VernetteOutLoud

The Parlour Royale, A Sweet Review

The Parlour Royale. A sweet review.

A Sweet Review: Baked Treats, Chocolates & Hand-Crafted Coffee

Sharing a the love of food and trying new things is something I cherish and enjoy doing with my friends. And even more so when it’s at a new spot. Cuz, we literally live for this ish…

This soon to be café*, is a collaboration between local makers Cocobel Chocolate, Roastel Coffee and Jamie Gerard Cakes. They offer a yummilicious selection of baked treats, chocolates and you can pick up locally roasted coffee to make the perfect dessert or if you’re like me…for food for breakfast as well.

I visited this heavenly space at few months ago and have been meaning to blog about it ever since. But in light of the fact that they are converting to a “dine-in” space, I figured no time like the present to share some of the highlights of my visit.

*Unfortunately, they are closed for renovations at the moment, however, they will reopen to the public soon.

The Parlour Royale: 222-1090, 38 Royal Road, San Fernando.

Attention to details could be seen everywhere.

Samples of their treats for us to nibble on.

Give me all the chocolates!

 

Stand outs

Everything we sampled and took home.  The chocolates are made from local cocoa and are handcrafted with love. The coffee is from local small batch roaster, Roastel. And the cakes, oh those decadent cakes are also whipped up in house. Listen people, life is way too short not to have dessert, and I say go get it while it’s hot!

I bought some macarons to have at home and I’m glad I did…because it would have been embarrassing for anyone to witness the enjoyment a single  meringue-based cookie can bring a person.

I will be back for

The coffee and all the dessert things. HA! And the thrill of dining-in and sharing the love of food with my friends.

Things to note

There was no WiFi at the time of my visit and no seating. But that is about to change with the much needed and I’m sure anticipated renovations. So if you are in need of little coffee and dessert (which I am always down for) it’s worth the visit.

Love Note: Tablespoon Coffee & Dessert House

Exams hit me hard this week. The first one on Monday morning was kinda bad. Not kinda…it was very bad. I will have to take it again in June next year. Fortunately for me, on my way to the exam center I noticed a sign that said, “Tablespoon Coffee & Dessert House” and after that horrendous exam…I needed a pick me up. Plus I was I saw ‘dessert’ and was curious to find out if they had tiramisu. Becasuse, tiramisu! My ultimate pick-me-up!

While they didn’t have tiramisu (but they carry it sometimes…so I will be back if only to try it) they served up some extra special yumminess that totally made up for the lack of my absolute favourite dessert and the memory of my crap exam.

Tablespoon is located in Curepe, heading east, just before Massy Stores formerly HiLo Food Stores on the Eastern Main Road. It’s been around for a while but has been under new management for the last six months or so. What was amazing to me is that even though it is located right on the main road, traffic noise inside the coffee-house is non-existent. I sat facing the road, but had I turned my back on it, I would not have known that the traffic was right outside the door. The owners did a good job in creating the right ambiance.

The menu is simple and offers both hot and cold drinks, great coffee and tea, as well salads, sandwiches and some yummilicious desserts. I ordered the salmon burger and was informed that it was indeed a House menu favourite. After biting into mine…I knew why. It is simply delicious! Down to the caper sauce drizzled on my plate – which quite frankly tasted like Christmas in a sauce, was so good I broke off a piece of bread to sop it all up lest even a tiny bit go to waste. Happy tummy indeed.

Tablespoon Coffee & Dessert House: 221-8504, 79 Eastern Main Rd, Curepe.

Stand outs: My entire meal – The Salmon Burger and that caper sauce. My coffee was also really good. It was the House brew, which was a decadent, whipped cream, cinnamon dusted bit of heaven. Life is way too short not to get the whipped cream…but if that’s not your thing, Tablespoon has a plethora of options for you to try.

I bought a triple chocolate buttercream cupcake to have at home and I’m glad I did…because it would have been embarrassing for anyone to witness the enjoyment a single cupcake can bring a person.

I will be back for: The Shinta, this is a House Special, which unfortunately I couldn’t try because the coffee machine was not working properly and while I was down for trying it anyway without the trappings, the lovely ladies behind the counter: Samantha and Christiane insisted that I would be short-changing myself and offered to make me something else. And of course the Tiramisu!

I would like to take a moment to mention Christiane here, she was friendly and attentive, in fact I was able to interact with three members of staff and the service is excellent at Tablespoon. Truly a rustic but cozy little Coffee House, certainly raising the bar for coffee houses in the East if not all of Trinidad.

Things to note: WiFi is free and they open on Sundays from 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. So if you are in need of little coffee and dessert on a Sunday afternoon (which I am always down for) it’s worth the visit.

Tablespoon Coffee & Dessert House

What I'm loving: Avocado

Do you remember that scene in Forrest Gump where “Bubba” names all the different ways you can prepare shrimp? That’s how I feel about Avocado or zaboca as they are called here in Trinidad.

You can have avocado in a soup or a smoothie or a million other yummy ways.

Today I’m sharing one more way you can enjoy this so-good-for-you green and yellow yumminess.

You can check out the original gluten-free, vegan recipe here.

Gather
1 cup baker’s flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 mashed avocado
3 tbsp. coconut oil, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. maple syrup (pancake syrup)
A handful of chocolate chips
A dash of Angostura Bitters

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees and grease a baking sheet. I used parchment paper, so no extra grease was required.

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: Flour, baking soda and salt.

In a small bowl, mix together the avocado, coconut oil, vanilla extract, maple syrup and bitters. Add the wet ingredients to the large bowl and stir until thoroughly mixed. Then add the chocolate chips. I found my batter texture to be a little on the dry side so I added another tbsp of coconut oil.

Wet hands then form your batter into 1″ balls. Place on a baking sheet and then gently flatten with the palm of your hand. This batter yields 12-14 cookies, so you can tweak the ingredient amounts if you would like more.

Bake for 11 minutes until the edges are firm. I used a timer and the cookies were perfectly cooked in 11 minutes. I kid you not. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before enjoying. This is the really hard part. The waiting.

But oh so worth the wait. These are ho-ly shit good!

IMG_20140824_134206Seriously no eggs. Yummy soft, cakey texture. Who ever thought avocados and chocolate chips could be so yummy together??

This recipe is easy to prepare. I’m not even kidding here. 10 mins prep time, 11 mins bake time, about 5 mins give or take a min if you put a fan directly on them to hasten the cooling process.

And you have a healthy (there is avocado in it), absolutely delicious, guilt-free chocolate chip dessert.