A Weekend for Coffee Lovers and the Eco-Friendly — or Perhaps Eco-Friendly Coffee Lovers

Who’s the best barista in the West? Intelligentsia Coffee is holding the Western Regional Barista Competition this weekend in downtown.

Competition takes place starting today at 11 a.m. through Sunday. Coffee and espresso will be served through the event — and the public is welcome.

Details: “Coffee lovers, true believers, under-macchiato’d hopefuls, join us at the Spring Arts Tower, 453 Spring St., (downtown) Los Angeles.”

ALSO THIS WEEKEND: The Go Green Expo takes place this weekend, Jan. 23-25, at the L.A. Convention Center. The event showcases eco-friendly products, services and business, as well as interactive presentations and panel discussions in numerous categories.

According to the event, “Among the stars appearing at the Los Angeles event, Ed Begley Jr., renowned actor and a leader in the environmental community, and Academy Award nominee Mariel Hemingway will be speaking to event attendees about how to live a greener life.”

Hey, you’re already downtown, I’d say, check out both!

Rate-A-Restaurant #193: Massimo’s Mudspot

Restaurant: Massimo’s Mudspot

Location: 759 S La Brea Ave. (Mid-Wilshire)

Type of restaurant: Coffee

We stipulated: Meeting with my friend Joe for a quick coffee and hang… Mudspot seemed like the good place to do it: Close to work, on the drive home, and a good spot on a rainy, dark evening.

What we ordered: I got a large coffee — $2.95.

High point: Massimo’s Mudspot may be new, but it’s got a comfortable, lived-in vibe that makes it feel like the coffeehouse has been there for years. Its laid-back vibe also couples nicely with all the people taking advantage of free wi-fi to create a large cast of regulars (so it seems). Also, they have Galaga — the coolest 80s vidgame around (sorry, Ms. Pac-Man).

Low point: $2.95 for a large coffee? And for a large coffee that was just servicable? Definitely on the pricey side.

Overall impression: Mudspot definitely fills the void in that neighborhood for a hip coffeehouse to hang your hat. The drinks are still a work in progress.

Chance we’ll go back: Mudspot won’t be a regular gathering spot — it’s not quite close enough to the office to make that happen — but it will be a possibility if I need to meet someone at a coffeehouse before or after work.

For a complete list of our more than 190 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Rate-A-Restaurant #190: Butter Tart

Restaurant: Butter Tart

Location: 4126 Verdugo Road (Glassell Park)

Type of restaurant: Coffee and baked goods

We stipulated: A few months ago, Maria and I finally took in our dusty, decrepit bikes to get tuned up. It was an ambitious move: Neither of us had ridden bikes in years; hell, since the birth of Evan, neither of us do much exercise, period. We bought a bike trailer from Target for the Blogger Preschooler to ride along… and a few Saturdays ago, we took our maiden voyage — to a Coffee Bean in north Glendale. Since then, we’ve been on the lookout for other Saturday morning destinations. When we heard that a new boutique coffee shop had opened up nearby, it seemed like a perfect time to head on over.

What we ordered: “Colossal Coffee Cake,” $2.95; Bacon Butter Tart, $2; Large Coffee, $2; medium coffee, $1.45

High point: They don’t lie, that slice of coffee cake was indeed colossal — plenty for me to share with Evan, and even Maria (who found herself having to share the Bacon Butter Tart with our 3 1/2 year-old bacon fiend). Both were buttery good, and went well with the Groundworks coffee.

Low point: Strangely, the large coffee and medium coffee mugs seemed to be nearly the same size. I’m wondering if I should order my coffee “to go” next time. Also, it’s too bad the hours are so limited (Butter Tart is closed by 11 a.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends), although I get why they want to wait and test demand before being open longer.

Overall impression: What a needed and perfect addition to this part of the South Glendale/Adams Hill/South Eagle Rock/North Glassell Park region. The well-designed spot (love the cardboard moose heads) is bright and inviting, and the music was right on, a cool mix of indie, chill out and more. Then, of course, are the baked goods: All homemade, and all worth the bike ride over. (Hey, we earned those treats. It’s all a wash, right?) Some of the items may be a tad too buttery, but that’s quibbling. We’re so psyched to have Butter Tart nearby that we’ll be spreading the word.

Chance we’ll go back: You may see us there almost every weekend. Butter Tart’s Karena told us that bike racks are coming, which will help us concentrate on what’s on our plate, instead of keeping an eye on our bikes outside.

For a complete list of our more than 190 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

FREE L.A.: Black Dog Coffee Celebrates A Decade

As I hit my nine-year mark with Variety this week (nine years!), the independent coffee shop across the street that has fueled me all those years — Black Dog Coffee — is marking its first decade in business.

Brad and the gang at the Black Dog are celebrating by offering free coffee all day Wednesday — plus an anniversary cake in the afternoon.

With so few dining options around Variety (the Koo Koo Roo, Baja Fresh and Johnie’s Pizza get tired quickly), Black Dog has always offered a nice, homemade alternative. And since our part of Wilshire has (surprisingly) so far escaped the chain coffee wars, Black Dog has been our go-to coffee joint through the years.

Happy Birthday, Coffee Bean

Discount alert: For its 45th anniversary, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is conducting discount promotions on Tuesdays throughout the next month.

First up: Today, coffee is 63 cents. (Not sure what size that is, but I’m gonna push for a large.) Next Tuesday, it’s hot tea at 63 cents (less interested). The promotion finishes up on Oct. 7 with a free espresso shot to any drink.

