Cream and Sugar Cafe: Coffee, Sandwiches and Celebrity Gossip

I'm a sucker for a killer cheeseburger, a great cup of coffee and those trashy celebrity gossip magazines. I haven't ever officially bought one but I'm not ashamed to admit that I'll flip through one or two while waiting in line at the grocery store, read an entire issue while getting a pedicure or peruse one while at the airport bookstore. Does it benefit me in any way? No. Am I learning anything beneficial or important? Not a chance. I guess I'm just a victim of the celebrity consumed culture in which we live (check out the film Idiocracy for a grim view of our distant future).

Imagine my surprise when I walked into and saw a bona fide magazine stand right by the register. The magazine choices are geared towards women as there are issues of Self, In Style, Marie Claire, Vogue and of course, OK!, Star and US Weekly. The magazines are all for sale and it's quite a genius move (if you ask me). Stop in for breakfast or lunch and grab a magazine while you're at it. For those that are afraid to dine alone (my mom and most people I know) it offers some solace. Carrie Bradshaw once said that a book or magazine was like a piece of armor when you are dining alone and she's correct.

I was armed with my laptop, iphone and book (I never leave home without one in my bag) and ordered a cafe au lait and panini with mozzarella, pesto, plum tomatoes.

The coffee is La Colombe, one of my favorites, and the brew of the day was Phocea. I'm a bit partial to the Afrique blend but I rarely see it on brew. The coffee was rich, smooth and I could feel the caffeine coursing through my veins as I banged out more articles on my computer. The foam on top was thick and wonderful. Cafe au lait is my favorite coffee drink. I would make them at home but it's nearly impossible to find a decent milk frother/foamer that doesn't cost a fortune.

The panini was smaller than I expected and the mozzarella was pasteurized rather than fresh. However, that being said the pesto was flavorful and the tomatoes tasty. I didn't expect much but I ended up devouring the sandwich. The panini bread was more like a panini-pita hybrid in terms of shape, texture and flavor.

 There are plenty of sweets available for dessert or to enjoy with your cup of coffee (tea or chai). Pound cake, biscotti and even animal crackers are for the taking. I appreciated the fresh fruit on display because sometimes it's nice to just have a crisp apple after a big meal.

The service is quite friendly and attentive. When one of the staffers saw me delicately touching the table to see if I wanted to put my laptop down (wasn't sure if it had been wiped down), he quickly rushed over and wiped down the table. Everyone is smiling and there are multiple bulletin boards with pictures of the smiling customers. 

The decor is a bit eclectic--there are all different kinds of chairs and tables (some wooden, some metal, some cushioned, some not). Right by the restroom is a black baby grand piano and there are numerous works of art both framed on the wall and painted directly on the wall. The space is quite clean and you can tell that much care was taken in setting up the dining area.

The crowd is mostly local. I did happen to overhear a bunch of midwestern women catching up over coffee. Having spent 6 years in Chicago, I  hear that accent with the hard 'a's and it takes me back to Wrigley Field, the Southside and summer afternoons swimming in Lake Michigan. Cream and Sugar Cafe also has a homey feeling to it. I might not have spent 6 years there but I know that I'll come back to it with fond memories as well, or at the very least to get my celebrity gossip fix.