http://www.cafe-privilege.com/moment_cafe
No - this article is not only about the place called a
café, or
restaurants, but more about a tradition called 'pousse-café' - still very much appreciated here in
France. As the name indicates, it is something to 'push the
coffee' or 'coffee push' and normally consists of a small glass of '
digestif' (
Cognac,
Calvados) very fiery 40deg or higher, taken after a heavyish and good meal and after (or with) the coffee. Our predecessors were not stupid, and although they did not have access to all the
medicaments we have now, they made their own.......'digestives'
as well as many others, every country had their own, many made from herbal sources not too agreeable and rather bitter, but that is a personal question of taste.The fact of the matter is
that it works - the digestion is assisted, greatly.....and one can sleep easier. Works as well if you are awoken by some kind of 'eating bug' - something you have eaten which disagrees with you. In this case no cafe....just the alcohol (whisky or others can be used as well for this) straight from the bottle - one or two gulps and back to bed....invariably you fall asleep and sleep through till morning - this is what is called 'medicinal' use, and obviously depends on your own circumstances, both health and financial! It is quite amusing to hear and see 'older' women coming, (in
Germany) to the Chemist for their nightly stuff, without which they can't sleep..no wonder, the stuff is between 70 and 90vol/alcohol, and basically they fall asleep 'smashed'!
The 'pousse-café' also used to be a replacement, in bygone days, for rewarding a Chef for his skills if one appreciated them, in a hotel or restaurant, where cash 'tips' were not permitted to kitchen staff, then a pousse-café was o ffered, and to camouflage it, it was offered in the form of the alcohol poured into and expresso coffee......because, of course - alcohol was forbidden in the kitchens....! In these days it is rare, but does still happen!
Of course café....or
Kaffee is extremely popular, particularly in
Switzerland and
Austria. In Austria the 'Kaffeehauser'
are centers of culture, conversation and 'torte' (cake) - 'Cafe-kuchen, in Germany always on a Sunday afternoon ......my own personal favourite being Kaffee with Apfelkuchen und Sahne
In Switzerland (the German speaking part) they have the cream next to the Kaffee in a little pot made of chocolate (Swiss of course) - you pour the cream into the Kaffee and pop the chocolate pot into your mouth....! Different.......Don't know what you do if you want the chocolate but no cream in your koffee...! In any case, Café...Kaffee....Coffee - whatever, it gives us much pleasure in many forms - this is just one of them!
Bonne Appétit.....
My Favorite Cafes In NYC.(adrianaherdan.com)
One Café at a Time(cafeconluis.wordpress.com)
Coffee Recommendations Just For You! @Starbucks(coffee1addict.wordpress.com) Well - I didn't like Starbucks coffee - sorry!
Paris cat cafe serves up coffee with a saucer of crème(theguardian.com)
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