Coffee Robot

Get your cup of coffee made by a robot in San Francisco

Care to have your coffee prepared by a robot?

That's what's happening at Cafe X in San Francisco.

The small shop on Market Street has a robot that can manage many orders at once and even waves at some customers (though not us) when it's completed the order.

Make your order on a tablet first then the robot will make it

First customers choose what kind of drink they want on a tablet menu, ranging from Americano to cappuccino, espresso macchiato, flat white, hot chocolate and even matcha latte, with prices ranging from US$3-4.

Then they pay by credit card and input their mobile phone number so that they can receive a four-digit code when the coffee is ready.

Next the customers move over to the main event -- a semi-circle of class where there are two coffee machines and a white robotic arm that picks up cups of java and gives them to the customers at three slots who punch in the four-digit code.

While the coffee tastes decent, it's gimmicky enough for people to want to try it. The whole experience is quiet and relatively hassle free if you are familiar with the process. There's even swanky tunes playing in the shop that has a few seats, though most just take the coffee out.

I was told there are three of these shops in San Francisco and they are now creating a service where you can order ahead online and then use the four-digit code to pick up your coffee when you arrive.

Perhaps this is something for Hong Kong to consider, with rents being so high and it's hard to hire staff in hospitality -- why not a robot that can serve several people at once? However, it could be a money-losing prospect if the robot ever breaks down...

Cafexapp.com​

 

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Cozy Neighbourhood Restaurant

Highlight of the evening was the halibut cioppino with mussels and clams

When I was in Vancouver, my parents took me to a neighbourhood restaurant that I've been to before, but not recently. It's called La Buca on 24th Avenue and Macdonald. The small Italian restaurant has its menu written on a chalkboard that probably changes regularly.

A starter of asparagus with proscuitto and summer truffles

The staff read out each item and explain them clearly, so as not to embarrass anyone who doesn't understand each ingredient or cooking method. It's a very friendly way to make all customers comfortable.

Each of the dishes were executed well and were delicious. To start, my dad and I shared a rhurbarb salad, the rhubarb cut into chunks and poached, with a gorgonzola dressing topped with hazelnuts.

Another appetizer was green asparagus lying on a bed of thinly sliced proscuitto and topped with summer black truffle from Italy. What a treat.

For mains my mom had halibut cioppino, the fish was perfectly pan fried, and the meat flaking off with a fork. The fillet was surrounded by mussels, clams, shrimp and presented in a light tomato broth with scallions, onions and pearl barley.

simple but delicious tagliatelle with meat sauce

My dad ordered the pork ragu radiatore, the squiggly pasta with a decent amount of Parmesan shavings on top. The ragu was cooked till it was soft and was quite hearty, as was my dish of tagliatelle with beef sauce, though not tomato based. The homemade pastas for both dishes were springy and were well coated with their respective sauces.

The theme of rhubarb was in the desserts too, where our olive oil cake had long chunks of the red vegetable cooked in its juices and the cake had a dollop of ice cream. The cake was very moist with the rhubarb adding a tart flavour. Meanwhile the dark chocolate tart wasn't too sweet, though it was quite dense.

Hearty radiatore with pork ragu sauce

There was a steady stream of customers coming in while we were there, and we gave our table back almost half an hour before the appointed time because service was so efficient. 

La Buca

4025 Macdonald Street

Vancouver, BC
(604) 730 6988

Picture of the Day: Ambassador Dog

Russell doesn't look big here, but he's reportedly 120 lbs!

Last August Vancouver International Airport launched the Less Airport Stress Initiative  (LASI) where the airport partners with St. John Ambulance and their Therapy Dog program. The fidos along with their owners wander around the airport terminal to help ease travelers' anxieties.

I got a chance to meet one of them today -- a giant 120-lb chocolate labrador called Russell who was a gentle giant. He didn't mind people petting him at all. Meanwhile his owner answered questions about Russell and she periodically had to take his nose out of of the snack section of the gift shop...

The dogs are around from 11am to 1pm Monday to Friday at YVR, after you have gone through security.

Power Breakfast

Jetrho's is practically an institution in Vancouver for its breakfast portions

There's a restaurant that's infamous for its massive breakfast portions and that's Jethro's Fine Grub on Dunbar and 18th Avenue, and another location on Fraser Street. There are less than 30 seats in the Dunbar place, and the eatery doesn't take reservations so loyal fans are willing to stand outside and wait, and wait and wait.

My plate of two eggs, chorizo, hash browns and rye toast

My friend and I arrived around 10am on Saturday and there was already a line there. We put our name down on the clipboard and waited for about 20 minutes before our name was called.

To save time, my friend suggested I study the menu so that we could order as soon as we sat down. I chose two eggs and meat (CAD$10), with the eggs over easy and chorizo sausage with rye toast and hash browns.

My companion picked chicken fried steak (CAD$15), that was battered then fried, topped with country gravy, hash browns, two eggs and toast.

I suggested getting a side of pancakes to try, but when we sat down at our table, my friend told me to look to my right at the next table. They had two pancakes (CAD$5) but they were as large as the plate itself! I decided it was better to be conservative and just try to finish my own breakfast order.

Giant banana pecan caramel pancakes!

When our food arrived, we had a mountain of food to tackle. It was definitely grub at a very reasonable price that filled you up quickly. I powered through, but in hindsight would have preferred smoked bacon or sausage instead of the chorizo that was very oily and spicy. Nevertheless, the giant plate of food hit the spot, and I got peanut butter to slather on my buttered rye toast.

As for the chicken fried steak, my friend had no trouble devouring it and cleaned up her plate. The chicken had a delicious crunchy crust on the outside, tender inside. How she managed to eat the entire plate of food I don't know, but there was nothing left.

Chicken fried steak with hash browns and eggs

The diners next to us with the giant pancakes had to pack the leftovers home, and many other customers did the same. You can't be too ambitious in this restaurant -- ordering too much could be the death of you.

Afterwards we walked around downtown and still weren't hungry until dinnertime! Definitely fills you up for the whole day.

Jethro's Fine Grub

3420 Dunbar Street

Vancouver
(604) 569 3441

jethrosfinegrub.com