Caffespresso – Old World on Gaskins Road

So, I was at my chiropractor’s office one day early in the year, and he said, “Do you drink coffee?  Because there is a really great coffee shop right next door.”  I don’t, as it turns out, drink coffee.  Never really have.  I’m pretty hyper as it is.  But I went over there anyway, because there was a delicious, decidedly not-coffee smell coming from the place and I was hungry with a capital ungry.

It turns out the delicious smell was a fresh croissant coming right out of the oven.  So, I ate one.  Yum!  The next time back, freshly-baked Tascas had just come out of the oven.  What’s a Tasca?  I tried to google it, so maybe I’m spelling it wrong, but I will describe it to you perfectly.  It’s a little foldover pie filled with cheese, ham, and egg, with a little bit of spices.  It’s DEElicious.  I get it every time now, and I weight a thousand pounds.  Just kidding.  It’s really, really, good.  And they even came up with a coffee drink I don’t mind – of course it tastes nothing like coffee, but it’s good.  It has white chocolate, caramel, and vanilla in it.  Like a said, a thousand pounds.  It’s called the Dante Paradiso, if you want to wallow in the sugar with me.

Caffespresso opened in Gaskins Place in 2009.  Richmond Times Dispatch wrote it up, focusing on the owner, Claudio Ragazzi.  Claudio is the lovely fellow with the delectable Northern Italian accent who greets you when you walk in.  He is not only the owner of Caffespresso, he also teaches Italian and Spanish, and recently took a group of his students and patrons on a trip to Italy.  From what I hear, it was the most fun.

Caffespresso started out as a cart that made its way around VCU campus.  Ragazzi, a former instructor at VCU, wanted to get out and be a part of the vital Richmond community – and he wanted to teach that community about good coffee – because the stuff we drink normally doesn’t hold a candle to the stuff Claudio serves.  And this is from a non-coffee drinker.  Those coffee fiends that I know – they all go to Claudio now.

The cart still makes it to special events.  As for Claudio, he stays at the shop on Gaskins, cultivating a fiercely dedicated following and talking a lot about soccer – his other passion.  He teaches, coaches, plays, and acts as spectator.  In fact, once the World Up is on, you might be missing out on his company for a while.  Luckily, all his employees are charming and wonderful, so you’ll still have a wonderful experience.

**Try, if you will, a panini as well.  I’ve had several different kinds, and my favorites are the Vitello Tonne, the Caprese, and the Cotto.  They are all crafted on fresh focaccia bread and they are delicious.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Top 10 International Desserts (toptenz.net)
• Chocolate (eatinginrichmond.com)

Get your Richmond business or service reviewed on RichmondVAPresents.com. Email us at marketing (at) richmondvapresents dot com
–
Contact Big Oak SEO, a Richmond SEO company, to help your website get found in Google’s search results.

Richmond, VA Baseball Team – Local Suggestions Abound

photo stolen from The Richmond Times-Dispatch

One of the hottest topics in RVA right now is the naming of our new AA-class baseball team

I’m not usually one to belabor a point, but I’ve been reading up on some of the Richmond community’s responses to the possible names, and some of them are too good, too bad, or too funny to ignore.  I’ll share some community insights with you with my comments in italics again, so you can imagine a mellifluous voice-over ala Judi Dench or James Earl Jones.  Or the guy who narrates Harry Potter.  Or Howard Cosell-esque, if you prefer.

Comments on The Richmond Times-Dispatch website are generally not in favor of the name suggestions (to recap, The Flatheads, The Flying Squirrels, The Hambones, The Rock Hoppers, The Rhinos, and now…The Hushpuppies).

The Hushpuppies is the wild card name proposed by Jeff Dunn.  I don’t know who that is, but I’m sure he had the best of intentions.  The Hushpuppies would be great if we could get an endorsement from the shoe company, but since they don’t make baseball cleats – only “Mall Walkers” I think the chances are pretty slim.  Mall Walkers.  Heh.

Here are some suggestions taken from those RTD comments, and the link should serve as credit where do, just scroll on down to the comment section to read the full text.  We have some smart people in this town.  And some not-so-smart people, but mainly really smart.

The Richmond Defenders  (though I happen to like The Richmond Rebels – from a comment on our last post, the very best.  If New York can have the Yankees, why can’t we have the Rebels?)
The Richmond Colonials (meh)
The Richmond Reptiles (I kinda like it.  Cold blooded, eat bugs…nice.)

