One of the delights of my last trip to New Zealand was the discovery that you could get a good espresso lots of places. Not just in the "main centres"—that New Zealand English phrase for the four largest cities, now expanded to include up-and-coming cities like Hamilton and Palmerston North. I can't believe I just called those cities "up and coming," it's like describing Des Moines as a rising, attractive urban area. Low housing costs, higher fertility and in-migration do not always lead to the promised land.
But I digress; good coffee in obscure places. There was great espresso at the old railway station (two trains a day) at Tongariro National Park. (This is like finding great espresso at Lake Itasca or Yellowstone). It helped that they got their beans from Supreme Coffee, but there's a gap between great beans and great espresso which is not always filled.
Given that you can't easily find great coffee in many cities in America, my expectations for places off the highway are pretty low. Really low? But I had some hopes for the Norske Nook in Osseo (WI). Good pie. Good lefse wraps. But they burn the espresso and serve it just that little bit too hot. And I'll keep trying to find that great espresso in odd places ...
Posted by robe0419 at January 3, 2006 01:48 PM | TrackBackIn Australia it seems entirely dependent on whether there is a significant Italian immigrant population. All the capital cities of course, but only certain regional cities - in rural areas Italians only tended to migrate in significant numbers where there was intensive agriculture.
Consistent with this thesis, Tenterfield in the sheep and wheat belt of NSW has produced two things of fame. The singer-songwriter Peter Allen and the world's worst cappucino.
Posted by: Dan Hill at January 3, 2006 04:07 PM