The man, the myth, the legend, Action Bronson released his coffee shop hopping adventures video back at his home base, New York. I was a fan of his Paris adventures with the wine shaman, Clovis - part deux was one of my favorite videos of all time. I looked forward to the rapper's new adventures with a different kind of beverage. Starting off with the construction worker's coffee at the local Bodega, Action Bronson and a coffee shop owner visited La Cabra, a hip coffee shop with a strong coffee and bakery program. With his superstar prowess, he entered the back room and appreciated all the extra work and details that went into the products coming out of the quaint space.
Now, I was no Action Bronson, but I wanted to live like him at least for a Thursday late morning. Walking down for at least an hour, trying to manage my expectations, I finally arrived to grab a light breakfast at La Cabra. Woahhh. The wall glass revealed the zen bakers/artisans working with their respective dough. The baristas had their own lab/table to the side. I got the $15 fancy pot of coffee with the two recommended pastries. The tables inside were occupied so I settled with the street patio. It wasn't the Paris vibe that settled me in - New York was New York. I quite enjoyed the past time of people watching but the conversations behind me were quite intriguing as I waited for my bougie coffee beverage made-to-order.
My palette couldn’t appreciate the subtle tones of the premium coffee. The glass pot and cup were, however, picture friendly. What I didn’t appreciate was the quick and insincere pour from the barista. Little did she know, this was a big moment for me — me discovering a coffee culture just like Action Bronson. Or maybe that was the problem. Instead of the shop being a neighborhood coffee shop, the rapper turned it into a tourist destination — which was every New Yorker’s worst nightmare. Could I have poisoned the space? Wasn’t that a terrible thought…
Enough nosy eavesdropping and people watching at the street patio. A whole pot of interesting coffee blends digested with two French buttered pastries. Verdict. Overhype. Probably. Would I go again? Probably not. The affinity over the product must be complemented by the people who served them for that price range. Simply, the visit wasn’t a good fit.
Walked north along another unfamiliar street. Eventually, the suits and white collars appeared on the streets. Midtown Finance District it was. I later recalled a wonderful conversation about one’s food adventures with food truck hopping. Instead of beers, one would grab a snack at each truck or cart. Although that adventure never crossed my mind — maybe I was acting too pretentious to consider it —, I stopped when I witnessed Pan’s Jerk food truck. This instinctual behavior — that wasn’t guided by a marketing proposition or a street celebrity endorsement — was a 6th sense. Or maybe it was just seeing a lineup of non-collared folks. Hmmm. This could be interesting. This could be my discovery.
I waited and observed the crew members in the back. It seemed like a family business with a certain energy, tension and expectations that could only be derived by family dynamics. I could be wrong. Although there were takeout orders and prep that wasn't completed, my one-to-one encounter felt intimate. Her full attention was directed to my order- it was her priority and not simply a chore. This was quite refreshing from my previous experience.
A large Jerk Chicken please. Rice and beans. Whatever vegetables you'd recommend. With a beef patty. To go.
"Could you add two forks and knives, please?"
"We don't have knives, but I could add another fork." she responded.
Puzzled. Huh. How was I going to eat the chicken?
I appreciated the extra ladle of jerk chicken gravy. She knew that this chunky asian boy loved the gravy on the rice. Little did she know that I haven't had rice in five days. Blessings on blessings. Boxed up with the extra utensil and patty then wrapped in a black bag. I walked back quickly while the food was warm.
Hotel lobby. Solo food eating due to someone's busy schedule. I thought the experience was going to be a little depressing. But, I was impressed by the durable white takeout box. Woah. People usually cheap out on this part. To my surprise, the portion was generous and there was sauce on top of the chicken. I took a photo and shared it on the Kakao group. I bit into the chicken. Tender bender! The meat came off the bone. High-pressure cooking? But, the chicken skin remained crispy with a slight sweet BBQ sauce. I devoured it with no leftovers. no mercy. no regrets. There was a message on my phone to leave a piece. no leftovers. no mercy. no regrets.
Looking back, I realized why there was a subtle smirk across the assumed owner/manager when I asked about the plastic knife. It was her way of flexing. Chicken so tender, no knife required. Just that simple moment of her humanity made me want to go back. I wished I let her know.
Following the meal, I took one of the nicest naps. It wasn't due to a "food coma" like from a buffet or all-you-can-eat. It was one of those full bliss mode naps. One rarely entered that mode but you knew when you entered that phase. The nap was deep. The nap almost felt religious. Ohhh. Maybe there was something special about the bougie coffee, after all.
