Chocolateria San Churo - Shop 2, 161 Grey Street South Brisbane

A little over a week ago we took the kids to Southbank to look at the lights and have dinner. We thought that we'd treat them after dinner and seeing as the line was out the door at Max Brenner we took them to the newly opened Chocolateria San Churo. It was about 6:30pm on a Sunday night and it actually wasn't crazy busy like MB hence why we stopped.

I know there is talk about town that this place isn't really up to scratch. Truth be told though I'm going to say I disagree. San Churro is not a small business honing hand crafted one offs... It's a chain store and it sells mass produced desserts. Sure I have had better churros at the market but I've also had better burgers at the markets and would never compare that to a big mac and mcdonalds. I think the thing to remember with this place is 'horses for course'.

When we got there we were served and seated with a friendly waitress who was more than helpful. We ended up ordering their signature dessert churros and kids churros with chocolate even though there was a mile long list of endless choices. It did however take a while for these dishes to come out to the point the children were getting restless and they weren't piping hot straight out of the frier like market churos. It's probably to be expected though given the serving environment and the fact these things go cold quickly.

Normally slow service kind of gets to me because when the children are on edge so am I. However I noticed that everyone in the store was working hard and were very friendly and obliging. I didn't see any slacking off going on just the staff working hard on a busy night. For me I tend to lean towards this as a sign they are having some teething problems as they are still in the early stages. I'd be willing to give them another go later on down the track to see if it's improved with time and experience though.

Sure they weren't the best we had but the kids did not complain in fact they loved the dessert and gobbled it all up quickly with much fervour. It's a pretty good little spot here on the main road right next to the cinema perfect to do movies and dessert. There is also everything from assortments of lollies and chocolates, cakes, pastries, ice creams, cold and hot drinks to choose from, the list is almost endless. I found the variety here really good and that there is probably something to satisfy any sweet tooth.

In the end I would go back because it is child friendly and the staff were more than lovely even joking with me when I took photos. To me if it's got a good vibe going on where people like being at their job and are happy to give good customer service I'm not going to be over zealously picky about judging the food. If you keep in mind it is a mass production chain store, I think it's pretty satisfying. Hopefully the slow service gets sorted out in the future as this is the kind of place your kids will reminisce on being taken to once they reach adulthood.

So if you're after specialty fine food in terms of chocolate or dessert it's probably not for you. However if you want a place that is friendly with a wide range of all different kinds of dessert that the kids would be happy to tag a long to this is a great place. My kids most certainly loved it.

Cup From Above - 1359 Gympie Road, Aspley

After hearing about Cup From Above I happened to be in the area and decided to drop by. Ruby and I walked up to see people inside drinking coffee but a closed sign hanging in the window. When I turned to walk away, one of the owners opened the door and welcomed me in. They say first impressions are lasting impressions and true to that Adam is probably one of the most genuine guys you will ever meet.

Adam nervously admitted to me that he is a coffee novice and that while his star barista had gone home he would try his best to make me a great cup of coffee. I wouldn't ever say I'm a coffee snob myself and for me there is more to coffee than the drink itself. When served with a warm smile by a person with a story to tell it instantly gains extra merit points in my books. The coffee was actually pretty good and best of all Adam is one of the most genuine guys you will meet even so far as insisting this cup was on the house.

I love cup from Above's story, you see Adam is a disability Support worker and his dream for Cup From Above is to make it that place where there are no barriers of prejudice everyone is welcome and equal. Passionate about his work amongst the disabled community it shines through this humble little shop. Art work donated by local artists line the wall which you can purchase with proceeds going towards buying instruments for the students of Aspley Special School. There is also a donation jar for this and Cup From Above also hold live music nights to help raise money for those instruments.

I was excited to be told that also next week a talented artist Adam works with as a support worker would be exhibiting his art for a month long. I was also invited to come and meet Peter Rowe and his mother Betty and it was a pretty humbling experience to have the opportunity to meet someone so amazing.

While I was invited back I also got to meet Chris the barista of the shop. Chris is just as warm as Adam and even attentively listened to Ruby's queries about how they made the latte art. Chris even went so far as to let her behind the counter so he could give her a mini lesson on how a hot cup of jo is made. He even let her sprinkle her own baby cino which got some extra browny points from her. It's things like this that make Cup From Above seem like that home away from home, a place you can just catch up with friends without any kind of pretension. 

When I asked Adam about why he had not moved from his sunshine coast home to Brisbane I was even more touched. He told me he lived a somewhat of a transient life between the shop and his home on the Sunshine Coast and that he's got a great group of friend's helping him out with a place to sleep when he's in town as leaving the coast would meaning leaving his job as a disability support worker to his current clients like Peter.  If ever you were to find a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve this is probably that guy.

