By JAN HOGAN
VIEW STAFF WRITER
October 5th, 2010
Sip. Savour. Socialize. Those are the catch words painted on the wall. Maybe another should be added: samba.
Sambalatte Cafe has opened in Boca Park at 705 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 9. Coffee beans are not ground until the customer places his order.
Owner Luiz Oliveira is a native of Brazil, where coffee reigns. He said he wanted to raise the bar with his cafe, a dream that began gaining momentum five years ago.
"I saw that Summerlin was missing a true coffee bar," he said. "If you go to Europe, this is the kind of place you see."
The decor uses coffee colors such as an earthy brown, accented with vibrant red -- chosen to reflect the coffee plant's berries. Coffee beans actually are considered the "pits" of the red berries. A world map depicts the prime growing regions for coffee.
Don Anderson of Colorado River Coffee Roasters said each coffee bean has its own characteristics, just as grapes do for wine.
The coffee is brewed in a variety of ways. One of them is the cold drip system, which depends on gravity. It uses a tall hourglasslike apparatus with glass chambers that remind one of beakers.
"It looks like it's a science experiment," server Jessica Boothe said.
A single cup takes two minutes to filter down through its various chambers.
Regular coffee costs $1.75, and iced black tea is $2. Cafe latte is $2.50. A chalkboard has the beverage menu handwritten on it.
The cafe's sandwiches also have a European touch. The ham sandwich, for example, is made with Black Forest ham and Brie cheese and is served on a baguette for $6.50. Not in the mood for a brewed beverage? Sambalatte also offers fruit smoothies for $4.25.
Organic and sustainable are key words at Sambalatte. It has joined forces with the Rainforest Alliance and is committed to conserving resources for the good of the planet. Food is served on porcelain china. Those on the go receive environmentally friendly disposable cups.
No coffee lounge and espresso bar would be complete without desserts. Chef Megan Romano's pastries are available for those with a sweet tooth, and Patrice Caillot brings the flavor of his native France to Sambalatte with gelato creations. Like the food and pastries, those also show pride in craftsmanship. The pistachio flavor sees him hand-grating the nuts.
Sambalatte plans to offer chair massages on Mondays. Its upper mezzanine includes a lending library and a flat-screen TV for those who like a little television with their brew. The sound system plays soothing music to complement the relaxing atmosphere.
But it's the coffee products that take center stage.
"Our philosophy is to make one cup at a time," said barista Paul Skinner. "It better showcases the potential of the bean ... to do it justice."
Otherwise, he said, you are "cheating yourself of the experience."
Hours are from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, call 272-2333.
Contact Summerlin and Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.
No comments:
Post a Comment