Some days are better than others...

A super nice lady came in the cafe yesterday about 6.30 in the evening. I greeted her with a friendly "hello" and she stated that she was just looking around. First, she checked out the sandwich case for a few moments and then made her way over to the gelato. I asked her if she'd like to try anything, but held off, mentioning she "wasn't quite sure what she wanted." Next, she meandered over towards the bar and then back over to the gelato case. Then came this: "Based on the day I've had, I wonder if I should have a drink or gelato." I quickly replied she could have both. And smiled.

You know, some days are better than others. And how do you remedy that? My first thought was of pampering yourself. I got a funny image of myself in big diapers. Then I looked up a definition of "pampering" and wouldn't you know that pesky photo from college showed up. But that didn't work for me because pampering is often associated with being spoiled. And that's no good.

Then, eureka! "Treating" yourself. Treats are good. And simple. And can be accomplished in so many ways. Like a yoga class, or a good movie, or walk at midnight, or something sweet or savory. Like this young lady last night: a delicious combo of watermelon, lemon and papaya. She came into the cafe looking a little down, and left with a pep in her step.

Canada Eh!?!

Today we pay our respects to another barista who is leaving Capogiro. I speak of the impeccable Vicki Zwicker. She will be heading across our northern most border to go to grad school. It seems that the only way to escape our capo swirl is to flee the country. Otherwise the gravitational pull of the Pau a Raisin circling a cappuccino will constantly disrupt your equilibrium. You will be awoken by night sweats craving coffee and Gram Parsons.

Vicki was the first face I would see every Monday morning. I'll miss her debating what she should eat for breakfast. I always liked it when she gave in to the call of a pastry. I'll miss her asking me to smell something. The way she really hated it when that one guy talked smack about Kentucky. The look on her face when I would ask her if she thought today was tamale day. Her woo-hoo when she dumped an unusually heavy tip jar. Most of all I'll miss the genuine caring sincerity that she extended to everyone she met.

So bon voyage Vicki! I hope you study hard, but not too hard. And don't forget about us all here in Philadelphia PA. I've never seen so many regulars come in to say goodbye to a co-worker. Even the people that couldn't make it called the store to say goodbye. We will all keep a special place for our super hero barista, The Impeccable Vicki Zwicker.

Come in and meet with our new morning folks who will be rotating until we find another perfect opener. Because it matters who pours your coffee in morning.

Bagel Sandwiches Now At 13th Street!

Egg and Swiss bagel sandwich, $4

Egg, Swiss and Turkey bagel sandwich, $4.75

Dear Philadelphia, but more specifically the residents and working folk of the Gayborood,

You know we love you, right? And, like your mother before us, we try our hardest to help you have a perfect day by giving you good food to energize, satisfy, and motivate you to get you through your busy day. You know we have gelato for dessert (no matter what time of day dessert is called for). You know we have panini, tramezzini, and salads for lunch. And you even know we have bagels, toast, yogurt, and oatmeal for breakfast. But we here at Capogiro 13th street want to make your most important meal of the day--your first meal--just that much more special. So guess what we've done for you? We've brought you breakfast bagel sandwiches!

We take out freshly deliveried H&H bagels that you've loved so much, and we put hard-boiled eggs, swiss cheese, and turkey (or bacon) on them! Of course, if you're vegetarian, like me, you can get this to-die-for breakfast treat with only the egg and cheese. And don't worry, we've got ketchup and hot sauce to help you season your bagel to perfection.

You already get your morning coffee here, why not get some breakfast too?

Morning warriors.

Through the history of mankind, cultures across the globe have held their warrior class in high esteem. The knights of the Middle Ages are legendary in both their deeds and valors. Vikings warriors traversed inhospitable seas, battling wily kraken and vicious Gaul alike. The Japanese samurai were brilliant tacticians and swordsmen who adhered to a strict code of honor.

Following in the footsteps of their forbearers, we find Capogiro's own morning warrior class here on Walnut Street in West Philadelphia: Miles and Ezra, our own stalwart soldiers.



Between crafting the finest espresso drinks in the neighborhood, slicing (and to a lesser extent, dicing) scrumptious H&H bagels with a quickness, scooping piccolos with unmatched scoop accuracy, and cheerfully greeting our regulars with a smile and slightly uncomfortable wink, one would be hard-pressed to cite a historically more valiant pair of troopers. While you'd think that their exploits in the cafe would leave them too spent to do anything with their free time, they are both know to be powerful spellcasters who moonlight as creators of hot new television pilots (check CBS for the this fall's Meow Town- "Where one paw can make all the difference".) Miles is also in training at the Dry-Erase Marker Academy, and his early works have been hailed as "the Rembrandts of the flying ghosts punching angry horses genre".

As a retired general of the morning warrior class, I salute these two as worthy inheritors of the pride-inspiring Capogiro standard. May she ever fly high, whipping all of West Philadelphia to a gelato-consuming frenzy!

Welcome to the Avenue...

