CUCINA CARA MIA.......Random thoughts from "my dear kitchen" about food, travel, Italy, San Diego and life!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Now, THIS is a coffee house!


























Everyone has a Starbucks around the corner. How many of you have a coffee house that you have been visiting for over 25 years? One where you remember going to for a latte with your girlfriends, after aerobics class, still dressed in your leg warmers and Reebok's? Or when you were unemployed, a place to hang out and read the want ads for hours....Well, the Pannikin is that place!



The Pannikin was the original Encinitas Train Depot, built in 1888. In 1975 it become a charming yellow coffee house, with delicious teas, freshly roasted coffees and awesome baked goods...


This morning I met Janie, Panini Girl for coffee, and we reminisced about how LONG we have been coming to this special place. Besides selling its own blend of coffees, they sells lots of coffee and tea paraphernalia, and for many years it was the home of a wonderful art gallery...



Outside, there are colorful Adirondack chairs strewn all over the lawn...families come with their dogs and their kids pretty much run wild. Sometimes there is a line of 20 people outside the door.



Mostly what the Pannikin is a local place where people can come, run into their neighbors, or their 20 year old daughter's kindergarten teacher, and feel at home.


With times being the way they are, I think we all need to find a place in our community that welcomes us.... a home away from home. I hope you have a special place like this where you live.


If you do, make sure you support them.












10 comments:

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

There is nothing better than a good old fashioned neighborhood coffee shop! Glad you have Pannikin!

janie said...

I totally agree-great place to meet and catch up with new and old friends!

Sabina said...

We have a wonderful neighborhood coffee house too - no Adirondack chairs though! It beats Starbucks by a mile. Yours looks amazing!! I'm now craving coffee with chocolate biscotti!!

Have a wonderful weekened Linda Lou!!

:)

Joyce said...

Fell into your wonderful blog today and enjoyed reading your posts. I adore Italy and your header photo is amazing.
Joyce

Twyla and Lindsey said...

I couldn't agree more! Make sure your dollars go to what you appreciate most. That looks like such a wonderful place. It is rare to find a spot like that nowadays. Enjoy your weekend, Linda! Twyla

~j~ said...

Hi Linda!
so fun to stop in and visit your blog. I have been to this coffee shop!! and I LOVED it, we stopped there about three years ago and it was sooo busy, i think we were on our way to San Diego and my daughter has a friend who lives nearby so we were in the area. Thanks for sharing this, it's wonderful to support local coffee shops.
Your blog is looking great!
xo
j

Sue said...

Hi Linda....what a great looking place...I'm not a coffee drinker but I'm always up for a good piece of pastry and hanging with the girlfriends....I got your e-mail about the Kitchen Aid...so glad you finally got one....I'm in Jersey and my computer is not letting me return messages....

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Now THAT is a coffee house!!! I am not a fan of the Starbucks (I just think...it just tastes burnt!) and in general I try to support the "mom and pop's" over chains always. If I lived near you, you would find me there a LOT. I would totally love to own a place like that. Ahhhh....

Anonymous said...

Hey Sis,
Yep..that was me in the legwarmers with you....ahh the fond memories of working out and coffee at the Pannikin. have to do that again soon...not so sure about the legwarmers. :}

xo,Laura

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Now THAT'S a coffee house! We're from the Pacific Northwest...home of Starbucks...we have LOTS of them here. About 15 years ago we went to San Francisco and couldn't find a Starbucks anywhere! We finally found a coffee place and it took about 20 minutes to make a latte! Things have sure changed since then. What an awesome place you have there..... :-) Thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Spencer