Sio Cafe: A New Gem

Driving around Yokosuka gives a new perspective. Before we purchased a car, our scope (besides the Naval base) was any path we would walk to a train station or place close to home we would wander. Now, whenever we drive to a friend's house, my eyes resemble that of a three-year-old - darting back and forth at the new world I'm seeing!  Ha.  

Really though. We've made some great discoveries from our drives. A few weekends ago, my eyes were instantly drawn to a sweet little cafe that's actually very close to our house. Thus ensued weeks of my poor husband having to endure my verbal processing on when and how we could make plans to go there.  

Ok, this weekend we could go for a walk on Saturday and then go to the cafe!  

Maybe after we run those errands we could stop by that cafe!

Hey, after lunch can we try that cafe??

Finally, he told me that it wasn't going anywhere and that it would all be ok. I probably did need the reassuring; the place looked cute enough to make me desperate to experience it. Was it love at first sight? May have been.

And oh my lucky stars, I finally walked in their doors on Saturday afternoon. Sio Cafe (シオ カフェ) is their name, it turns out. I do have to confess, though, that I left my sweet man of a husband at home fast asleep on our rocking chair. But time was of the essence as my son's nap time was fast approaching. There have been times in the past, just like on Saturday, when Curt would come home exhausted, pass out, and fall quickly and deeply back to sleep upon attempts to wake him. I've gone many places without him when this situation occurs. A friend's birthday party. Errand running. You name it, I've probably left him to hibernate in peace while the rest of the world (including me) continues to operate. There have even been times he didn't realize I was gone. I guess that's what you call a Navy coma.

Anyway. Maybe it was wrong to go without him, but I think he'd rather I do that then mention the cafe in every conversation from here on out. 

AND I plan to take him back there. Let me commence in telling you how great my experience was. It literally started at the door. Their store front is a row of sliding doors. A row of sliding doors! So not only can you enter at any point, but they can open all of the doors and suddenly have an open air cafe. Wonderful!

The inside was so little (i.e., Japanese) - probably at capacity of 14 people or so - but the ambiance was so fresh and light that it felt much larger. I was greeted instantly, given a cup of water and told about my options in English. By, I might add, a woman who looked like the Japanese version of my daycare lady growing up. Kelly, is that you?? Since the menus were in Japanese, she helped me make my decision verbally. She was so kind and I was impressed by the many options I had. They serve lunch items (a few of which I scoped at other tables - creep!), curries, cakes, scones, and coffees, of course. I noticed that they had the perfect balance of a professional yet homey third place.

I guess you could say it was all I dreamed and more. I ordered their dessert set of the day - New York style cheesecake with blueberry sauce - with an iced coffee. It was delicious and the presentation made me feel wonderfully dainty and girly.

Another tidbit? They sell jewelry. There's a small tagboard of earrings and necklaces to be purchased. Fun to buy, I'm sure, but also pleasant to look at. They were also offering a knitting class later that day. Cute? Sooo cute.

If you're in Yokosuka and want to visit, Sio Cafe is located on Highway 16 just past city hall. Take a left at the Seven Eleven outside of Womble Gate, continue on 16, and you'll see them on the right just after the cement park in the middle of the city. A walk from Womble Gate would take ten minutes or less. Also, check them out on Facebook.

All The Small Things.

You know, sometimes it's just the little things in life. We've already raved about our beloved neighborhood coffee shop, but one of our favorite things about them is so simple.

Sometimes we stop in for a quick (really by 'quick' I don't mean quick, I just mean less slow!) cup of coffee or tea and forgo their delicious pastries --- and seriously, they are amazing! It takes twenty minutes to get a scone because they bake it for you right then. I melt right along with my chocolate scone every time. I laugh when Starbucks heats up my baked-who-knows-when cookie. But then again, I laugh at myself when I inhale it. Ok let's be honest here, warm pastries are just delicious. 

Anyway, I'm getting off track. Mmm scones. 

Whenever we only order a beverage, musetto throws in a teeny, tiny, delectable cookie. It is the perfect touch. After two years of unrelenting love for this cafe, I still give a little squeal of delight whenever one of these ends up on my table. It's like the first time all over again. Maybe they put serum that makes you forget inside them. Because I never expect it, even after 20 or so delicious cookie experiences. 

Something so simple! And probably takes next to no work at all. But that itty bitty cookie presented in a pretty little dish that I want to pinch is sometimes the highlight of my afternoon. Yes, it makes me smile that much. 

Just call it the adult Oreos and milk.