Yes, we are drinking lots of coffee here (oddly enough, I was not a coffee drinker when I lived here). And we finally got to visit the cafe that Mark’s sister keeps raving about, Cafe Besalu in Ballard. Their flaky, buttery pastries did live up to the hype.

It’s not officially summer in NY until you experience a heatwave, and well…we’re in one right now - the first of 4 days of 90+ degree heat. Niiiice. Despite the heat, Mark’s still headed to the Flea which should be interesting, but we are now going to offer cold, summer drinks in addition to our usual goods. This week Mark will be making his watermelon cooler with shiso leaf and lime. Shiso is a member of the mint family and is used in Japanese dishes (Korea has their own Perilla leaf that is similar in appearance, but sharper in taste). He’s been making watermelon coolers for years, sometimes with lemongrass, sometimes with mint, but we thought shiso would make an interesting counterpoint to the watermelon and offer a flavor many people might not be familiar with. So if you happen to be out and about in Fort Greene, stop on by.