIT CLEO'S HAUNTED
BOOKSHOP!

Meet the ghost: Jack Shepard, private detective, gunned down in Cleo's Haunted Bookshop 50 years ago. Click here to learn more about this 2nd mystery series that Cleo writes under the name Alice Kimberly. 

     

 

  

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A SPOOKY CONVERSATION!

 Amanda Killgore, reviewer for Huntress and Eternal Night, recently interviewed Cleo about her Ghostly series. Cleo discusses her inspiration for her Haunted Bookshop novels, including her love of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and (don't get spooked now) cemeteries. Click here to read the interview.

 

 

 

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Have you ever wanted to hold your own
Coffeehouse Mystery reading group,
maybe over coffee or in a coffeehouse?

    

Get Free Reading Group Questions for Coffeehouse Mysteries #1 & #2

 

 To download questions
in PDF form, click here.

 

If you need the Adobe Reader software to read this PDF file,
you can get it free. Click here to go to the Adobe site
and click on the download Adobe Reader button.  

  

  

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THE WORKING LIFE...

COFFEE MEMORIES

A Coffeehouse Mystery Reader (Davida of San Francisco, CA) shares memories of working a coffee kiosk. SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN this home page to the "Coffee Talk" featured posts area.

 

   

 

 

 

A CONVERSATION

WITH

DIANA VICKERY

 

Founder and "Head Librarian" of

Cozy Library

 

 

CLEO: Welcome to my virtual Village Blend, Diana! First of all, tell us your favorite coffeehouse drink and snack, I’ll (virtually) get it for you! Secondly, tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? Where do you live now? And what did you do before you retired?

DIANA: I’m certain you’ll be disappointed, Cleo, but I usually get my coffee at McDonald’s at the mall where I walk every morning. My “senior decaf with one cream” sets me back a whopping 54 cents. When I’m at my favorite (real) coffeehouse, Grinders in Grayslake, Illinois, I order a small decaf breakfast blend and an Orange Blossom muffin. Not very adventurous, I’m afraid. (Although, after reading French Pressed, I think I should expand my coffee horizons!)

     I was born and raised in northern Illinois and have spent all but one year of my life within about 60 miles of where I was born. I live in Gurnee, Illinois (one of Chicago’s far north suburbs), with hubby of 37 years, Ray.

     Most of my working life was spent doing public relations. I was PR director at three different community colleges; then I spent 15 years running my own small PR agency. After that, I spent eleven years “semi-retired,” working for a Fortune 500 company, where I edited two monthly employee newsletters, one national, one regional. I began the Cozy Library in February 2006 and fully retired in June of that year.

CLEO: So, after you retired from your full-time job, what led to your creation of the Cozy Library site and what did it entail?

DIANA: Writing has always been a part of my life and I knew when I retired that I’d want to continue writing. The only questions were what I’d write about and for whom. At that time, I’d been reviewing cozies for Mystery News (www.blackravenpress.com) for several years and thought doing more of that would be fun. Plus, I thought it would be a kick to help match readers with new authors and to write a newsletter for kindred spirits.

 

The idea for the Cozy Library came to me at about 3:00 one morning.

 

     In December 2005 I called my friend Kim Washetas (www.scoutcr.com), a website developer, at about 7 a.m. and asked her to get secure the domain name www.cozylibrary.com. Kim, an avid reader herself, immediately said, “I can see it now.”

     That day, while my husband was at work, I put everything down on paper: what the site would be, the kind of content I envisioned and the cost. After dinner that night, I gave my pitch to Ray, a very practical guy. He gave it about 30 seconds of thought and said, “I think you should do it.” Kim and I scurried to come up with a design and content and the site was up and running by mid-February 2006.

DIANA: I definitely agree that cozy readers are optimists – we always look for that happy ending.

      When I read for pleasure, I want to enter a world I wouldn’t mind being in. Not in a forensic laboratory. Not an interrogation room with a serial killer. Not where coarse language is the norm. My real life is pretty doggone cozy -- and I believe that’s why I like to read cozy mysteries and gentle fiction.

CLEO: Those are wonderful suggestions, thank you! Now, if anyone reading this is interested in reviewing books for Cozy Library, what should they know and what should they do?

DIANA: Christmas dinners in my childhood didn’t feature turkey, ham or prime rib...

     For breakfast, lunch and dinner, my sisters, cousins and I spread cold pork pâte on doughy, white Rainbo-brand bread and topped it with salt and pepper. Accompaniments included Jay’s potato chips and a tall glass of cold milk from Pike’s Dairy in Aurora, Illinois, where my dad worked.

CLEO: Thank you, Diana, for taking the time to visit with us here at the virtual Village Blend. To visit with Diana and her librarians at Cozy Library click here.

 

To find out more about Grinders,
Diana's favorite coffeehouse click on their logo.