Meanwhile, add Coffee Bean to the list of chains (like Peet’s) that has brought back a pumpkin latte for the fall season. It’s still a little too sweet for my liking, but I do think they’ve improved the flavor over the past two years. I panned the drink in 2006.

Food Nibbles: Taco Trucks, U-Pick Farms and Rotisserie Chicken

(Flickr pic by cknlomein.)

Some food tidbits via the L.A. Times:

– Tips on finding the best rotisserie chicken in Los Angeles.

Among the author’s faves:

Gourmet Grill Masters: Found at farmers markets all over.

Lola’s: 14851 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys, and 230 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

Moishe’s Restaurant: In the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St.

The Oinkster: 2005 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock.

Pollo a la Brasa: 764 S. Western Ave. (at 8th Street) and 16527 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena.

Pollos El Brasero: 2281 W. Pico Blvd.

Reddi-Chick: 225 26th St., Santa Monica.

Soumarelo Fresh Mediterranean Grill: 1090 N. Allen Ave, Pasadena.

– It’s that time of year: U-Pick farms are bustling. The paper has a list of places to visit and pick those peaches, raspberries, etc.

– L.A. County taco trucks: Saved! Carne asada for everyone!

– One more, not L.A. Times related: You know that fall’s fast approaching when the seasonal drinks start appearing at the coffee chains. I noticed this morning in line at Peet’s that, yes, the pumpkin latte is back.

Dunkin’ Donuts Moves Closer to Los Angeles

Three years ago, we wrote that new Dunkin’ Donuts owners Bain Capital planned a massive expansion of the chain — which hasn’t been seen in Los Angeles in at least 13 years.

We’re still waiting to see if Dunkin’ makes its way back to L.A. — but if this NPR report is any indication, the chain plans a massive push into the American Southwest over the next few years.

According to NPR, the “nine new stores in Phoenix is just a start. Dunkin’ Donuts has plans for 150 in this (Arizona) area. And 10,000 new stores in the next decade, starting in the Southwest, and then moving toward Starbucks’ home territory in the Northwest.”

(Thanks to SeanYoda for the link!)

FREE L.A.: Free Coffee Day at Lamill

(Flickr pic by TraceyRose).

Los Angeles mag’s Eat blog has the skinny (or is it venti?) on Lamill Coffee Boutique’s Free Coffee Day on Tuesday, June 24.

That’s right — free coffee all day Tuesday at Lamill, which is celebrating six months in L.A.

More details:

“We are very grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from the Silver Lake neighborhood since we opened in January,” owner Craig Min says, “and this is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the community.”
…
LAMILL will also be hosting a charity, Bikes to Rwanda, in support of the coffee growing communities in the country. Coffee production is the main crop grown in Rwanda, and it nearly ceased after 1994 due to a protracted civil war in the region. As production started up again a few years ago, growers were asked by visiting, grateful coffee purveyors what was needed most to help their communities recover, and the answer was “bicycles.”
…
Other festivities on Free Coffee Day will include an opportunity to “Meet the Roasters,” a special area where visitors will be able to meet with some of LAMILL’s coffee roasters, taste samples and learn some of LAMILL’s trade secrets that make it one of the top coffee roasters in the country. Also featured with be an area to “Talk About Tea,” where guests can learn more about LAMILL’s exclusive tea company, Sungarden Specialty Tea.

Free Coffee Day goes on all day on June 24, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lamill is located at 1636 Silver Lake Blvd. in Silver Lake.

FREE L.A.: Free Coffee Day at Lamill

(Flickr pic by TraceyRose).

Los Angeles mag’s Eat blog has the skinny (or is it venti?) on Lamill Coffee Boutique’s Free Coffee Day on Tuesday, June 24.

That’s right — free coffee all day Tuesday at Lamill, which is celebrating six months in L.A.

More details:

“We are very grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from the Silver Lake neighborhood since we opened in January,” owner Craig Min says, “and this is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the community.”
…
LAMILL will also be hosting a charity, Bikes to Rwanda, in support of the coffee growing communities in the country. Coffee production is the main crop grown in Rwanda, and it nearly ceased after 1994 due to a protracted civil war in the region. As production started up again a few years ago, growers were asked by visiting, grateful coffee purveyors what was needed most to help their communities recover, and the answer was “bicycles.”
…
Other festivities on Free Coffee Day will include an opportunity to “Meet the Roasters,” a special area where visitors will be able to meet with some of LAMILL’s coffee roasters, taste samples and learn some of LAMILL’s trade secrets that make it one of the top coffee roasters in the country. Also featured with be an area to “Talk About Tea,” where guests can learn more about LAMILL’s exclusive tea company, Sungarden Specialty Tea.

Free Coffee Day goes on all day on June 24, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lamill is located at 1636 Silver Lake Blvd. in Silver Lake.

Los Angeles Gets Exclusive New Starbucks Drink

Los Angeles will be the test market next month for a new line of Italian-style drinks at Starbucks. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz hinted at the news in an L.A. Times interview:

In July we will introduce a fantastic new summer product in Los Angeles. . . . We found a fantastic new cold-beverage platform in Italy, and as a result of that we are bringing it to the market. It is a product that is both indulgent and refreshing. . . . It is steeped in Italian heritage. I can’t tell you more than that.

That got the commenters at Starbucks Gossip guessing. The consensus is that it will be some sort of sorbet-based drink, perhaps with yogurt.