2175 Deerfield Road, Riverwoods, IL 60015
On our way to the Chicago Botanic Garden, Roy and Adele introduced Lisa and me to Cafe De Oro. This conveniently located cafe in Riverwoods surprised us all by their range of menu items, including Jeni’s Ice Cream, and the most excellent coffee from La Colombe Coffee. Lisa and I decided to make a second trip to get better acquainted with Cafe De Oro in Riverwoods.
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“The Matcha Latte has a lot of matcha! I can really smell and taste the matcha. It’s very smooth.”
Lisa and I brought my mom to Cafe De Oro on a Saturday morning before our big fall cleanup in the yard. We would need plenty of caffeine, hot drinks and satisfying food. Cafe De Oro would fit the bill for both the before and after parties.
We walked into the beautiful, relaxing cafe all decked out in warm wood and soft lighting. The mood felt very welcoming. Various artwork decorated the walls. We scanned the menu very carefully, weighing our options and ourselves, privately, as we considered the choices. It’s all about calories as currency against simple luxuries on a rainy Saturday morning. What would win out?
“The Ham & Cheese Swirl has a very flaky and light croissant, a nice amount of ham, and the cheese tops off everything very well.”
My mom was pretty solid on her choice of Matcha Latte and a Chocolate Croissant. That sounded like a nice pairing. Lisa was going for Fishtown Latte with soymilk and a Ham & Cheese Swirl. She also grabbed a Pick-Me-Up Item of Vegan Cold Oats with Fresh Fruits. This was for all of us to share. I was last to go. Everything looked and sounded so good. Finally I settled on the Pure Black and Tan with a slice of Banana Walnut Bread. We were hungry, we were thirsty, and cold rain was starting to fall.
“The Vegan Cold Oats are tender, the chia adds a nice texture, and the strawberries are so fresh.”
As we sat down to assemble our Avengers of morning hunger and thirst, rain began to streak down the glass. This would be a day. Lisa pulled up her cup of Fishtown Latte. The froth looked too pretty to disturb. Once I took my picture, it was time for destruction by deconstruction. Lisa took a sip, and her eyes brightened as she shared, “This is a really rich and bold combination of flavors! But it’s still smooth. It definitely has a nice brightness.” My mom and I and the Ham & Cheese Swirl were waiting for what was next. Only one of us would succumb to the momentary silence. Lisa admired her savory breakfast before she took a bite, and when she did, she praised, “The Ham & Cheese Swirl has a very flaky and light croissant, a nice amount of ham, and the cheese tops off everything very well.” At this point my mom and I were sitting and waiting for our turn. It didn’t really take this long. It just seemed like it. Even still, I think we grew a second row of teeth while waiting.
My mom misses a good, strong cup of matcha every now and then. When she saw one on the menu, she quickly decided on it. She is also like Spock when it comes to chocolate. Not years. Not months! Not even weeks. No. I was thinking it had been about seven days since her last fling with chocolate. Maybe eight! We stayed out of her path as she grabbed cup and croissant almost together. My mom raised her cup of Matcha Latte and admired the beautiful green and cream foam. She smelled the real matcha emanating from the steam vapor. She took a sip and made the universal “Mmm” sound, but there was much more, “The Matcha Latte has a lot of matcha! I can really smell and taste the matcha. It’s very smooth.” The Chocolate Croissant also needed some love. My mom took a bite and was impressed, “Oh, this has a good taste! It’s fluffy and tender with a lot of chocolate in the middle.” My mom is never one to be so easily pleased. This was really saying something! We also reset the clock to another seven days. Whew!
We zereod in on the Pick-Me-Up Item of Vegan Cold Oats with Fresh Fruits. This was a healthy portion of hearty oats and chia seeds soaked overnight with coconut and almond milk. Ripe, sliced strawberries and almond slices topped off the cup. We each took a bite. All of us made the universal “Mmm” sound but Lisa added something more coherent, “The Vegan Cold Oats are tender, the chia adds a nice texture, and the strawberries are so fresh.” We couldn’t agree more!
“The Banana Walnut Bread reminds me of my childhood and eating banana bread baked by my mom or my grandma. This is what banana bread should taste like. I love the fresh walnuts!”
I usually prefer a nice, hot, steaming cup of frothy, fresh-brewed coffee to chase away a cold and gray, damp day. But on this day, from the fall cleanup, I myself would be nice, hot, steaming, frothy and anything but fresh. I didn’t need to generate any more heat. I just needed fuel. An icy Pure Black and Tan would do it for me. A simple slice of Banana Walnut Bread was good for me too. When I removed the lid off my cup to see the cream, I knew I made the right choice. The surface looked very mellow like a misty moor. I watched the draft latte swirl with the ice and the pure black coffee. I took a sip, smacked my lips and was struck with the answer, “The bite of the pure black coffee is tamed by the creaminess of the draft latte. The ice takes off any leftover edge without having to add any sugar. I can really taste the coffee experience.” The Banana Walnut Bread was next. It was time for some fresh baked goodness. Because I like to bite into cake, I wanted to take a healthy bite of this cake. It would look like a surfboard after a shark made itself known. So close to my face, I could smell the bananas, I could see the walnuts, and any closer I would need cheaters, so I took a bite, “The Banana Walnut Bread reminds me of my childhood and eating banana bread baked by my mom or my grandma. This is what banana bread should taste like. I love the fresh walnuts!” Sometimes you can go home again.
After the fall cleanup and a hearty dinner, Lisa, my mom and I had a Jeni’s Ice Cream party, courtesy of Cafe De Oro in Riverwoods. The selection there is just amazing! A couple days later, Lisa and I had a La Colombe Coffee tasting party for two in the backyard after work. What better way to toast the end of Monday? Cafe De Oro in Riverwoods has the largest selection of flavors of La Colombe Coffee that I have ever seen. If you want to see more (and why just see—scratch that itch!), visit Cafe De Oro in Riverwoods to taste everything they have to offer!
Cafe De Oro in Riverwoods is your one-stop place for: fresh brewed La Colombe coffee, a wild assortment of flavors from Jeni’s Ice Cream, a wide assortment of fresh baked goods, tea served hot or poured over ice, and La Colombe Coffee to enjoy at home or on the go later. Stop what you’re doing and get started at Cafe De Oro in Riverwoods
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