Catching Up Over Coffee - April 29, 2018 at CBBG Dessert Bar in Watertown

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit.

April 29, 2018 - My sister and I have been working crazy, opposite schedules this year and I have been sick twice. We haven't been able to see each other since Christmas! But, we were finally able to make plans to get together and after doing some Googling, came across a place that sounds like it was made for us - CBBG Dessert Bar in Watertown, CT.

My sister had to work on this Sunday morning, so we decided to meet at about 2pm at the dessert bar. It is quite difficult to find a coffee shop or bakery that is open past 2pm on Sundays. CBBG is open until 7pm on Sundays!

Fortunately, there is a large parking lot behind the plaza where CBBG is located. I arrived a couple of minutes after my sister and we walked into the shop together. My first reaction as we walked in was that it was a little smaller than I expected. The entire place consisted of a bar made of pennies (as seen in the picture above), one display case, and about five or six tables. There was one other group sitting there when we arrived. 

My sister and I were able to taste a sample of coffee that the gentleman behind the counter had just mixed up. It was based on a fire hot candy and had a little more spice than I normally have, but it was tasty. My sister didn't like the taste, but she loved the pink color. 

After ordering our coffees, we had to pick what we wanted to eat. She chose a brownie that was covered in fudge and topped with an Oreo. I settled on a red velvet cupcake that was filled and topped with cheesecake. 

My favorite part of these coffee dates is being able to catch up with my sister. I was so happy that we were able to take our time and didn't feel rushed while we were sitting there. 

I liked my cupcake, but was a little disappointed with the flavor of the cheesecake filling and the fact that the frosting was buttercream and not cheesecake. My S'mores coffee was quite tasty. My sister enjoyed her brownie and caramel latte. 

CBBG Dessert Bar is located on a main road, at the road side of a plaza that goes back from the street. It was easier to get to for both my sister and for me. If the weather had been just a little warmer, we would have sat outside, but it was drizzling, so we sat by the door inside. 

Overall, I recommend visiting CBBG Dessert Bar if you are in the area or passing through. If you do, be sure to let me know.

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford
Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire
Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington 
Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor
Catching Up Over Coffee - June, 2017 at Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam
Catching Up Over Coffee - October, 2017 at J Rene in West Hartford

Catching Up Over Coffee - October, 2017 at J Rene in West Hartford

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 


October, 2017 - Now that all of the wedding stuff has quieted down, my sister and I have tried to get back into meeting for coffee once a month. However, that is proving difficult. She has started working a more steady schedule at a restaurant, which means a lot of nights and weekends. With my office job, I work a Monday through Friday office schedule. 

Four months since our last date, we finally found some time that worked for both of us. This was mostly because I was already planning a trip up to pick up an end table from a friend's mother who lived a town over from where we decided to meet. It was raining by the time I was down putting the table in my car and heading to the cafe, but I didn't really mind. On the other hand, my sister ended up sleeping in later than she expected and was about an hour late meeting me (not for the first time). 

Finally! My sister and I found a coffee place that actually does designs with the foam! This is what I have been waiting for! Fortunately, the lattes were tasty because I was not impressed with the food. I was excited when I saw bundt cake, but it was dry and not very flavorful. My sister said her pastry was good at least. 

It was really cool to visit a place that added the designs to the foam. It was also fun to be in a coffee shop that served coffee four ways - drip, pour over, French press, and siphon - I believe. Walking into their cafe looks a little like walking into an old-timey laboratory. There are copper pipes everywhere and the staff wear aprons. The limited seating that there is lends itself to meeting new people, which is nice, but my sister and I were trying to spend some quality time together. The two top tables that they did have seemed to be the first to be filled. All of the people where were there seemed to be studying for some class or other, so we felt we should try to be a little quieter than normal as to not disturb them. 

Overall, I could see myself popping back in there to grab a coffee while walking around the area if I ever find myself back in that part of the state. I'm looking forward to trying out the next location.

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford
Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire
Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington 
Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor

Catching Up Over Coffee - June, 2017 at Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

June, 2017 - With all of the wedding prep, my sister and I saw a lot of each other between January and May of 2017, so we took a bit of a break from our regularly scheduled coffee dates. Before I go over seas on my honeymoon, I wanted to make sure to get one more coffee trip in with my sister. 

This time, we decided to visit a place that I just knew we would both love as soon as I heard the name, Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam. 

I read about their story online, sent my sister a link, and then we immediately made plans on when to meet. It took each of us about an hour to get to from our respective homes, and boy was it worth the trip! Not only was the coffee delicious, the food was too, including the ice cream! 

My sister and I ate our food inside at one of the many tables and chairs. The cafe is built inside an old house, and so it feels as if you are eating at a friend's home. Up the small ramp to the left of the counter, we found three or four small rooms that were filled with an eclectic mix of furniture. Every wall and the ceiling was covered with decor, mostly of the feline sort. 

After we finished our food, we went back up front to order ice cream, which we then took with us outside to the back yard where we found a fountain, a small patch of grass, and some trees. We had the yard to ourselves the whole time we were there. It was a nice day, but not a great day, so I could see why it wasn't as busy as it should have been. 

