“No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee’s frothy goodness.” - Sheik Abd-al-Qadir Gilani
I was in Brisbane for the day, for work, my day starting at 4:00 am to catch a 6:00 am flight. It was a day of non-stop meetings, which left me little time to even think, but at least it was a day of achievement as many things got done and some projects finalised. My flight back to Melbourne this evening was greatly delayed and that meant I didn’t get home until close to midnight. That makes for a very long working day. At least, the weekend is up ahead and this will be a useful time to recharge the batteries and not even think of doing any work…
Lunch today was on the run, provided by the café on the campus, which is a franchised outlet of Merlo Coffee. They do make good coffees, but also have a variety of foods, many of which are healthful and wholesome. Their blurb states: “BarMerlo stores are Italian-style espresso bars. Merlo Coffee Private blend is served – exclusive to BarMerlo espresso bars – delivered fresh-roasted daily, directly from the Merlo Coffee Torrefazione. We also have a range of freshly prepared food items, delivered daily from the team of chefs at Merlo Kitchen.”
“Torrefazione” is an Italian word for “coffee roasting house”. At the five Merlo Torrefazioni one can buy everything one needs to make the perfect coffee at home, from the beans to machines! Coffee is roasted daily, and custom ground to the customer’s requirements to help make the best coffee at home. They also run “Coffee Appreciation sessions”, which are quite popular and will initiate the novice to the art and science of making perfect coffee in the Italian style!
We had delicious cheese and fruit platters for lunch, with several different kinds of imported and local cheeses, including leidsekaas, brie, cheddar, tasty and chèvre. There were grapes, strawberries, melon, pineapple, passionfruit and watermelon. Accompanying this feast were gourmet crackers and lavosh, breadsticks and grissini. Needless to say there was also great, freshly made coffee. The working lunch was well received.
I eat fish and eggs but not meat, so having a tropical vegetarian lunch is my idea of heaven on earth. Exotic cheeses, tropical fruits, a wide range of breads and biscuits, and espresso coffee. Give me that for a working lunch and I will cooperate with any agenda item being put up :)
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed that non-meat eaters are being better catered for now? I was in the public service from 1970-90 and almost always had to buy my own sandwiches at a working lunch.
Hello:
ReplyDeleteThis all sounds utterly delightful, the flight apart, as is your entire blog which we have much enjoyed reading. Living in Budapest for the most part, we do agree about the importance of having good coffee; we are surrounded here with excellent coffee houses.
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Sounds like a good lunch! Brain food... Just the thing for work meetings.
ReplyDeletegimme a ham sandwich
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