Welcome Fall, Welcome All!

As summer gives way to fall and the air picks up with a crisp, cool breeze, a new season of flavours and smells takes over my senses and gets me a little excited.

In short, I love fall.

I love the sweeter scents, the richer flavours, the bounty of foods and the cozy sweaters. Don't get me wrong, this girl loves summer with a passion...but fall is the foodie season that I love most!

So it makes sense that the winds of change lead me back here...

Its been a big year for me. There have been moments of change and times of growth. I've been busy with so many different things, that I couldn't take the time to sit and type these words with energy. 

Here are the highlights since we last spoke, in no particular order: 
- I traveled to Colombia (yes, South America) and there attended dear friends' wedding, met kindred spirits from around the globe, rappelled down a 400 ft waterfall and I still don't know how to speak Spanish.

- I've traveled to the Great Smokey Mountains and deepened my love for the  South.

- My love and I traveled back to the place where our marriage started, and enjoyed a vacation in one of my favorite spots, the Gulf Coast of Florida.

- I fulfilled my dream of starting my own private practice (on the side), and still love the challenge of balancing all that comes with working for myself.

- I helped to create a cookbook for my place of work, which was a massive labour of love, but an accomplishment that I am very proud of!

- I sampled new restaurants both at home in Windsor and abroad, which I can't wait to share!

-I've matured in my cooking/baking...okay, mostly cooking. I can now proudly say that I have not yet gluten-ized (fairly certain that is not a word) my dear friends. 

-I've hosted parties, brunches, a baby shower, and varied groups of friends and family in our home.

- I've deepened friendships, I've become more settled in my home, my new church, my place of work, my family and my marriage...

And so here I am, trying to keep a little blog alive with a refreshed perspective.

I hope you like the new look, its a bit more modern and clean. The content will follow suit as well, with a few more pictures and maybe a few less words (hard for a speech pathologist, I must admit).

The first entries to follow will be some of my favourite fall recipes and two wineries that we enjoyed this summer. Can't wait to share it all with you!

Beautiful Colombia

Fresh Colombian oranges

Colombian coffee, straight from the source!

Gulf Sunsets

My guilty pleasure: Southern Fried Okra!

One of my favourite places on earth

Restaurant Review: Green Bean Cafe - Downtown Windsor Star Location

The Green Bean Cafe has been open in Windsor since 2009 at its first location in the basement of University Community Church, right beside the University of Windsor. Ben and Michelle Davidson are the owners and visionaries behind the student-friendly cafe. As a pastor and a nurse, they may seem unlikely restaurateurs, but the quaint, community-based and lively atmosphere that they have created proves this wrong. That is why I was really excited to hear that they were opening a new location in Downtown Windsor, right in the new Windsor Star Building.

In recent years, downtown Windsor has become host to several new restaurants and eateries that encourage Windsorites to make the drive down to enjoy a meal. The new Green Bean Cafe, otherwise known as the Windsor Star News Cafe is no exception. Located right on the corner of University Avenue and Ouellette, the new Windsor Star Building is hard to miss, but few have discovered the coffee scented treasure on the third floor. I've been looking forward to writing this review for a little while now. I happen to have a personal connection to the lovely Green Bean Cafe - my sister works there! 

But besides that, I am always excited when local people open small businesses that promote homegrown ingredients and enrich the community. My husband and I have popped by on a few occasions and have enjoyed each visit. So without further ado, here's the review!

 Green Bean Cafe - Windsor Star News Cafe

300 Ouellette Ave. - 3rd Floor, Windsor ON

Website: www.greenbeancoffee.ca

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When you drive up, here's what to look for:

The entrance is on Ouellette Avenue just up those stairs or you can take the elevator up to the 3rd floor.

This is the staircase that leads you up to the third floor, 

just follow the smell of fresh coffee.

At the top of the stairs is the beautiful handcrafted sign, you're almost there.

Around the corner, you'll find some historical pieces from the newspaper press of days gone by. 

The dining area has an urban feel, but the food counter speaks of homemade goodies and the welcome of friends.

Friendly staff Sharon and Naomi, ready to take your order! You can't miss the surroundings of freshly made cakes, muffins and brownies. The menu boasts options for all food preferences including our vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free friends. And if you feel like a drink, you've come to the right place for organic and fair trade beverages. You'll find loose leaf teas, fresh coffee, hot and cold espresso drinks, Italian sodas and more! 

If that wasn't enough, our favorite place to sit in this warmer weather is on one of their outdoor balconies. Its the perfect place to read the paper, have some breakfast and chat with a friend.

You're looking at a fresh cinnamon raisin bagel from local bakery 

The Earnest Bagel Company paired with a cinnamon latte. Yummy!

This is a local favourite: The Ham and Cheese Panini. Its made on fresh panini bread from Blak's Bakery with ham, melted cheddar cheese, mayo and apple slices. 

The wrap you see above is the CBC wrap which contains chicken, mozzarella cheese, bacon and cranberry, with a little lettuce for fresh crunch.

Readers, I encourage you to round up some friends and head down for a light breakfast, coffee date, or delicious lunch. Maybe sit on the balcony, read the newspaper or do some work on your laptop. Either way, The Green Bean Cafe is worth a visit, if only to encourage local businesses to keep up the good work! Be sure to check the website for hours and events such as the popular open mic nights.

Welcome Green Bean Cafe to our Downtown, I'll see you soon!