The tea is unbeLEAFable!

When the autumn sky turns grey and the brisk air stings your face, there is nothing more comforting than wrapping your chilly fingers around something warm and soothing. A hot, steamy mug of tea can be just the beverage for that. Discovered in 2737 B.C. when a tea leaf accidentally fell into some hot water, it is now the most popular prepared beverage in the world. No longer reserved for just the afternoon, with all its different varieties, tea has become something that can be enjoyed at any time, by anyone.

We previously noted that the Jet Cafe has a large selection of teas. Today was the perfect day to sample some of the selection. We brought a tea-loving companion with us to share in the experience. It was midmorning on a Thursday and nearly every table was full with people enjoying breakfast, catching up over coffee or doing some work at a table. Students, artists, police officers, athletes and office workers came and went in a fairly constant stream. The atmosphere was relaxed and we were greeted with welcoming smiles from all the staff.

After looking longingly at the coffee, we turned our attention to selecting a tea. This was no easy feat. A display on the counter caught our eye.

We decided to try some herbal tea from "Two Leaves and a Bud". We chose the Pomi-Berry and Alpine Berry blends. We were pleasantly surprised to see that they came in pyramid-shaped bags that looked as if they were crammed full of dried flowers and other good things.

After sitting at a table for two, we settled in to enjoy our tea. Fragrant steam arose from our cups and the waters had respectively turned a soft purple and deep red. We swirled the bags through the water and once we decided our teas were perfectly steeped, took our first tentative sips. The Pomi-Berry was a gentle, purple-hued tea. Everything seemed to be blended perfectly so that nothing stood out. It was mild but satisfying. The Alpine Berry had a more fruity bouquet. The deep red colour immediately drew the eye. Our companion says it was a smooth, easy-drinking kind of tea that would also go well as an iced tea. We were highly satisfied with our selections and have planned to try different kinds on another visit.

There are many other kinds of tea available to try, depending on your mood and brand preference.

While we were waiting in line, a customer told us she regularly orders the Tazo "Refresh". We've added that to the list, along with the "Organic Chai". Will we become tea converts? Maybe...we're definitely looking forward to giving each one a try!

As we were preparing to leave, we were advised by Jeff, the owner, that Jet Cafe carries a hard-to-find honey and ginger tea designed to help ease cold and flu symptoms. Given that so many people we know are currently sniffling and coughing, we're sure it is only a matter of time before we're seeking this immune-boosting blend. And as most of the teas are herbal, it will still be possible to enjoy a cup and have a nap!

Due to technical problems, we couldn't get a picture of our Artwork of the Day. It was a gorgeous picture of Venice, with gondoliers steering their way down a canal filled with other boats and bright canopies. We challenge you to spot it on your next visit!

See you soon at Jet Cafe!

Sing for your...brunch

The weekend...two precious days that seem so far away on a Wednesday afternoon and gone too soon on Monday morning. If Saturday is the day for taking care of business, Sunday seems to be the day to stop and slow it all down. Lionel Richie just may have been onto something when he sang about being easy like Sunday morning. And there is no better place for an easy Sunday morning than at the Jet Cafe.

Since our perfect Sunday morning involves eating, drinking and being merry, we decided to invite our family to join us for brunch...with a soundtrack. Jeff agreed to let the Music Man do an acoustic set today. We are hoping that this will be a regular event in the future and that you will drop in to hear him sing for yourself as you enjoy your own Sunday morning brunch.

As he was singing today, the Music Man chose to stick with tea. You know that expression "for all the tea in China?" Maybe it should be changed to "for all the tea at the Jet Cafe". Whether you are a steeped-tea traditionalist or someone who prefers a funky herbal blend or somewhere in the middle, there is something there for you. Music Man went the traditional route today. And while one day Coffee Lady will test drive some of the exotic blends, today was all about that hot cup of caffeinated love.

Cinnabon flavoured coffee...smells like a fresh-from-the-oven cinnamon bun but without the guilt of eating a fresh-from-the-oven cinnamon bun (or two...or three).

After much deliberation over the menu, we elected to try the veggie omelette today. At just $5.50, it comes with your choice of white or whole wheat toast and homefries.

This is an omelette for a hungry person. The homefries were cooked to the perfect level of crispness and were not too salty.

At first, we were skeptical about the amount of vegetable content in the omelette, thinking that perhaps the veggies on the outside were all that we were going to get. Sometimes "veggie omelette" really just means "egg, cheese and whatever leftover vegetables we can't get rid of". Thankfully, that was NOT the case today...

...the vegetables on the outside were just the ones that couldn't be crammed inside. This omelette was literally bursting with fresh carrots, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, celery, onions and peppers. The tender-crispness was a perfect accompaniment to the fluffiness of the eggs.

