Revival Market

On a recent trip to Houston, Mrs. H and I walked from our friends' home in The Heights to Revival Market for a quick cup of coffee. 

Upon entering, we were both incredibly impressed with the clear vision, fantastic display, and cool vibe. 

Greg aka "Dragon"

My attempt to snap an undercover pic of the barista was unsuccessful, which meant I had to introduce myself. The first two times the poor fella said his name, I thought he said "dragon," but it turns out he is actually just Greg. Dragon seemed cooler, so I'm going to stick with it. 

Flat White

Dragon introduced us to the delicious, Australian inspired Flat White, which is similar to a latte but has a higher proportion of microfoam to coffee. The drink itself was delightfully creamy but still strong enough to provide some pep in our step for our walk home. Interestingly enough, when Mrs. H and I flew to Europe the next day, we were confronted by Flat White's at every turn. Looks like Dragon, and Revival, are bringing some much needed Euro-flave to Houstonia. 

-mr. h

blue crab coffee co. | st. michaels, md

The best local coffee shop is one of the first things I find when we travel. Not only do I love starting my morning off with an excellent cup of joe, but a great local coffee shop also gives me a window into the flavor and culture of the place where Mr. H and I are visiting or working. It's a perfect spot to people watch and get a good read on a place. I was an anthropology minor, so I love slipping into the background of a culture and absorbing what life really feels like in that city or town. Plus, as hospitality consultants, getting a feel for the local culture helps us give our clients insight into what visitors want out of their experience in that place. It's so easy to miss the charm or draw of your own culture since it's your "normal."

Blue Crab Coffee Co. in St. Michaels, Maryland was such a fun place to "drink in" the local culture while sipping on a perfect Iced Americano. It's housed in the historic Freedom's Friend Lodge, which was built in 1883 for the African-American community in the area. The building and it's interiors are so true to place -- bringing out the rich, nautical vibe that infuses the area. And, their homemade baked goods are the perfect combo with your caffeine fix. Blue Crab Coffee Co. is undoubtably our favorite coffee shop on the Eastern Shore! 
-mrs.h

Mix Sweet Shop | Ashland, OR

{all images via}

There are few things I love more than a good bakery. Bakeries make me happy -- a trip to a bakery normally includes a sweet treat, which always brightens my day, plus most bakeries have happy interiors that make the world feel right again. Mix Sweet Shop in Ashland, Oregon provides both. 

Not only do they have delectable pastries but they also have incredible gelato/ice cream (Mr. H's favorite food group) and coffee (my "love language" is coffee), so clearly we were sold on Mix the first time we went. A forewarning if you want somewhere to sit and relax, this small shop probably isn't your place. That doesn't bother us because when in Ashland we like to take our treats to-go and peruse the shops along Main Street or stroll through the park. Walking around Ashland with a Mix goody in hand and Mr. H by my side is at the top of my list! Mmmhhh, I'm craving a pastry and coffee now. 

-mrs.h

remedy coffee - our favorite coffee shop

I love coffee... actually I think my "love" for coffee borders on obsession. I'm not a coffee snob. I don't know all in the in's and out's of coffee. I just simply love it. The thought of coffee is my motivation to get out of bed in the morning. I love it so much that I have to force myself to not drink so much that I get sick. 

I know I share my love for coffee with most Americans. We've become a coffee addicted nation. In honor of this shared love of coffee, Mr. H and I are starting to highlight our favorite coffee shops around the nation. Every time we find a new one that makes the list, we'll post it on the blog. 

The coffee shop that has the honor of being our first on the list is: Remedy Coffee in Knoxville, TN. 

We love Remedy for so many reasons.

1. Clearly the coffee is awesome or they wouldn't be on the list. They serve Intelligentsia -- mmmmhhh!

2. The pimento cheese/bacon biscuits are freaking amazing. 

3. The atmosphere is perfect - we've never met a restored building we didn't like.  

4. The staff know coffee and are super friendly. (And, they drink their ice coffee in mason jars... cheers to that.)

5. This maybe my favorite aspect of all (via Remedy's website): "Beyond the coffee, Remedy gives a portion of it's sales each month to ideas, people, and organizations in Downtown Knoxville that are working to restore and transform our city. We live in this city and we love this city and it's our pleasure to give back." One of our core values at mr.&mrs.h is seeing cities transformed through the creativity of food&beverage/hospitality ventures. We love that this is the heart behind Remedy Coffee and it's the defining factor that makes Remedy the coffee shop we chose to introduce as the first of "Our Favorite Coffee Shops."

-mrs.h