I've only lived in Philadelphia for four years, yet in that time I've gotten a pretty good feel for the place. Probably helps that I spent my life coming here on a regular basis, my parents lived here for a time...generally Philly was always my home away from home, slightly up 95. I spent my first few years here living in Queens Village - so beautiful! So close to everything! Two and a half years ago I moved much farther South - in my mind, farther than anyone had ever lived, ever. This, turns out, isn't the case.
Since then, quite a bit has changed in South Philly. First of all, a portion of it now goes simply by its street name - "East Passyunk", or "East Pass", affectionately...I've heard a number of people refer to it as "the New Brooklyn" and P'yunk. Important note! See that street name above, the one I'm writing about? Starts with a P? OK...say it out loud. Are you a "Pass-eey-unk" person? Or are you a "Pash-unk" person? You know there's a difference, right? New guard versus the old guard...no lies. Ask around.
When I first moved there (around Synder Ave), standing at the infamous singing fountain in Passyunk Square gave a very different view than the one you get today...the Pope had just opened its doors and is now arguably one of the most popular spots in Philadelphia. The Cantina had not yet opened, though wasn't far behind...nor any of the many tiny, homespun boutiques popping up every time I turn around.
So, I know...I really do. I live there, I hear what people say - hipster neighborhood, nothing happening, all talk...but you know. There's enough food people down there to pack most of the restaurants in the city. Food lovers, music lovers, coffee lovers...East Passyunk is the oldest commercial strip in the city, and the oldest Italian-American commercial enclave in the country. At its best, it was one of the swankiest shopping strips in town. And maybe it'll never quite reach the glory of old, (really, how many things do?) but maybe, we can get it close.

And Capo's there too! Where we belong, really. The Reitano's modeled the shop after a classic Italian scoop shop - hence, the pictures of the family, and the old-timey feel.
Props to the neighborhood, props to the past. Funny how things circle around.

Most importantly? How do YOU say Passyunk?

See you guys there soon.

Getting to know you...

Hey Capo customers! We love you, yes indeedy! We know that you love our gelato flavors too, and we will happily let you taste, taste away to your heart's content. As a special treat, I would also like to take the opportunity to let you get to know some of them on a deeper level. Here are a few little know facts about some of these delicious little guys. Ah hem...

Pineapple Mint and Mojito have been in love with each other for years, but neither one of them can muster up the courage to take the first step. When they pass each other in the hallway, one always turns to look back over their shoulder to see if the other one is looking but then looks away a split second before the other one turns around to see if they were looking too. Tragic.

Pistacchio and Nocciola are badasses. They served in Vietnam together and would kill you as soon as look at you.

Peach with Southern Comfort is a the Mississippi State Noodling Champion (in case none of you Yankees know what that is, it's when fully grown people plunge their arms deep into underwater mud holes, hoping that catfish will clamp down upon them - Yay! It's the most ridiculous sport in the world. Except for maybe curling.)

Everyone loves Chocolate Malt, but we think that his Buddy Holly glasses are so 5 minutes ago.

Cucumber Vodka and Blackberry are completely convinced that the world will end in 2012. This being the case, they have racked up thousands of dollars in credit card debt that they think they will never have to pay off. This weekend they are flying to Vegas in a private jet so that they can eat caviar off of naked people. Good times!

Blueberries & Cream is totally Team Edward.

Melon and Absenthe is easily distracted by shiny things. That nonsense about cutting off his ear and sending it to a girl was just a rumor though. He lost it in a bar fight.

Everybody thinks that Cioccolato Scuro is a ladies man but in all actuality he just wants to be held.

Mascarpone cannot fathom why no one pronounces her name right.

Kiwi and Mango used to be BFF, until Kiwi hooked up with Mango's boyfriend (who was not even that cute). Now Mango just sits at home eating bonbons and watching Law & Order marathons. Mango really needs to get back out there.

Nobody likes Ouzo. He's a mean drunk.

Dulce de Leche is not the girl who likes yellow.

Bacio is a bully. Every night he pummels his neighbor Thai Coconut Milk with a sock full of nickels. In all reality though, Thai Coconut Milk is kind of a wuss. We recommend kickboxing lessons.

Mexican Coffee is quickly climbing her way up in the Arizona State Legislature.

Sea Salt is a pirate - Yar.

Flavor Combo Du Jour

Tiramisu

Moka

Today (Tuesday, July 21, 2010,) at Capogiro 13th street, we have two of the most magnificent flavors. Alone, they both land easily on my "Top Ten Flavors. Period." list, but together they make an even more sensual experience. Truly. Sensual. It's like a massage from a strong armed Sicilian man, while you lay under the sun on the beaches of the Mediterranean... You know, if you're into that sotra thing.

Whatever you're into, you'll love this combo. So swing on by, we're open till 11:30pm!

FOOD, Real Food....Healthy Gelato

NO, No, no. Please don't make me eat processed food. It makes me fart. There. I have said it. Just one bite of Kraft mac and cheese and I am done and so are the poor slobs that happen to be in my presence. So sorry. I find it bizarre that my body rebels like this, but it can only help me, really. I have more energy, I feel good, and I am healthy.