As the other members of our party arrived, they too found themselves deliberating over what to order today and soon came to the conclusion that the only sensible thing to do would be to pick something today and just come back again another day to try something else. While we were devouring our meal with gusto, we couldn't help but sigh with longing over the excellent choice one of our party made:

Banana pancakes with your choice of strawberry or chocolate sauce. The word 'round the table was that they were hot, soft and too delicious not to share. Our biggest regret was that we were too far down the table to snag a forkful for ourselves.

As we ate and drank, we were serenaded with an acoustic set. Our very own Music Man played a variety of old and new songs that were the perfect accompaniment to brunch. He found the perfect harmony that allowed him to be heard without impeding conversation. We heard other tables singing along with us. Admittedly, we are very biased, but we thought it was great. The other members of our party were all first-timers to the Jet and are already asking when the next gig will be.

Enthusiasm, heart and a passion for music...if you have a particular song you need to hear, let us know in the comments and the Music Man will see if he can add it in to the rotation!

All good things must come to an end sometime...all too soon, the empty plates were cleared away, the music ended and we realized we had finally had enough coffee. It was time to head home and figure out what to do with the rest of our day. We intended to take a picture of a different work of art on the wall but at the last minute, this one caught Coffee Lady's eye and just begged to be the favourite for this visit (excuse the less-than-stellar photography, we were holding a squirmy baby at the time):

For some reason, this just summed up how today felt. Like we were catching up with our family with lazy Sunday morning music in the background, in a great place. All that was missing were the palm trees!

See you soon at Jet Cafe!

"Waffle" it be, today?

Ah, fall....the time when the leaves turn, the air cools down and a hot coffee becomes even more essential. Mourning the end of summer becomes much easier when there are many choices for coffee.

Seattle's Best, Kick Ass, ethical, regular, flavoured...it's a buffet of options designed to please everyone...the only question is which one to start with?

While the Jet Cafe does offer espresso, cappuccino, lattes, steamed milk, hot chocolate and flavoured steamers, we confess to being simple folk who prefer a simple cup of coffee...although we do have a weakness for a flavoured blend. After much deliberating, we chose to give the Javanilla a try on this weekday visit.

Mild with warm notes of vanilla and a fragrant smell. Definitely a cup to wrap your cold hands around and breathe in deeply. Oops, don't mind the mess we made on the counter!

Once the all-important issue of the coffee had been settled, it was time to decide on what was for breakfast today. We checked out the specials menu:

On our very first visit, we had #7 - the two eggs anystyle. We enjoyed poached eggs, whole wheat toast and homefries for $2.95 each. Poached eggs can be tricky to get right but these were perfect!

After talking to Jeff, the affable and helpful owner of Jet Cafe, we were persuaded to try the waffle with fresh fruit salad and whipped cream. As we were awaiting our order, the smell of cinnamon soon wafted our way. Our mouths were watering at the scent. When it arrived, it didn't disappoint.

The waffle is a special Belgian recipe and has a perfect crisp outer layer and delectable soft inner layer. The fruit was fresh and ripe without being mushy (something we can't stand). At $4.95, this was an affordable indulgence.

We stopped short of licking the plate clean. Needless to say, there was nothing left on the plate. Once we had got the business of eating over with, we paused to enjoy our coffee and look around. People working in nearby stores and offices came in for a coffee to go. Regulars arrived to get their usual order and the staff greeted most of them by name. Some people stayed to enjoy their order while others breezed in and out, off to conduct their daily business.

Eventually it was time to depart. In addition to really fun chairs...

...Jet Cafe also features different works of art. We will try to show a different one with each post. This is Coffee Lady's current favourite:

See you soon at Jet Cafe!

Now Boarding! (A bit of pre-flight introductions)

Welcome to Jet Fueled!
This blog is all about our adventures at the Jet Cafe, our favourite place to stop in for delicious food and fantastic coffee. We will bring you reviews of what we ate, the coffees we tried and things that happened while we were there. Whether you decide to join us or come in on your own, we know that you will be warmly welcomed by the staff and that this is one place where fueling up is affordable!

By day, we are your average Joe and Jane...working types with two kids, a dog and a house in the 'burbs. But since we need cool identities for this blog, we're the Music Man and Coffee Lady. He makes music, she loves a hot caffeinated beverage. He likes his meat; she prefers the vegetarian way. Together, we're not out to take over the world but rather to slow down and enjoy the little things, like good food and conversation, complete with a soundtrack. We look forward to your comments, suggestions and most importantly, to seeing you at the Jet Cafe!