On our way out to the parking lot, we saw that even the concrete sidewalk had been cat-ified:

I believe my sister has already been back to this cafe with some friends of hers. I know I'll be back the next time I go to a show at Goodspeed Opera House, which is less than a mile down the street from Two Wrasslin' Cats

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford
Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire
Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington 
Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor

Catching Up Over Coffee - January, 2017 at NIX in South Windsor

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

January, 2017 - Thirteen months after saying yes, and less than four months before the big day, it was past time for me to pick out bridesmaids dresses. I had gone once before with my best friend and narrowed my choices down to two, but I couldn't decide. I wanted to see how one of my other bridesmaids would look in the dress. So, I made an appointment at David's Bridal in Manchester with my sister. 

Unfortunately, it snowed all day the day of the appointment. Manchester is over an hour away from me, but I figured if I drove slowly and carefully, I would be fine. I was right. There were hardly any cars on the highway compared to normal rush hour traffic. My sister got to the appointment on time and started to try on the first dress. I made it there soon after. 

We video chatted with our other sister and decided to go with the second dress. I love how it works with my dress! 

After the appointment, we were planning on going to a cute little coffee shop in South Windsor, but they ended up being closed due to the snow. We did try calling and no one picked up but there was no message saying they were closed. We decided to drive over to the plaza to check. 

Fortunately, there were lots of little shops in the shopping plaza, including a few tea shops. Even the Ben & Jerry's served coffee and tea. By this time, we were hungry, so we decided to try NIX. We thought they had coffee and tea, but they only had regular Lipton tea. The food, however, was great!

I had the ahi tuna salad with a lemon vinaigrette and my sister had risotto and a side of mac and cheese, which she claimed was the best mac & cheese she has ever had. It did look good, but it was the last day of my Whole30 challenge, and I didn't give in!

Even though we didn't have coffee, we still had a great conversation and a great meal. It counts.

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford

Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire
Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington 

Catching Up Over Coffee - December 2016 at Caffe del Mondo in Southington

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

December, 2016 - So much for meeting up once a month for coffee! For four months in a row we were good, but then life got in the way. My sister and I saw each other now and then with the rest of the family, but we didn't go out for coffee just the two of us, so it doesn't count for this blog. 

We finally got a chance to catch up over coffee in December. My sister has recently taken up sewing after watching 10+ seasons of Project Runway. She bought herself a nice Brother sewing machine and has found that she has some skill. I asked her if should would be able to make my wedding veil and she said yes. We decided to meet up at Jo-Ann Fabric in Southington so that we could also go out for coffee in a different town as well. 

Before I headed up to Southington, I did a quick search online and found a coffee shop that was close to Jo-Ann Fabric called Caffe del Mondo. 

The Caffe was rather small and quiet with a few rustic style wood tables and chairs. A long bench was built into the side wall opposite the door. To the left of the door was a charming fireplace with big comfy chairs. 

For food, my sister could not resist the gingerbread cookie and I had the cinnamon twist. For coffee, she had an iced coffee and I had a Milky Way latte. This turned out not to be our favorite place. My food was dry and the coffee was alright but not great. The service was average. 

Would we go back? Maybe for a quick coffee fix if we happen to be back in the area, but I'm not planning a special trip. 

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe in Manchester

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's in Wallingford
Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire

Catching Up Over Coffee - April 2016 at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

April, 2016 - This month, my sister and I decided to meet about half way from our homes, which turned out to be Cheshire, CT. There is a coffee shop in this town fittingly called Cheshire Coffee. I had been there a few times before, but not with my sister, so we figured this would be a good time for her to try it. 

This coffee shop is located in a stand alone building and has it's own parking lot, something we don't see too often around here. 

Inside, the place is spacious yet cozy. There are photos hanging on the walls, big comfy chairs scattered around, and some tables for those who want to eat and work. The people are always so nice on both sides of the counter as well. 

For food, I had the turkey wrap with smoked Gouda and asparagus. My sister had a chicken panini. This is the second or third time I had this wrap and I will probably have it again next time I go. I also had the caramel macchiatto while my sister had a flavored iced coffee. I don't remember exactly which one, though. 

Everything was delicious and tasty. Would we go back? I know I would!

We weren't done with our day yet...

As an added bonus, we visited a well known ice cream shop called Sweet Claude's . Boy did it live up to its reputation! Even in the light rain, there was still a line, and we found out why. The ice cream was so smooth, thick, and creamy. Delicious. In a state full of top notch ice cream, it's hard to stand out. Very few are as well known and respected as Sweet Claude's. My only regret is that this was my first time visiting. 

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the other places we have visited so far: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe
Catching Up Over Coffee - March 2016 at Half Moon and Mr. D's

Catching Up Over Coffee - February 2016 at Focaccia's Cafe

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

February, 2016 - Since I visited my sister in January, this month she drove down to my hometown for our monthly coffee meetup. We were originally planning on checking out this new place downtown, but she was running late and they were closed by the time we got there around 4 p.m. on a Sunday. I don't know why they close so early on a Sunday, but they are new, so maybe they are short staffed.

