Caffé Sole is an in an unassuming spot, in an industrial spot surrounded by breweries just off 99th Street. When you walk in, you’re greeted with wonderfully mismatched wall art, greenery and rows of pottery and coffee accessories for sale. It’s like a craft show and coffee shop rolled into one.
I take a closer look at a piece of art that features prominent members of the Star Wars universe, and then my eyes move to a collage of postage stamps that all celebrate famous soccer stars. Both are for sale. And I wonder, do I know anyone who has bought or sold a piece of art from a coffee shop wall? Who was the first person to think, “hey, I can run a side business as a gallery out of my coffee shop?” Did someone running a coffee shop think it was a tad unfair that an art gallery had an adjoining cafe, and wanted to turn the tables?
But my friend and I aren’t here to look at art. We’re here for churros, because I’ve heard this is the place to go for them. The best churros I’ve ever had have all been from California street vendors. Can these match?
Now comes the pause. I am going to get the churros, I promise, but first I have to actually have some lunch. I order a spiced Americano and a Cured Sammie. The coffee comes with a teabag filled with spices, and it’s a blast of cinnamon and cloves with each sip. I usually take sugar in my coffee. There’s an old Hungarian adage about needing to put enough sugar in your coffee so the spoon stands up, but it’s absolutely not needed here. The spices carry the drink.
The sandwich is so big, I make sure to stash half of it for later. After all, I need to save room for churros. It’s simple and it’s great — a deli sandwich worthy of note. Lots of spicy Italian cold cuts; capicollo, soppressata and provolone with some hot peppers, tomato and lettuce. No special sauce needed.
Now, to the main event. It needs to be said that the churros are referred to as “love nuggets” on the menu. They come to the table fresh out of the kitchen in the back. They don’t sit on a counter for hours. There is a lot of cinnamon-sugar laden onto them. They’re served in bite-size pieces, and you can get chocolate or caramel sauces for dipping. Of course you’re going to get a dipping sauce.
They’re light, have just that right bit of crunch, and are pillowy soft inside. They’re addictively good. Luckily, I did not order the large size — because I might have gone into a sugar coma. But what a sugar coma it would have been, though.
Yes, these churros are worth the voyage to Caffé Sole. Make sure to leave room.
Caffé Sole
CPR Irvine | 9911 72 Ave. NW, Edmonton | 825.436.9972 | caffesole.ca