 

Grinders is located at

82 Center St.
Grayslake, IL  60030

 

 

 

 

 

COFFEE-DRINKING

COCKER SPANIELS

 

Meet Maisy Jo, a 14 year-old coffee-drinking cocker spaniel, owned and loved by Victoria, a Coffeehouse Mystery reader from California, USA.

 

Cleo recently received the following
email from Victoria...

 

 

Hello Cleo,

We are the owners of two "coffee" (cocker) spaniels! If I or my hubby walk away from our coffee cup for a second, it's gone! Thought it was because of the half-and-half, but they like it black too—weird! I have a picture on my cell phone of the 14-yr-old Cocker drinking out of my cup. Wish you could see it! Look forward to your next Clare Cosi novel!..I have all of your books and have enjoyed all of them! Pass them on to friends, but I always make sure they are returned to me! Be well.

—Victoria

 

Cleo's reply: Thanks for the adorable story, Victoria! And thanks for the picture, too. It made me smile today, and I thought it would make plenty of other people smile, too. So I'm very happy that you sent along the pic. Java joy to you and your hilarious coffee-drinking pups! You be well, too. 

—Cleo

 

 

If you have a comment or question for Cleo Coyle,
send and email titled: "Note to Cleo"
to VillageBlend@aol.com

 

 

 

 

 

CLEO GOES
TO JAPAN!

 

Here are some of the Japanese covers for my Coffeehouse Mystery series. (Funny...even though Clare Cosi's cat, Java, isn't exactly featured in every book, she's become the star of the Japanese cover art.)

 —Cleo

 

 

Cover of the
Japanese edition

On What Grounds

Java enjoying a delish cookie with her coffee...

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. version

 

 

 

 Published in Japan
by Random House
Kodansha

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Cover of the
Japanese edition

Through the Grinder

Java grinding beans
and frowning at mice stealing sack of coffee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 U.S. version

 

 

Published in Japan
by Random House
Kodansha 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover of the
Japanese edition

Latte Trouble

Java reading a "New Fashion" mag with a bottle of "Latte" in her arm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. version

 

 

 

Published in Japan
by Random House
Kodansha

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE RETURN OF
JAVA THE CAT!

 

 

Reader posts on my green message board (in right column of this site) actually influenced a very special scene in my latest Coffeehouse Mystery: French Pressed (one that involved Clare Cosi's cat, Java).

To read the posts from readers and find out where the scene is located in the book, click here, where the article is archived.

 —Cleo

 

 

 

 

   If this is coffee, please bring me
some tea; but if this is tea,
please bring me some coffee.

 

 —Abraham Lincoln

  

 

 

 

  

COFFEE TALK

 Below are some recent posts from my

Coffee Talk Message Board...

(little green board in right column)

 

E-mail notes can be sent to

VillageBlend@aol.com

 

 My answers are in blue

—Cleo

 

 

 

RE-POST FROM E-MAIL to VillageBlend@aol.com

Subject: "COFFEE MEMORIES"

Posted by: Davida of San Francisco

 

Cleo: I worked a small coffee kiosk my senior year of high school. Waking at 5 AM to open the booth and lay out the pastries. By first period psych class I had already had two eye openers (speed balls) and was sipping on a monkey mocha (banana flavored mocha). Our kiosk was in a hospital, and sometimes I would comment to the ER nurses pulling a double and sometimes triple shift (after making their quad shot, or worse six shot drink) that I totally didn't want them trying to find a vein in my arm. And then there was the doctor who always ordered her "why bother" Non Fat, Decaffe Latte...without the fat and caffeine, why did she bother? Anyway, I love your books, and would love to visit a real Village Blend someday.

—Davida of San Francisco, CA

 

Cleo's reply: GREAT memories, Davida. You had me laughing again. Thanks for sharing!

 

 

POST FROM MESSAGE BOARD

Subject: "BOOKS MADE FOR COFFEE"

Posted by: Cierra Derrico, Georgia

 

Hi Cleo,

I love your books they are wonderful. I couldn't find that right mystery book until I first read Latte Trouble, then I started reading the other novles of the coffehouse books and I was hooked! You are a very talented writer and you really have a 9th grader (me) reading much more than I used to. Thanks for the very very interesting mystery books because I can just sip on some coffee, relax and read your books Thanks Cleo!!!

Cierra Derrico,
Clayton County, GA

 

Cleo's reply: Hi, Cierra! Thank you for stopping by my "virtual" coffeehouse. And thank you especially for reading my books. I am thrilled to hear that you enjoy them, and I'm absolutely delighted to hear that you're in 9th grade.

When I was your age, I discovered some of my favorite authors, many of whom I continue to read today. I can only hope you will continue reading me for years to come, too!

I see that you're from the beautiful state of Georgia!

I had the greatest time in your state when I visited Atlanta to attend "DragonCon" - that's a wonderful convention for fans of science fiction, fantasy, comics, and pop culture, among other things (all of which I love). So, in that spirit, I've baked you a "virtual" Georgia peach pie! This is actually a Maple Cappuccino Peach Pie, if you can believe it. There's a site on the Internet that sells a Maple Cappuccino SAUCE and this recipe uses it to create a peach pie with some very interesting flavors. Click here for the recipe or to find out how to get the sauce.