RTD’s Paul Woody had some good ones:  The Richmond Ropes (after a baseball training thingy), and The Richmond Blue Darters (after another baseball-related move or something).  Both baseball-related.  One possibly evocative of ugly Southern times.  Maybe not such a good idea.  Might as well call ‘em The Richmond Lynch Mob or The Richmond Hang ‘Em High.

My two personal favorites, tweeted by Richmond blogger and social media guru Matt Harrington (mattjh2):

“I don’t care what they name the RVA baseball team. I’m calling them the Richmond Hipsters no matter what.”

Hilarious.  Teams could consist of skinny jeans and those black and white scarf things all the kids are wearing.  And players would have to ride mopeds to the game.  In fact, everyone has to ride a moped or scooter to the game.  No car parking at all.  Not that I have anything against scooters or mopeds.  In fact, I would love to buy one, but I’m not cool enough to ride it.  All the moped kids would beat me up and kick sand in my face.  Even though we’re not a sandy town.  They’d find some sand.  You can bet on it.

“How ’bout the Richmond Ukropalypse? Logo is a runaway shopping cart. Don’t serve beer at games. Peanuts are overpriced. No games on Sunday.”

I have nothing but love for Ukrops.  It’s true.  I adore that place.  But those peanuts are pretty expensive.

My two cents?  How about The Richmond Diamonds, after the venue that hosted Richmond baseball for so many years?  Or The Richmond Flood?  Since we’ve had some doosies.  Just sayin’.

Keep the suggestions coming, you fine people of Richmond, Virginia.  Give me the ammo and I’ll…well, I’ll blog about it.

Get your Richmond business or service reviewed on RichmondVAPresents.com. Email us at marketing (at) richmondvapresents dot com
–
Contact Big Oak SEO, a Richmond SEO company, to help your website get found in Google’s search results.

Richmond Baseball – Making a Name for Itself?

The Richmond Times-Dispatch posted an article yesterday regarding the names proposed for the new Richmond baseball team.  If you haven’t been keeping up with the latest news regarding Richmond’s baseball saga, on September 30th it was announced that the good ol’ Diamond will be the place for Richmond baseball, at least for two years.  Richmond’s Class AA franchise doesn’t feel totally sure that renovations will be possible to get the Diamond up to snuff, but they’re willing to think about trying.

So, Richmond’s Class AA franchise reached out to the Richmond community, asking for possible names for the new team.  They are, to say the least, interesting.  The five contenders were announced yesterday, with a little explanation as to why each one was considered.  Below you’ll find the Times Dispatch’s explanation, with my comments in italics.  Because I know you care very much how I feel about things.

Flatheads: a kind of catfish commonly found in the James River.  Also a type of screwdriver, a type of engine, and a medical condition wherein one part of your skull is flat.  Mayhap all the players will have this condition, and the souvenir hats will feature a flat part of the crown.

Flying Squirrels: soar in Virginia.  Flying squirrels in the wild will live half as long as the ones who live in captivity, because they are such yummy fodder for predators.  Like snakes, raccoons, coyotes, cats, martens and owls.  So, we’re pretty much sunk if we play the Northern Division’s Portland Sea Dogs or the New Britain Rock Cats.

Hambones: paying homage to Virginia ham.  And then, in between innings or in the outfield, the players can dance the hambone to unnerve their opponents.

Rock Hoppers: people or animals on river rocks.  Players will be required to carry coolers of PBR wherever they go.  Player’s dogs are also allowed to roam free on the field.

Rhinos: alliteration featuring a powerful image.  No comment.  While rhinoceroses are not indigenous to Richmond (obviously), rhinoceroses are mighty and powerful.  In fact, if it weren’t for humans they would have no natural predators.  That’s pretty cool.  Additionally, their horns are said to be aphrodisiacs, so that means the Richmond baseball team will be extra sexy.  And subject to poaching and endangerment.  On second thought, no thanks.

Do you have a better suggestion?  Further snarky comments?  Bring ‘em on.  You know we love to hear it!

Get your Richmond business or service reviewed on RichmondVAPresents.com. Email us at marketing (at) richmondvapresents dot com
–
Contact Big Oak SEO, a Richmond SEO company, to help your website get found in Google’s search results.