Continuing on our Louisville journey (a week later) brings us to a place that only exists for me in my dreams…Sister Bean’s Coffee House. Well, OK, not really just in my dreams, but not in reality until I make the pilgrimage back to Louisville.
As you probably know, I love coffee. I have a mega slight addiction to Starbucks and usually cannot function in the morning until after at least one cup of coffee. (Slight side note: picked up Whole Foods’ City Roast coffee while in Louisville and am now addicted. What gives?) When Carolyn mentioned there was a place in Louisville that made Starbucks look like “a short, fat, bald man” (Friends anyone?), I was all in.
The drive to the coffee house took us past Iroquois Park, one of Carolyn’s favorite places to run in Louisville. In fact, the location of said coffee house was right across the street from the park! We both decided that would be great motivation for her to go running there on days she had time. You know…run a bit, get a coffee! Sounds like a winner to me!
Carolyn mentioned the frappuccinos were amazing and, since it was 90+ degrees outside, I decided a frosty, cold beverage was the way to go. They had tons of options from which to choose.
I went with the Coconut Mocha Frappuccino.
Oh. My. Amazing.
Indeed as I was slurping this bad boy down, I was picturing short, fat, bald men running around the store holding Starbucks coffees while sneering. (The little men do not like being replaced.) Starbucks doesn’t hold a candle to Sister Bean. The smoothness of my beverage was remarkable. Starbucks’ frappuccinos have bits of ice in them, almost as if they didn’t spend enough time on the blender. Sister Bean’s frappuccino tasted like a milkshake.
The shop was so cute, with lots of great artwork hanging around.
They also had an extensive amount of baked goods (some vegan!) and ice cream! What more could you ask for?
Comfy chairs? Check!
Fireplace? Check!
I could sit here and read my book for hours. It’s definitely going on my list of Must Visit places when I go to Louisville. At this rate, I’ll have to start going for three or four days at a time just to fit all the places in!
Another place I fell in love with was The Fresh Market.
After seeing Carolyn’s post, I knew I had to go. This is a foodie’s paradise. Well, sort of. If you want to talk about places a foodie could live in for years at a time, you need to mention Jungle Jim’s. Carolyn and I ventured there a few months ago and it was so huge I felt overwhelmed. I will definitely have to do a review on this place!
Anyhow…Fresh Market. It’s similar to Whole Foods, but it just feels different. It feels more cozy, like you’re in someone’s home. Don’t ask me why I felt like that…I just did.
The minute we walked in the store, the smell of these cinnamon scented pine cones smacked us in the face.
I loved the lighting combined with all the wood in this store. Like I said…cozy.
And orchids are my favorite flower, so seeing them upon entrance was a nice little touch.
Then I saw it. Barrels and barrels of coffee beans! I stood in the same spot for several minutes inhaling the sweet, wonderful fragrance. (Man, if this store doesn’t play on your senses!)
In addition to the bulk bins of coffee, they had bulk spices,
bulk seeds, grains, granolas,
and bulk dried veggies.
I loved all the different pastas too.
Finally, they had a wonderful cheese display. Don’t you just love the little faux shop canopy above?
What a great day. Two new discoveries! And bonus…Fresh Market is a chain and there are two in Cincinnati! Score!
What’s your favorite local or chain grocery store?