Lately I have heard mumblings that gelato is not healthy for you. WHaT?!? Pu-lease people. Do you know what you are eating? Let me enlighten;

MILK, SUGARS, CHOCOLATE, NUTS, THE FRESHEST FRUIT, SOMETIMES THERE'S AN EGG YOLK INVOLVED (hand gathered from free free roaming chickens), LITTLE BIT OF CREAM.


What could be unhealthy in that? No high fructose corn syrup, no red dye number whatever, no diglycerideblahblah, polymobilde..., nothing like that!

We need to get our priorities straight, people. With the exception of fruit that is simply not grown around here (ie, lemons, oranges, pineapples, mangoes, lychee, etc.) all of our fruit is grown locally, within a one hours drive. It is grown without chemicals, without pesticides and it is allowed to VINE RIPEN!! Imagine that. All those natural sugars are allowed to develop and the fruit is picked when it is ready (not prematurely so it can travel 1000s of miles).

Our milk is from a single herd of Scottish Ayreshire Cows that ONLY EAT GRASS and are named Cleopatra and Moxie!!! They are never treated with growth hormones and no antibiotics! These cows live 40 minutes outside of Philly. That's them. Look at em!

Yes, there is sugar in our gelato. All "sweets" have them. One large gelato contains as much sugar as an "all natural smoothie" or a cup of yogurt with fruit. Yes, it is equal to ice cream and froyo as far as sugar is concerned. But where did the fruit and milk used for those items come from? Was the milk from a local Menonnite farmer, the cream from the Amish, and the mint from some high school kids in West Philly? Or did it just come from a box or a truck from...I don't know, do you?

The big difference is that the ingredients that we use are local and delicious and ALL NATURAL, in the truest sense. We hand craft our gelato every day. Nothing is just poured into the top of a machine and pooped out. It is crafted. We are not just blending in fruit out of plastic container or scooping it out of an "imported" can. Real fruit grown by real farmers here in our backyard. Our carbon footprint is small. We care about who we purchase from. Just this second, Dan came in with the first of Glenn's blackberries. Big, luscious, almost ready to burst! I placed the first one in my mouth. They are from Green Meadow Farm.



Me: Holy cow.

Dan: I know.

Me: This is crazy.

Dan: I know.

Me: They cannot taste this perfect.

Dan: I know.

Me: Oh my Gawd..

Dan: Blackberries are my favorites.



In Europe, gelato is considered a health food. Italians go every day for a WALK to their local gelateria where the gelato is made fresh each morning. Europeans are far healthier than us exercise obsessed Americans. Why is that? They eat gelato EVERYDAY!!

Think about it.

Dads

Here at CapoPenn, we have developed a whole bunch of wonderful, granita-based cocktails, and have named this type of drink a "dad". Why have we named them so? We are not entirely sure. It could be because we are Tim & Eric fans, and they have produced many hilarious and informative sketches based on the wonders of Dads.

It could be a vamp on the slang, "daddy-o", beatnik style. For example: "Hey, Daddy, you're sweatin' like a...like a real gone Frenchy in the Congo, like. Cool off with one a these, Dad. It'll knock all the corners off."

Whatever. WHO CARES. The important thing is that they are refreshing and delightful and will cool you off right on time. Let me run down a few past Dads, to give you an idea of what I'm talking about here:

Kentucky Dad: peach granita with bourbon and a dash of Peychaud bitters

Vacation Dad: tamarind granita with dark rum, vodka, fresh lime and a spash of Coke

Blue Dad: blueberry granita with gin

Owen's Dad: lemon granita with vodka and Campari*

The possibilities are endless.

People, it is hot as blazes outside. Do yourself a service and come by to cool off with a Dad. You'll be glad you did.

*Note: Our naming these wonderful, refreshing cocktails "Dads" is not meant in any way to imply that all dads are: slushy, imbibers of alcoholic beverages, fruity, cold or sweet. We also realize that not all dads in Kentucky enjoy bourbon, nor are we positive that Owen's Dad likes Campari.

Capoyunk's Reeling!

Beautiful visuals aren't hard to come by at Capogiro. From the dense hues of our berry sorbetti, to the almost unearthly glisten cioccolato scuro seems to take on when it's drenched in espresso. It tastes so good because it looks so good because it tastes. so. good.

That essential complement of the senses has inspired this summer's theme for MOVIE NIGHTS at Capogiro on Passyunk Ave!
Every Monday night at 7PM we'll be showing nominated films from the Academy Awards' "Best Cinematography" category. We'll span a number or years and genres, but you know it's gonna be good. Did I mention it's BYO?

You could stake out a seat right at 7, pop a bottle of wine and call it a date night, or just stop in for a few minutes as usual, glancing up from your little blue cup every now and then to appreciate some fine cinematography. Really, everyone wins.

Check our Twitter or our Facebook for movie night updates and a schedule of upcoming films.

See you guys soon,
Maggie & the Capoyunk Crew