Thanks again, Cierra, for taking the time and trouble to stop by and post. Keep reading and I'll keep writing!

Java joy to you,

–—Cleo

 

 

REPOST: FROM E-MAIL TO VillageBlend@aol.com...

SUBJECT: John Adams & joe

SENT BY: Marcia from NJ

 

Hi Cleo: I've been reading My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams, which my husband just gave me. I came across this bit of coffee history which I thought might interest you. I've copied it from the book which uses the spelling and punctuation just as it was written:

 

John writes to Abigail from Falmouth
July 6, 1774

 

I believe I forgot to tell you one Anecdote:  When I first came to this House it was late in the afternoon, and I had ridden 35 miles at least.  "Madam" said I to Mrs Huston, "is it lawfull for a weary Traveller to refresh himself with a Dish of Tea provided it has been honestly Smuggled, or paid no Duties"?

 

"No sir, said she, we have renounced all Tea in this Place.  I cant make Tea, but I'le make you Coffee."  Accordingly I have drank Coffee every afternoon since, and have borne it very well.  Tea must be universally renounced.  I must be weaned, and the sooner, the better.

 

 

Looking forward to your next book,

—Marcia from NJ

 

Cleo's reply: Great quote! Thank you, Marcia. (I've been enjoying the HBO mini-series!) 

 

 

REPOST: FROM E-MAIL TO VillageBlend@aol.com...

SUBJECT: Java.net Coffee and Gifts in Houston, MO

SENT BY: Jane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff of...

Java.net Books and Gifts
418 N. Franklin
Cuba, Missouri

 

Cleo,

I read about the coffeehouse in Houston, MO, and wanted to let you know there is another new coffeehouse in rural Missouri. Jave.net uses Kaldi's coffee, which is roasted in St. Louis. Java.net baristas prepare a full line of specialty coffee drinks.

     The coffeehouse has computers and WiFi for customers, and sells new and used books. The operation is housed in a rehabbed 1930s Coca-Cola Warehouse. It has already become a social gathering spot. You will be glad to know that the shop's first book club meeting is discussing your book On What Grounds.

     If you are in the neighborhood, drop by Java.net at 418 N. Franklin in Cuba, MO. Cuba is also known as Rt. 66 Mural City because of its 12 outdoor murals along the Rt. 6 Corridor. I have pre-ordered French Pressed, and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival at Java.net.

—Jane Reed

 

Cleo's reply:

Thanks, Jane! I'm sending my shout-out to you and Java.net owners Mary and Joe Miller! I enjoy hearing about coffeehouses around the country—and letting my virtual "Village Blend" visitors know about them, too. I also enjoyed your wonderful article for the Cuba Free Press and linked to it below for anyone who'd like to read more. The rehabbed 1930's Coca-Cola Warehouse sounds absolutely awesome. If I'm ever in the area, you can be sure I'll stop by Java.net.

—Cleo

 

P.S. I'm reposting your photo of Java.net's delish iced mochas.

Cheers!

Photo by Jane Reed. Click here to read Jane's article!

   

 

Photo of Iced Mochas
served by Java.net
coffeehouse owner Mary Miller

 

"This drink is a shot of espresso, steamed milk with Ghirardelli chocolate, whipped cream, topped with more chocolate syrup and chocolate sprinkles. Definitely the chocolate lovers delight."

—From Java.net's website.

 

OH, YEAAAH,  BABY!

 

 

 

E-MAIL SENT TO CLEO'S VillageBlend@aol.com BOX:

FROM: Karen

SUBJECT: "Good Idea"

 

Cleo, I think that you should eventually publish a Village Blend Cookbook.  One of my many resolutions is to attempt trying a recipe from the Village Blend.  Please note the word "attempt", that's why my son is a graduated chef from Johnson & Wales University.

—Karen

 

 

Cleo's Reply: 

Hi Karen. AWESOME that your son is a graduate of Johnson & Wales. What a great school!

     I recently took a class with a chef graduate of J&W (at a place in SC called Charleston Cooks!). He was great and told some wonderful tales about his training.
     In the coming weeks, I'm going to share a delish rice pudding recipe that I learned from him (and to which I added my own twist). You know, French Pressed might actually entertain your son! It focuses on a cutthroat New York restaurant kitchen. If he happens to read it, let me know what he thinks!

Thanks for the idea on a cookbook, Karen! Who knows what the future will bring!

 

 

—Cleo Coyle

 

 

   

 Visitors from across the USA,
as well as Canada and the UK, have posted on
Cleo Coyle's Coffee Talk Chalkboard.

To read even more  posts and replies,
click on green Coffee Talk chalkboard in right colulmn
and click through the pages.