It's a typical sunny morning in Venice, California, where the sun gently reaches into the window and wakes you up. Well, no, that's not quite true. What really woke you up was the sound of a screaming transvestite who yells like clockwork as she revs up an old VW Van in the alley outside the window. We will just ignore that for now. You should really start your work day, but grabbing a good cup of coffee and perfectly sized breakfast is part of your morning ritual. Maintaining your procrastination ritual is the only remedy for that procrastination--at least, you have somehow convinced yourself of this. You crave hot food: something "real" and not just a pastry. You tell yourself that it is just too "difficult" to cook your own eggs, so instead you hop on your bike and begin your quotidian hunt, not realizing that you could have made and eaten three omelets by now if you had just made them yourself.
But you are in luck!
Your friend Vavine has the perfect option to soothe that grouchy sarcastic morning vibe: CUP-CUP! Little bites of goodness for five bucks, including outter pastry and inner "real food" in the perfect little artsy cove behind Big Red Sun on Rose Ave. Alas, you can procrastinate that work you have to do, and quench your thirst for atmosphere and morning ritual.
I've been to cupcup three times. I've tried all four of the selections that Vavine (aka "V") offers. I also love the "drizzle sauce" that V makes herself for the veggie cupcup. My favorite is the spinach veggie option. The coolest part is that each bite is slightly different because these goodies aren't mixed up but carefully arranged inside the little cup-o-goodness. A surprise little piece of egg fluff, feta cheese, or mushroom and you'll light up with a smile while you're eating. This might be awkward for you to smile while you chew, but don't fret. Other people are "smile-chewing" too.
The atmosphere is precisely what venice is all about---sun-drenched nooks and crannies that make you want to simultaneously and impossibly keep the "secret" to yourself while telling everyone you know. The coffee on the cart next to cupcup is strong in a good way, and made on the spot in that drippy-filter-style that takes hours at Intelligencia Coffee.
The sit-down area in the back of big red sun will make you feel like you are in a grownup morning playground-- colorful benches and chairs each very different and equally welcoming. Or maybe the bright red shiny plastic tables and chairs will make you feel like you're in South America where everyone sits outside, has their coffee (sorry, no beer), and listens to or plays music. The girls (of Cup Cup and Stumptown coffee) will probably be playing blues on their radio, just loud enough to add to that smile but subtle enough that it will just wind around your ears like the steam from your coffee.
Okay, I've used the word, "feel" a lot in this little chunk of text. But maybe that's what mornings should be all about--feeling like you're starting your day off right. Well, i don't know. I haven't read the Secret--the book, that is.
Speaking of secrets, SHHHHH. Cup-Cup is a secret. but also. tell everyone.
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