A TRIP TO VALEN DOLCE ... AND SHUTTERBUGS GALORE AT 7TH AND MONTANA

Today’s travels brought me to Valen Dolce, a new café that just opened last month at 1426 Montana … and what a treat. I went in expecting to find a typical upscale café and instead found something entirely different: a French Patisserie with a Japanese influence. Their chef, who was trained in France and worked in Japan, combines the flair of the French with the refinement of the Japanese. The result is a selection of pastries where you can taste each flavor separately … and everything looks like a work of art. I ordered one of their specialties – a Kahlua Mousse Cake ($4.60) – and wasn’t disappointed. Each layer – from the espresso to the chocolate mousse and the agave-sweetened sponge cake in between – was a taste sensation. The coffee I ordered – an Americano ($2.50) – gives the competition a real run for the money. Valen Dolce specializes in both Tea and Coffee and you can’t leave without sampling their selection of rare teas, including “Prosperity Dreams,” a delicate blend made with Silver Needle Jasmine that actually blooms when you drop it in hot water. Valen Dolce offers free wireless and is open every night until 10:00 p.m. (perfect for the evening Scrabble set). As for the service, they couldn’t be nicer. When the man behind the counter, Howard, saw me taking notes, he asked what I was doing. “Well,” I explained, “It’s just for a local blog I write, nothing serious or professional. Do you mind if I take a photo?” “Of course not!,” he replied, “Blog me … Blog me!” So I walked around taking pictures to my heart’s content – including the one above of Barista Maria holding a decadent cake and a glass of blossoming tea and the one below of my Kahlua Mousse Cake. Both were picture perfect!

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Speaking of pictures, the shutterbugs were out in full force this morning at 7th and Montana … which was especially helpful given that I’ve refrained from taking photos inside in recent days. Today’s main topics were an Anonymous Fashion Victim wearing multicolored short shorts with a skin tight clashing Lycra shirt and a skull cap; and a Beautiful Blonde Woman wearing Pajamas. Ironically, the woman in pajamas at one point whipped out her Spycam to take photos of her fellow Fashion Victim. First of all, a big “thank you” to everyone who has been quietly taking and sending me their photos. Keep up the good work. I promise to use them in the near future. Meanwhile, the nice folks at Valen Dolce have extended us an invitation. If I print our 7th and Montana photos out, they’re happy to host a viewing party next Saturday afternoon …!