Toast of the Town!

Patchogue is a village on the south shore of Long Island. It has undergone a great transformation over the last decade or so. One only has to step onto Main Street and have a myriad of restaurants, taverns and coffee bars to choose from. At the center of it all is the majesty that is the Patchogue Theatre.

Follow the painted piano keys across the street from the theatre and you will find yourself at a wonderful breakfast and lunch restaurant, Toast Coffeehouse. The art gallery hallway welcomes you as you walk past, of all things, an electric chair! As you enter the restaurant the decor changes to a mix of art world meets industrial park/steampunk. The greeters take your number and call you as there is usually a wait. The good thing is they use the Nowait app so you can "get in line"on the app as long as you are within ten miles of the restaurant.

Art Gallery Entry and Electric chair on the right.

Belgian Gluten Free Waffle with Berries
and Turkey Bacon

 Toast has a wonderful array of breakfast and lunch items on their menu. Their omelettes are not to be rivaled; these are not your diner's omelettes!   My personal favorite is the Avocado, BLT omelette that also includes plum tomatoes, spinach, and Vermont white cheddar! I have never had a fluffier omelette. The French toast is delectable. I love the Brioche French toast served with creme fraiche and
 fresh strawberries!

Watermelon & Feta Salad

There are many choices and I haven't even mentioned the pancakes and waffles. But the best thing, for my family, is they serve all of their options Gluten Free!  That is an incredible bonus in a world where it is very difficult to eat out and truly enjoy food when you have to eat gluten free.

 I should, of course, mention their coffee, which is a breakfast blend. It is very good  and stands on it's own for a breakfast coffee. I usually find these roasts to be weak, but not this one. I have enjoyed it hot, iced and cappuccino and have enjoyed each. Toast also carries an array of delicious muffins if you are looking for something on the lighter side.

Last time we were at Toast, I ordered the seasonal special salad pictured above. It consisted of fresh watermelon, red onions, feta cheese, mixed greens, and topped off with their wonderful Raspberry Champagne dressing! It was tangy and sweet all at once. It was refreshing and satisfying. I highly recommend this salad.

The waitstaff and busboys have been some of the friendliest and most accommodating servers I have encountered. Because my son has to have gluten free pancakes, waffles, and french toast, they have gone out of their way to tell us exactly what kind they serve when he has enjoyed his meal. Both my son and I have to have sugar free syrup and they have made a point of serving that separately and informing us of a special brand they carry.  My son also cannot have milk or sweetened almond milk. The waitress was kind enough to bring him coconut milk right from the can for his coffee! I cannot recommend Toast Coffeehouse enough, not just for the incredible food but for the service as well. Patchogue is their second location. The original is in Port Jefferson. Toast has certainly become my favorite place to have breakfast!

Roast, There's No Place Like Home

I am sorry I have not been coffee klatching for awhile, but the summer flu hit me! That and a lot of running around before that with my son, Justin, who was performing in The Gateway's production of "The Wizard of Oz" at the Patchogue Theatre. For you theatre parents out there, you know that requires a lot of running around and coffee!

Ensemble (Justin center) "The Wizard of Oz"
 performing at Bellport Days

Lucky for me, a couple of doors down from The Patchogue Theatre, is one of the best Coffee Houses!  Roast Coffee & Tea Trading Company. Roast  is a micro-roaster, small family owned business. Their website states that they tend to source single origin coffee green beans from around the world, roast them, brew them and serve them as single origin brews so that their customers can taste the different regions and how they compare to one another. The days I spent at Roast, I had the opportunity to sample a variety of their beans, and they were just wonderful.

                                                       I know I started this blog in search of the perfect cup of joe, but I am finding many delicious brews along the way.  The Roast is certainly a gem among the throngs of Coffee Houses out there. I had several types of coffee while there. Among those I tasted, my favorite was Maui Mokka.  On the farm where this bean is grown, it is often referred to as the "champagne of coffee" because of the small size of the beans. But, it is also a cup of coffee to be celebrated! As the name promotes, this bean is grown only in Maui although it originated in Ethiopia.  

Mike, the Barista

One of the overstuffed sofas

Maui Mokka is a rich chocolatey tasting bean with hints of sweet fruit and wine. It is an easy brew to drink. It's not overbearingly strong, but it certainly has its' own legs to stand on.  It is a brew I highly recommend and will go back to Roast to drink.

The baristas are some of the friendliest I have met.
They are knowledgeable about Roast's beans and quick to offer a sampling of the daily brews, toast your bagel or muffin and serve you at your table.
Roast carries one of our favorite local gluten free cookies. Ms. Michelle is a wonderful baker and another great reason to visit Roast.

Beyond the the great beans, Roast is a very comfortable inviting place to go. Whether you go with a friend or two and sit at their tables and share one of the delicious pastries or muffins  or sit at one of their over-stuffed sofas with a book or laptop with a cup of coffee, you will feel right at home.