Anyway, we ended up going to one of my favorite coffee places, Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton, CT. I visit at least once, but usually more like three, times a week. This visit, however, was special. Instead of just getting a regular coffee, I ordered the Focaccia's Caramel Macchiato. It is a little more pricey than the rest of the coffee offerings, but it is so worth it. Here is a picture (after I had a few sips):

See the layers? See that handmade whipped topping? See those bubbles? Each bit is so good. This is a drink to savored.

I got right to drinking my coffee before I realized that I didn't get a picture of my sister's drink! The pic above is both of our drinks and the cup for the homemade chips that Facaccia's gives out with every meal. Everyone raves about the chips! 

My sister's coffee was very tasty too, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. I tried going back and ordering what I thought it was, but it didn't taste the same. I guess I will just have to keep going back!

Once my sister and I finished our drinks and our conversation, we headed to another favorite spot - Peachwave Frozen Yogurt for some dessert. It was a very nice afternoon. If you ever find yourself in Shelton, CT, I highly recommend stopping into Focaccia's Cafe for a coffee and/or a meal.

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This post is one in a series of monthly posts. If you are wondering why I am writing this series, head on over to Catching Up Over Coffee to read the explanation. 

Then, check out the post from January, 2016: 

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe

Catching Up Over Coffee - January 2016 at Landmark Cafe

My sister and I decided a while back to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state. This blog series serves as a review of the coffee shops we visit. 

January, 2016 - My sister and I met one evening in late January for some dinner and coffee at a small cafe in Manchester, CT. We had decided to meet up once a month at a different coffee shop in Connecticut in order to catch up and see the state.

For our first outing, we met closer to her home. She lives about an hour north of me with our father, so I got a chance to see him as well. Since we were in her area, she got to pick where we would go and chose The Landmark Cafe. 

I got there first and picked a table, which was a bit of a challenge for me because each table was unique and had its own charm. Even each set of salt and pepper shakers were different. I picked one and sat down to wait. 

My sister and I ended up ordering sweet potato fries for an appetizer, which came with a mayo based dipping sauce, which was very tasty. She had a Alfredo pasta dish and I got a veggie wrap. Both were quite tasty. 

After dinner, we finally got to the coffee. We learned that Landmark Cafe has specialty lattes and mochas, which made our night. My sister ordered the Caramello and I had the Banana Fudge (closer mug). Both were very delicious! 

The Caramello tasted just like you would expect a latte version of the candy bar to taste. The thick foam carried the taste of the toasted marshmallow and smooth caramel from mug, over taste buds, and into the stomach. It was a joy to sip. 

Sweet chocolate and creamy banana pair so well, it seems, in any form. Each sip of the Banana Fudge latte was a treat. This is the kind of experience I hope to have each time I order a latte. 

Now for the real test - would I visit this cafe again? The answer is yes. In fact, I already have. I happened to be back in Manchester to go wedding dress shopping and brought my entire party here for lunch. They all enjoyed it as well! 

If you want to learn more about our coffee adventures and why we are doing this, read the first post, Catching Up Over Coffee 

Next - Catching Up Over Coffee - February at Focaccia's Cafe

Catching Up Over Coffee

My youngest sister and I are 9 years apart and live an hour away from each other in the same state. We have just a few things in common. One of them happens to be coffee. 

At the end of 2015, we decided to be more proactive in our relationship. Between the age difference and the miles between us, it was very easy for us to go months without speaking to each other. We were each living our own lives in our own little worlds and not working on our relationship or making it a priority.

I started this post by saying my youngest sister and I... which would rightly imply that I have another sister. In fact, I have another sister and a brother. My other sister just had a baby, which is a naturally good reason for us to see and talk to each other. My brother and I have been in touch regularly and have a common interest in tech.

With so many of us in my family and so much always going on, I decided it was time to focus on my relationship with my youngest sister. One day late last year, she mentioned that she liked coffee. We started talking about coffee and cafes and realized that we finally had something in common. I suggested that we travel all over our home state of Connecticut, and visit a coffee shop once a month. We would get to see the state and catch up with each other while sharing our shared love of coffee. She loved the idea, so we picked a date in January to start.

I decided that I wanted to blog about our experience and the different coffee shops and towns that we will visit, so here it is! This blog will focus on the coffee shops and towns and not so much on our relationship because that is our business.

As we visit more places, I will keep the updated list with links to the individual posts here.

January at The Landmark Cafe in Manchester, CT

February at Focaccia's Cafe in Shelton, CT

March at Half Moon Coffee House and Grille and Cafe in Wallingford, CT (and Mr. D's)

April at Cheshire Coffee in Cheshire, CT

December at Caffe del Mondo in Southington, CT

January at NIX in South Windsor CT

June, 2017 at Two Wrasslin' Cats in East Haddam, CT

October 2017 at J Rene in West Hartford, CT

April 2018 at CBBG Dessert Bar in Watertown, CT