Thursday, October 04, 2001


let me take this moment to thank all of you for stopping by even during this period of sporadic posting, and also thank yoga teacher and vaidya (ayurvedic practitioner) frank jude for posting on the traditional ayurvedic thinking about bread, coffee, chocolate. it was so great of him to fill in for me.

however, judging from my email, his posts haven't always been popular with you, gentle readers. in particular, yoga teacher nancy la nasa begs to differ on the coffee question. she quotes the venerable swami in her funny, charming, and forthright way:

"And who cares what those nasty ayurvedists say about coffee, the Nectar of the Gods? Swami Sivananda advises in "Divine Bliss"...before asana practice "take some tea, take some coffee, little milk and sugar." If it's good enough for him, it's way good for me. "

a comment that i know will prove popular with many in the audience! you go, girlfriend! let me hasten to say however that i have seen frank jude himself enjoy a double espresso and i know he was only speaking on the traditional ayurvedic view, which is, after all, pertinent and interesting to many yoga students.

on the coffee front, i must confess that i thought carefully about my planned vacation in italy and then took it anyway, although mr. right had to rearrange everything at the last moment. thus i had the opportunity to visit rome, the amalfi coast, and naples. and being in italy for two weeks was quite refreshing at this time.

more importantly, i had the privilege to drink the coffee in naples, which is widely regarded as the best in the world. i was able to visit mexico, the bar generally said to have the best coffee in naples. so it was a best of the best experience.

(i also did have the coffee at the tazza d'oro in rome; the mexico serves better, i think. however, in a side note to richard reynolds, with whom i am slightly acquainted, i must say that i had an excellent, truly excellent cup of espresso kimbo at a hotel in capri; the villa brunella, besides having the most welcoming and accommodating staff in all italy serves what must be called a heavenly cappucino, even after a heavy discount for the location and view! vincenzo knows his way around a three-group gaggia.)

but now i'm back here in brooklyn, hoping to make my personal coffee even better. while in italy, i also had the ability to sample some specialty chocolates. and that will be tomorrow's subject. . .chocolate. . .

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