Noshing Around

Just Add Water Café

It's all about the ladies at the new Just Add Water Café going in at 3067 N. Campbell Ave. Alex Kollar—who recently opened the adjacent upscale resale shop Options—says she's designing the café with women in mind, although she quips that well-behaved men will also be welcome. The concept is to sell baked goods and the mixes to make those baked goods, as well as a selection of coffees, teas and other drinks. As far as food: Think small plates, soups and sandwiches. Kollar says she's converting a back room into a 40-seat theater that could double as a meeting room. A refrigerated area will be stocked with produce from local farmers, and Kollar wants to make the café a pickup point for community-supported agriculture shares. The place also has a serene patio area that can be heated with a fireplace, or cooled with swamp coolers.


New Café and Juice Bar at 17th Street

Construction begins this week on a new café and juice bar at the 17th Street Market. Jim Stanley tells us plans are still being finalized, but that the enormous selection of fresh fruits and vegetables sold at the market should make for some interesting juices and smoothies when it opens this spring.


Connections Café

I didn't see Jesus in the foam of the chai latte I had last week at the Connections Café inside the Victory Worship Center at 2561 W. Ruthrauff Road, but the drink was bordering on miraculous. The café gets lost in the sprawling mega-church; one wouldn't know it was there if it weren't for a small sign near the sidewalk. That's a shame, because they use top-notch beans from PT's Coffee and donate the proceeds from sales to charity groups such as the Convoy of Hope and the Latin America Child Care Foundation. A small selection of cold food items is also available; vwcaz.org/experience/connections-cafe.


Tea-Tasting

If you've yet to discover the fragrant and delicious world of fine Chinese tea, consider attending one of the free tastings from 3 to 3:30 p.m., every Friday, at Seven Cups Tea House, 2516 E. Sixth St. Each event features a chance to try several varieties of black, oolong, green and other teas, and you'll walk away with loads of information about the people who grew it and the tea master who cured it. Call 881-4072, or visit www.sevencups.com.