Coffee 24/7: Tirami-soo Good
Coffee 24/7 is a column, by College sophomore Claudia Dally exploring the many ways of maintaining a coffee-centric diet.
Coffee is definitely not for everyone. I like to think that coffee is something one has to get used to over time through continuous exposure. For those who have become fully acquainted with its enticement, coffee is everything. I acquired my taste for coffee – or caffeine – at a pretty young age. If there is anything I have learned since my first cup of coffee, it is that coffee can be consumed at any time of the day and in any form.
A true coffee fanatic would know this and have already explored the many ways to obtain their daily dose of coffee. But even if you aren’t that big on coffee or just haven’t explored the various ways to enjoy it, have no fear because my posts are going to highlight everything from where to get the best cup of joe to where to find the best coffee-infused desserts around.
I thought the best way to jump-start my column would be to head on over to somewhere new and highlight the best part of a great meal – dessert. In a perfect world my day would start and end with coffee. Considering I was making late dinner plans, I chose Mercato in Center City/Washington Square West in hopes of ending a chill dinner with an affogato [ice cream with a shot or two of espresso poured over it]. My friend and I were perhaps a bit too excited to end dinner on a high note, to only find out from our waiter that their espresso machine was broken. Bummed out, we instead chose the tiramisú from the list of desserts.
So, here’s the thing. Tiramisú is one of my all-time favorite desserts. It probably ties with a good cannoli, mostly because it contains coffee. I figured it would be just like any other tiramisu I had had before, but I was wrong. The tiramisu’s ladyfingers were soaked in Kahlúa and topped with a light, yet rich, sweetened mascarpone. Even better, it was topped with chocolate-covered espresso beans as garnish.
Center top left: Oh so cheesy and buttery Cacio e Pepe. Also perfect for sharing if you’re looking for a light dinner – or if you’re saving room for dessert.
Center bottom left: Mercato’s bread with herb butter.
While I may not have gotten my affogato, the tiramisu did the trick. The food overall was worth it – and perfect for sharing with a friend if you’re trying for a lighter dinner. This small and quaint Italian BYOB is definitely the place to go to wind down after a long week.
I will definitely go back, probably with more friends in tow (and I will be sure to order the tiramisú!).
À bien tôt!
-Claudia
One thought on “Coffee 24/7: Tirami-soo Good”
Mmmmm….sounds and LOOKS deelish! Not all tiramisus are made equal, so I’ve learned from experience 🙁 Will definitely try Mercato’s tiramisu when the opportunity presents itself. My only critique of this review: you could have include more sensory-based descriptions of the tiramisu as it pertains to the coffee (eg: texture, aroma, nuances in taste). Overall, great review, clever title, and dangerously yummy photos!