coffee battle brewing

Premium and McDonald's do not normally go hand and hand and yet today I found myself holding a cup of McDonald's premium roast coffee and loving liking it.

My coworkers finally convinced me to get off my high (Starbucks) horse and try the free coffee McDonalds has been flogging for the last couple of weeks in its coffee war with Tim Hortons.   "100% Arabica"  they cried as they yanked me out of the Starbucks line.  

I have to admit that I was more than pleasantly surprised at the quality of the coffee - better than your average doughnut joint brew and it stands up nicely to a Timmy's.  

But what really won me over was the design of the cup and lid.  The cup is sturdy and well insulated but light but oh, that lid!  The spout actually opens and closes securely and the lid fits tightly on the cup to avoid spillage.  What a concept!

Will I go back to Mickey D's for a coffee after the promotion is over?  Probably, when I'm in the vicinity, if only for the cup.  

The free coffee promotion is on until March 14 in Canada.  Enjoy it while you can.

happy international women's day

Women of the world by angela7dreams via Flickr

london calling

Red Public Phone Boxes - Covent Garden, London, England - Thursday September Thirteenth 2007
Originally uploaded by law_keven

G and I are just finishing up a week in London, fittingly stranded in our tiny hotel room due to the pouring rain.  The Brits are experiencing the worst winter in 30 years and this is the worst weather I've seen in all my trips to London. 

Oh well, all the more time to spend in the pubs and gorgeous food halls of the British capital!  Unfortunately I can't share my pics until I get home but trust me when I say that, for a city with a sometimes dodgy culinary history, London has more than its fair share of incredible markets.

Borough Market, London's oldest retail market, has operated from its present location in Southwark for at least 250 years.  It is a vibrant retail market just across the Thames from London's bustling financial district and boasts an impressive array of foods - just about anything you can wish for is to be found here.  While you're there, check out the location for Bridget Jones' flat!

Even more ancient is the Smithfield meat market where meat has been traded for 800 years!  Still a bustling wholesale market, Smithfield provisions some of London's finest establishments. Opening at 4am, there are a number of local pubs that keep market hours, serving a pint and full English breakfast for the market crowd. Should you find yourself in the vicinity at that hour, legend has it that, crossing the field next to the market, alone and in the early morning, you may encounter the ghost of one of the local inhabitants.

Well, I'm off to brave the rain in search of a sticky toffee pudding and a pint to say farewell to London Town!