Nourritourisme

Voted as the best cocktail bar in the world! Make me feel like I’m the only girl in the world and buy me a glass here.

A21

Annankatu 21, Helsinki

Very, very nice looking pastry in Barcelona. Baguettes with grains etc.

Crusto,

Valencia 246,

Barcelona

Farmers’ Market,

Cnr Gore and Galway Streets,

Auckland,

New Zealand

If you are suffering from cultural shock in Shanghai, this is The place for Western people living in Shanghai. People meet up here on week-ends and come pick up some grainy bread instead of all-white-bun-like-bread. There is a huge wooden table in the shop, the personnel call it “socializer”.

The founder of Baker&Spice is Dean Brettscheider, the same person who has written the book “Global Baker - inspirational breads, cakes, pastries & desserts with international influences”. Almost all recipes can be found in the book, and the pastries and breads are absolutely satisfying. They have New-Zealand’s wine, too!

Baker&Spice,

1/F, 195 Anfu Lu,

安福路195号1楼

Shanghai

SOK and Frozen Yoghurt are operating in the same space. Both had hipsteric surrounds and artistic clientele. We thought Frozen Yoghurt was something new, but appeared that they have a shop in Helsinki’s Iso-Robertinkatu. 

“Pop up” summarizes evolution in retail in 2011. For once, I think that’s a good way to go. People like me who are dreaming of their own coffee bar or restaurant or whatever can try their ideas and products as a less risky pop up -concept first. If it works out one might consider quitting the 9 to 5 job and becoming full-time entrepreneurs. Hopefully the guys behind SOK consider that option. (Although there a fellow Hubber posted a short text about SOK already I thought of sharing my experiences.)

A couple of friends and coffee professionals were offered an empty space next to a stylish shop selling frozen yoghurt. The space was available from spring until August. They came up with the idea of an espresso bar just for the summer.

One of the reason why I love pop ups is that they aren’t afraid of being different. SOK was a fresh breeze in the bunch of coffee shops I’ve been to this year. Serving coffee home-roasted by one of the founders as well as a huge variety of more and less recognisable roasters around the world, SOK was all about trying new and learning that way. The espresso was among the best this summer and the V60 was also good.
Hopefully they’ll come up with something new for the next summer. Right next to where SOK used to be is Screaming Beans, a more permanent shop supposedly serving great coffee. They had closed by the time I managed to leave SOK…

34 Hartenstraat,

Amsterdam

This is the place to buy your fish in Auckland. Rarely have I seen such a buzzling and inviting fish market with tonnes of fresh catch. We bought some of the best tuna I’ve had from the martket, and the oysters are superb and inexpensive. Afterwards I’ve been wondering why we went there only once…

Auckland Fish Market

Corner of Daldy St & Madden St, Freemans Bay, Auckland

Ponsonby is full of great cafes, serving delicious coffee and equally good food. The combination of good coffee and nice brunch or lunch is something I really miss in Finland - there’s no one doing both well. 

It’s already been a while since my last visit to Dizengoff but I definitely can remember the great lunch we had. Artisan / smaller scale lemonades and sodas are another item not to be found here up North, that Phoenix lemonade was a perfect match.

256 Ponsonby Road

Ponsonby

Auckland, NZ