OneTrueSentence — I have found that to focus on the experience of drink and food, have awakened a sensory engagement that had been suppressed … for far too long.
So, the other day I mentioned this Boston coffee guide that my daughters had gifted me last Father’s Day. I shared a little about one experience I had at Madhouse Café and specifically alluded to the conversations and interactions it generated during my visit. As I travel around Boston I will share with the owners and baristas this guide, and they have always been surprised to find that they are featured in this guide, but more than that they have always expressed joy to see that others have found their business being recognized. However, it dawned on me that I did not share my thoughts on the drink and pastry I ordered. So….
Now as for my drink and pastry? Well… the Tahini Latte that the guide recommended was fabulous! It offered a truly rich, nutty flavor with a slight bitterness from the tahini, complemented by a very creamy, slightly sweet undertone of steamed milk. I’m not foremost a consumer of lattes, they are generally just too “milky” for me; the coffee notes are often lost to my palate. However, the combination of flavors with this drink created a unique, earthy taste that lingered in a warm and welcoming way. Yes! I enjoyed it.
The Baklava? Many may not be familiar with this pastry, but I certainly invite you to search for this delicacy. Baklava is a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of thin, flaky phyllo dough sometimes filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. It has a buttery, crispy texture and a sweet, nutty flavor, generally infused with hints of cinnamon, cloves, or even, rose water. The baklava here at Madhouse was absolutely the best I have ever had!! The flakiness, and just a hint of “crunchiness” from the layers were amazing. Combined with the Tahini Latte…. Well… I was experiencing a cacophony of texture and flavor… providing a gastronomical crescendo ….
Kat, the very friendly barista, also pointed me towards their lemon loaf cake which was exceptional as well. Not an overpowering lemony flavor, but a wonderful balance of lemon and loaf texture also joined well with the warm Tahini Latte.
I invite you to hop on the Orange Line, take a bus, or find your way walking to this neighborhood and visit Madhouse Café, you will not be disappointed. Oh, by the way…. The café is associated with the Madhouse Motors motorcycle shop attached to the business. They even have some interesting bikes to see whether you’re a motorcyclist or not.
I for one… will visit here on most all my trips back to Boston in the months ahead. Maybe I’ll see you there!