Food

today was a special day. it was my first co-fika. that's right. i finally had a chance to fika with someone, getting the full effect of the other way to fika - together. remember, there are two ways that i like to categorize fikas: those when you enjoy a coffee by yourself, whether you are working or just reading a book. and there are those fikas when you meet someone and enjoy a long cup of coffee, or two, together. this is the heart of the swedish fika - sharing moments together. creating community. nurturing friendships. enjoying family. (to read more about my understanding of fika, click here).

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i thought it was about time i headed over to one of my new favorite areas... west asheville. haywood road. the atmosphere is so relaxed there. and i felt like chilling out. just being me.

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i found the coffee version of Cheers (you know the 80s tv show about the pub/bar in Boston) in a strip mall just north of Asheville.

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i pretty much had no idea what i was getting myself into when i visited the downtown market. it sounds like a regular place. you know, cafes with the word "market" usually sell some sandwiches and soup. it sounds like a little bit of an upscale place where you'll find middle-aged people. lots of tourists. so, when i typed in "downtown asheville cafes" in my phone and downtown market popped up, i thought i knew exactly what i was in for. the only thing was, it was a little bit out of the way from the center, center of downtown, on a street headed toward the river arts district - known for its artsy-ness.

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it was a beautiful early autumn day and i could feel the pull of downtown. i had nothing at all planned. no idea where i'd get my coffee from, but it needed to be downtown. i don't know why. so, i parked my car and started walking the streets. i just felt good. you know, one of those days when you feel really alive. the sun was warm and shining. the sky was bright blue. the moon still hung in the sky, fading away as the bright day took over. and the leaves were just beginning to get that hint of color on the tips on some trees. everything just felt good. and i walked.

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i can't believe it! i am halfway done with my 40 days of fika project! on the one hand, it seems as if it has flown by. on the other, it feels like an eternity since that first visit to waking life. wow. and you know what? it's a little hard to try to put into words all that i have experienced and learned. i'm not sure if i can really even try. i feel like i need to wait until the entire 40 days is complete before i try to process what this project has meant to me.

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It was a totally last minute decision to head to Charlotte Street and visit the City Bakery Cafe. It's a fairly popular place for people who live in Asheville, at least I think it is. Though I am not sure where I am getting that information from. In any case, it was another beautiful day and I was just dying to be outside. For some reason, this cafe popped into my mind and I headed to Charlotte Street, hoping they had outdoor seating.

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there is a cafe that i have seen many, many times, yet have never gone "in".  or rather, "to" it. but, the sun was shining, the air was warm, and i had just enough time, so i decided that this would be the day!

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sometimes you just gotta get back to basics. so i did something completely different for my 40 days of fika visit today. i left the hip, industrial cafes behind and decided to hang out at a typical american diner. you know a greasy, breakfast all day, sit at the counter, casual, regular folk kind of place.

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what's your feeling on chocolate? like it? love it? addicted to it? and how do you feel about chocolate and coffee? i, for one, love enjoying some of the yummy dark, sweet stuff and sipping on some coffee. and that is exactly what i did.

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