Vanilla Chai at Swill

I know, I know...another Chai.  You know, when I first tried one, I thought it was like drinking potpourri.  I totally hated it.  Then I really started to like them as an alternative to drinking real coffee, which I'm normally not a fan of.

I asked for my regular Chai the first time at Swill.  The cool guy behind the counter asked if I wanted a regular chai or a vanilla chai.  I said "Well shoot, if you are going to give me a choice I'm going to try a vanilla!  I didn't even see it as an option."

He seemed pretty amused by that, and several minutes later I got it delivered to my table.  It was amazing!  So smooth and creamy, and yet that potpourri flavor that I hated and first and came to love was amazing in this one.

I'll for sure be back for more of this one, and maybe try out some other things.  If they can make it taste this good, maybe regular coffee will taste good there too!


Swill Coffee and Wine Bar
Moana West Shopping Center, 3366 Lakeside Ct, Reno, NV 89509
(775) 823-9876

Monday	7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday	7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday	7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday	7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday	7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday	7:30 am – 2:00 pm
Sunday	7:30 am – 2:00 pm

Cardamon Pisco Sour at Centro

I can't help but think of Iliza Shlesinger's stand up whenever someone wants to go to a tapas place.  I can't stop saying "It's small plates" lately.  

That's the thought I had when we decided to hit up Centro, is that 30 of us are going to share a flatbread and leave hungry.

But then I saw their drink menu and I could care less about hunger.  I had such a hard time deciding, but eventually I decided on the Cardamon Pisco Sour.  We'd recently made cardamon cookies at home for a Indian BBQ we were attending, and I really loved the smell.

The bartender was also our waiter, and he was really nice.  He asked if this was my first time trying the drink, and checked in with me afterwards.  I love anything with citrus, and the cardamon and lemon juice was just amazing together.  In fact all the ingredients complimented each other wonderfully.  I wanted to chuck my evening plans and just try all their drinks.  Alas, real life was calling, and I figured they'll be around for a long time.  The tapas were amazing as well, and I actually was full enough for it to take me long into the night without being hungry again.  I can't wait to go back and try something else out.

Centro

236 California Ave, Reno, NV 89509

(775) 737-9062

Mon	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Tue	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Wed	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Thu	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Fri	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sat	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sun	11:00 am - 11:00 pm

Stiegl at The Foxy Olive

As I've previously stated, I'm not a big beer drinker.  I tried, I really did.  It's just not for me at all.  I'm always down for sour, not so much for bitter.  Ume Shiso is as close as I get, and that's a more pickled taste than anything else.

That being said, I guess you can barely count my Salzburger Stiegl Radler as a "beer," as it is Grapefruit Soda with a small amount of beer.  However, that being said it's my new summer beverage.  It's just like a slightly boozy Grapefruit soda.  I had my second one with tequila, and that made it really awesome.  I pretty much agree on all counts with this guy.

I had said summer beverage Monday night while meeting some awesome new people (and one terrible one) at The Foxy Olive.

The first time I went to the Foxy Olive, it was a Friday night, and it's a really small bar.  I got really claustrophobic and decided to escape to the bathroom so as to not freak out.  I flipped the light switch in the bathroom and proceeded to freak out as I saw the half mannequin standing in the corner.  For a split second my brain just went straight to horror movie.  Needless to say, it wasn't a great time for me.  I didn't drink anything, and we left soon afterwards.

This time it was a Monday night, and much less busy.  Which is actually a little sad, since it is closing at the end of this month.  I would suggest going and giving this dive bar a great send off.  A great guy owns it, and my friend Ali will be tending bar on non-busy Monday nights.

Just don't let that bathroom mannequin scare you.  It's quite harmless once you get to know it.

The Foxy Olive
220 Mill St, Reno, NV 89501

(775) 997-3733

Chai Latte @HubCoffeeReno

Now that I'm back in town, getting together with old schoolmates is starting to come about, and it's been awesome.  It's so exciting to see what everyone grew up to be.  Maureen gave me some advise when we were in sixth grade; part my hair on the side.  It never occurred to me to change something like that up, and it changed my whole life.

Now she's a super awesome hair stylist at L'Essence Day Spa and Salon, and I would seriously suggest that if you need some awesome new hair color to make an appointment with her.

She has some of her cool transformations up on her Instagram,

We met up at Hub Coffee Roasters since she's a super busy momma, and I decided to go with my old standby of a Chai Latte.  Mo was nice enough to get it for me, so I'm going to have to get something for her next time we see each other.

The Chai was good, and very pretty.  In the end though, I don't think I like it as much as I like the one from Bibo's.  I know Hub is supposed to be better according to Yelp and Facebook reviews, so I'm willing to go back another time and give them a shot.

It's still a solid second in my book, and I would for sure go there again.  Their river side location was great for people-watching, and catching up with my old friend.  The parking lot was a little strange, but I got it figured out the second time around the block.  All in all, a great time with some great coffee.

Hub Coffee Roasters-Riverside
http://www.hubcoffeeroasters.com/

Visit: 727 Riverside Dr, Reno, NV 89503
Hours: Mon-Sat 7am to 8pm
Sun 7am to 6pm