More thoughts on The Red Door Cafe

(NOTE:  This is a small piece that I wrote for my food writing class this morning.  Just consider it further musings.....)

This is not about food, per se.  It is about the power of charm and warmth and how some places just have a ‘vibe’.  A new café opened in the neighborhood last Friday.  On my way home from the market this morning around 9:00 I popped my head in the door to get a glimpse and sense of the place.  Ahmed, the owner, came running over to welcome me in.  He excitedly told me about his immediate success as though we were old friends.  Apparently, the moment they had opened on Friday, there had been a line out the door.  He explained how everyone had worked so hard, how he had begged the dishwasher to stay later, called in friends to help, and that he had to go shopping for more food mid day because they had run out.   He said his vision for the place is Paris, 1930.  He thrust a huge mug into my hand, told me to help myself to coffee and to sit.  ‘You’ll see’, he said.   What I saw were people streaming in as if this had been their regular hang out for years: young hip people, old hip people, the occasional street person and a few church ladies.   There is a sort of magic at work in the space that seems to be drawing people in.  People who didn’t even know they wanted a cup of coffee.  I am looking forward to calling it ‘my place’.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

I happened into The Red Door Cafe this past Saturday around lunch time. It occurred to me after the food came to us, that this was the very same cafe that you had just written about. Karletta, you lucky woman, what a wonderful addition to your neighborhood! Greg and I both had yummy and satisfying wraps and split a salad which was much nicer than a typical cafe salad. Good for them...and you!

[Sam]

Are you doing the writing course at Tante Marie?
How is it? I fancied doing that myself but I am on vacation for the first 2 weeks of the next one.
Maybe I'll sign up for the next one after that and I really fancy the food styling one too which I guess you must have already done?

-sam

[Amy]

I keep passing that place on my way home! It used to be a Thai place I never tried. Now I can't wait to try it. By the way, what food writing class are you taking and how is it?