Sure I could talk about how they use only the best milk, coffee, equipment and are super passionate about coffee... I think though that's not the point of a place like this. It's the community aspect of Cup From Above that is the strong pulling point for me. This isn't just any old coffee shop this is even in it's early days a community shop. It's very apparent that Adam and Chris are creating this place as haven with a good hearted vibe.

If you just want coffee and that's it you will get it here. However if you are looking for more like a place where you can feel like you belong this is definitely it. I most certainly feel better off for having experienced such an amazing community shop. And if you are interested in a coffee with a good serving of community spirit get over to this beautiful shop and support these guys.

Peter's Story

It's in my strongest belief that things happen for a reason and we cross paths with others for a greater purpose. Another mother I know who's son has an autism spectrum disorder posted a link to a new cafe opening a few months ago. I never got around to going for a while but when Ruby's therapy times changed and she got off school early I managed to be passing through this area to pick the boys up from care. When I arrived I looked up to see people in the shop but the closed sign. I then turned to walk away but Adam opened the door and welcomed me in.

It was on that visit when we discussed his work as a support worker and that Peter Rowe for whom he supports would be in next week on a day showcasing some of his art. Like I said I believe strongly in fate and I've always been incredibly lucky with timing and this just happened to fall on the boys care day. I feel blessed to be given this opportunity through chain of events that could only be described as fate to meet Peter and his mother Betty.

When I walked into Cup From Above Adam introduced me to two of the most warm and inviting people with amazing smiles - Peter and Betty. I briefly introduced myself to Peter as he was being interviewed by a journalist. It was at that point I started talking to Betty and I explained our story and instantly felt a connection.

She told me decades ago when Peter was diagnosed with Down Syndrome she was told to institutionalise him and forget about him, of course she didn't. Betty raised him just as she did her 5 other children before Peter.

Peter and Betty have an amazing relationship and you don't need any words to see that. When you merely just observe the way they look at each other you get a complete sense that their bond is intense. After all it takes a person of strong conviction to forget the experts opinion and raise Peter as a human being not someone who has a disability.

For the first 30 years of his life no one had any idea that Peter was as articulate as he is as they were not even aware he could even communicate. Then one day when Peter was shown Facilitated Communication about 25 years ago it was suddenly like a door had been unlocked to Peter's mind. Peter was given a casio keypad to spell out his first shared thoughts.

You see all those years Peter had been writting stories in his head without anyway to communicate them to the people around him. He told me his first words were I love you to both his mother and father. Peter also told me he cried the entire day tears of joy because he thought he would never be able to tell his Mum and Dad that. Betty added that the next thing he said was "If they don't believe me, I will show them." I think there in lies the beauty of communication and his first shared words were that of empowerment.

After all the journalist had finished doing their interviews with Peter we all sat around the table Adam, Peter, Betty, Myself and at some points Ruby (She was a bit tired and cranky with all the sitting around waiting.) We talked like old friends and I learnt just how articulate Peter actually is.

Peter is many things a Poet, Musician, Artist, Author and above all a human being just like anyone else. Just sitting around sharing a coffee with such amazing people helped break down any barrier of disability and really I didn't see any disability in Peter at all because he is probably one of the most intelligent people I've had a conversation with. I'm so glad he now has the opportunity to be heard.

Ruby and I were delighted and touched when Betty asked Peter if he would like to give Ruby his books. Peter being the lovely person he is obliged and we are forever grateful because they are some of the most beautiful books we've had the pleasure to own. He not only wrote the stories himself, illustrated but also worked with a graphic designer to put the words and pictures together. All ideas and directions are Peter's own. Ruby can not stop talking about Peter and his books and she is just enamoured. Honestly it's been one of the best gifts we've ever been given. I also love that while they are children's books they have a deeper undertone that is autobiographical.

I applaud Peter and Betty and also Adam for being advocates for those who are unheard because they haven't been given the opportunity to share their stories. Something I have always believed is that everyone has an amazing story to tell, you just have to afford them the time to tell you that story. Whatever reasons may have led me here at this point in time I'm grateful for because I walked away from Cup From Above with a great appreciation for these people to share their stories.

More to come in my post about Adam's beautiful shop 'Cup From Above'

You can read more about Peter Rowe and his amazing artistic pursuits on his website. Also his artwork will be exhibiting at Cup From Above for a month.

http://peter-rowe.info/

Also for a bit of further background on Ruby I made this post earlier this morning.

http://ittybittybitesbrisbane.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/rubys-story.html