$0--&$5*7*5 r$0..6/*5: EUPHIE D’ICI CAFÉ AND SMOOTHIE BAR HAS LOTS TO OFFER
ANDREW COPPOLINO andrewcoppolino@gmail.com
XIPTVQQMJFTTUPSFTJO-POEPO .BHOFUBXBO 5PXOTIJQBOE8JOLMFS .BOJUPCB Euphie d’ici has a philosophy that allies itself closely with other local businesses and supports eco-responsibility and a reduction of their environmental footprint too. .FOVTBQQFBSPODIBMLCPBSETJOBGFX places, and offer a wide selection of foods, both to eat in the dining room and frozen to take home. There are about a dozen wraps – four of which are listed as for breakfast in addition to three breakfast bagels – that range in price from $7-$10 and include club, BLT, grilled chicken, veggie and Caesar crunch. :PVDBOHFUBTNBMMFSWFSTJPOPGBXSBQGPS 15 per cent off. /PX *NOPUNVDIPGBiXSBQHVZ uCVU I was impressed by both the composition PG&VQIJFEJDJTi"WPDBEP$IJDLFO8SBQu and its execution. A good-sized handheld, the wrap was packed with chicken, cheese, guacamole, spinach, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing. What was supposed to be crispy was crispy; what was supposed to be moist and tender was moist and tender. A similar sort of flattish and handheld cou- sin to the wrap, the restaurant also prepares chicken or veggie quesadillas ($11-$12), with a gluten-free option for a couple bucks more. Add to that the still flattish but heftier pressed panini: among the four ciabatta selections are bacon, tomato, Cheddar; a Greek-tinged spinach with black olives and feta; classic ham and Swiss; and, a spicy- hot antipasto and guacamole with bacon, tomato and Cheddar, which tops out the
half-dozen espresso beverages available, but it’s obvious where Euphie d’ici shines: in the smoothie division of their menu. There are nearly three dozen, from fruit and protein to super smoothies and frappés. Their names are varied and inventive: Canadian Sunset with strawberry, Princess Peach, Coco Loco with pineapple, Cold War- SJPS 3FMPBE"UIMFUFBOE4USFTT#VTUFST among many others. The beverages are generally available with dairy alternatives such as almond, coconut, oat (or lactose- free) and plant-based protein. 4PDBMMFEiBEEJOTuUPUIFJSDPMEESJOLT include ingredients like chia seeds, hemp hearts, flax seeds, almond butter and some- UIJOHLOPXOBTiGSVJUQPQQJOHCVCCMFTu*G such beverages are your go-to, these items will likely be no surprise – except perhaps the fruit-popping bubbles (which I assume are part of a bubble tea concoction). With the trail for bikes and walking vir- tually at Euphie d’ici’s side door, it is easy to see the alliance here with these beverages and a focus on a healthy mind and body as well as stewardship of the environment. Oh, and yep, it’s also that flavour time again: fall specials at the café include apple pie, the seasonal pumpkin-spice latte and chai and pumpkin hot chocolate (also offered as a frappé). Euphie d’ici Café and Smoothie Bar is open daily. Food writer Andrew Coppolino lives in Rockland. He is the author of “Farm to Table” and co-author of “Cooking with Shakespeare.” Follow him on Instagram @andrewcoppolino.
Heading northeast out of Russell, County Road 3 runs basically parallel to the Castor River and when it becomes Notre-Dame Street in Embrun curves quite sharply toward the east: that point is just about where you will find Euphie d’ici Café and Smoothie Bar. With a lovely multiuse trail virtually right at the café’s parking lot, along with some benches and some snazzy public art, it’s possible to see the café as genuinely at the centre of a community hub. By the way, the USBJMJTDBMMFE DVSJPVTMZQFSIBQT i5IF/FX :PSL$FOUSBM3BJMXBZuUSBJMCFDBVTFJUXBT PODFQBSUPGBSBJMTZTUFNPXOFECZUIF/FX :PSL$FOUSBM3BJMSPBEXIJDIXBTEJTNBOUMFE seven decades ago. Outside the café, there are a few picnic tables and a sandwich board that proclaims iUBTUZ MPDBM IFBMUIZu5IBUJTDFSUBJOMZBQQSP - priate because people are walking dogs, jogging and cycling along the path and stop into Euphie d’ici to re-fresh. Inside, the café is a basic and casual dining room with a few tables and chairs. But what surrounds them is the evidence that the business is dedicated to local (and seasonal) products that support other food businesses both in town and further afield. It’s in fact a small marché that includes products like coffee from an Ottawa roaster, artisanal sodas from Prince Edward County, DBSBNFMTGSPN.FSSJDLWJMMF IPOFZGSPN Green Valley and an Ottawa salsa maker
price scale at $12. There’s smoothie bowls and barbecue chicken pizza. I also found it interesting to see signs posted for Belgian waffles and iTNPSFTQSFU[FMTuBTXFMMBTQSFU[FMTPG the salty Bavarian variety with a few mustard selections and the cross-cultural Italian Par- mesan version served with a ranch or garlic sauce. They are about $9, and you can also HFU/VUFMMBPSDJOOBNPOUPP There’s an espresso bar with about a Euphie d’ici Café and Smoothie Bar in Embrun. (Andrew Coppolino)
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker