Day Forty-Eight - 28/10/2012 - Cork

     This Sunday, we headed to Puccino's for brunch.  Puccino's is a little cafe on Paul Street, and you really have to go there to appreciate it.  From the outside it doesn't look like anything special, just a blue tarp awning over a few tables and a modest sign advertising their breakfast.  The character of the place starts to reveal itself as you walk through the tables.  A careful look at the wall decoration will show that they are all hand-drawn paintings featuring the cafe's name.  One such painting shows a box of cereal labeled "Puccino's Receipts".  Another features a book titled "Cappucino: Fading Memories".  As we sat down at our table, waiting for coffee, I noticed that the sugar packets had different sayings on them.  Labeled either "White Sugar for Commoners" or "Brown Sugar for Snobs", the backs of the sachets had varied sayings.  A couple favorites: "Think of better thing to write." (brown), "Best before whole packet disintegrates," (white), "Take photo of and post on internet." (brown - and yes, I was tempted), "Add to loserish collection." (white - indeed, I had laid them all out on the table, but did not take them).  When the food did arrive, the plates were inscribed with "This plate has been tested on humans for breakabovetheheadability".  The coffee saucers read "In the dishwasher, nobody can hear you scream".  My macchiato came with coffee beans floating amongst the foam, a very nice touch.  The receipt bears the description "For the discerning wallet".  This cafe was definitely an experience.
     Later that night, we went to the Woodford to hear some Jazz, but once again found it to be quite crowded, and instead headed to the Bodega.  The Bodega features part of the Irish Market, built to challenge the English Market.  The market, known as St. Peter's Market, was established in 1843.  It charged less rent and had lower prices and quality than the English Market, quickly making it known as the Irish Market to distinguish it.  The Bodega today stands reminiscent of the awesome quality of the market with its lofty ceilings, towering columns  and elaborate chandeliers.  The market, however, was doomed, as continual street trading and the English Market drew business away from it and it lost money year after year.  The market, and the nearby clothes trading area known as the Bazaar, were soon doomed by the First World War.  They were partially converted into a shell factory and after the war there was very little interest for traders to return.  Today, the Bodega operates in the confines of the market, giving new life to the magnificent building.  When we were there, we listened to United Vibrations, providing great ambience.  Meng had a glass of the house red, which tasted remarkably buttery, with an aftertaste that reminded you of popcorn.  Later, Lazy Habit began to play, but their music did not seem to match the varied crowd nor the classy venue.
     We met up with Alex's friend who had been visiting from Dublin and headed back to the Well for the last day of the Beer Fest.  The casualties included a strawberry beer (much more beer-like than its juicy raspberry cousin), a black cherry beer (amazing), and two tripels (made from three types of wheat, with a whopping 10% alcohol content).