BAY AREA EATS, FOOD + BEVERAGE, PRODUCTS, REVIEWS, SERVICES, SHOP, SPONSORED, VISIT SF

SF | illy caffè university of coffee

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This post is sponsored by illy caffè

the flagship location in San Francisco

illy caffè’s flagship store in San Francisco is located in the Financial District. They have multiple locations in the city!

  • inside the cafe
  • giant espresso cups + espresso cup chandelier at the entrance
  • fresh sandwiches to go with your coffee, anyone?
  • spacious interior

The cafe is very spacious. There is a bar area, as well as booths for more privacy.

  • inside the university of coffee

Inside their flagship is the University of Coffee which can be rented out for different educational and hands-on coffee experiences. I was invited to their DIY latte art experience. To learn more about the classes they offer, or to book a team building experience or private class for you and your friends, click here!

  • Y3.2 iperEspresso espresso & coffee machine + the new illy art collection cups by Olimpia Zagnoli
  • cappuccino + pastries from the cafe
  • olimpia zagnoli x illy cappuccino cup + saucer set

We were able to view some new products on display: the illy Art Collection by Olimpia Zagnoli espresso cups & the Y3.2 machine in new colors: white + Cape Town Blue. The white one is so cute and would go perfectly with my white kitchen appliances.

  • DIY latte art class, preparing the espresso
  • Heidi demonstrating how it’s done.
  • leaf latte art
  • chocolate as a latte art option

Our instructor, Heidi, demonstrated how to make latte art and then we were able to try and make our own.

  • first time!
  • using chocolate to decorate

I was the first volunteer to try it and it was harder than I thought!

  • coffee mixology
  • espresso lime tonic in the making

After the latte art experience, we also had a coffee mixology demo. We were also able to taste them and I loved the cold brew with salted caramel cream, which was made with illy’s Cold Brew Aria, the first-ever system that infuses ambient air into coffee to create a “nitro” effect.

Thank you, illy caffè, for the wonderful experience! Now I have to practice & perfect my latte art at home.

***

illy caffè

220 Montgomery St Ste. 148

San Francisco, CA 94104

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BAY AREA EATS, FOOD + BEVERAGE, PRODUCTS, RECIPES, SPONSORED

Recipe | California Walnuts Pesto Gemelli Salad with Shrimp

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This post is sponsored by California Walnuts

Did you know that walnuts are a significant source of omega-3 fatty acids (2.5g/oz)? Those are the good kind of fats, making walnuts the perfect lunch ingredient. 

Americans are skipping lunch, and this can impact energy levels as well as productivity. I have partnered with California Walnuts to #ChooseLunch to help me feel satiated and more energized throughout the day.

Walnuts are very versatile, so I decided to put a twist on a classic pesto pasta salad by using walnuts as the nut ingredient in this recipe. Hope you enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

Pesto

2 bunches of basil 

6 garlic cloves

½ cup Parmesan cheese

½ cup California walnuts

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

salt + pepper to taste

Pasta Salad

8 oz bag of pasta {I used Gemelli}

½ lb shrimp, 16/20 count

¼ lb cherry tomatoes, halved

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Put all the ingredients for the pesto (except for the oil) into a food processor and pulse until they are evenly chopped.
  • Pour the oil in a steady stream while running the food processor to emulsify. Stop when the mixture is homogeneous.  
  • Set the pesto aside.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to directions on the packaging. I chose Gemelli because of all the crevices in the pasta; it will catch all the pesto goodness!
  • While the pasta is cooking, prepare the shrimp.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan over high heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Once the pan is hot, add the shrimp.
  • Cook the shrimp until they are opaque. Do not overcook.
  • Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the shrimp.
  • Stir in the pesto.
  • Add the cherry tomatoes to the pan. Mix until everything is evenly coated. Can be refrigerated for lunch or eaten immediately. 
  • Enjoy!
All the ingredients to make our pasta salad!
Place all the ingredients for the pesto [minus the oil] into the food processor and pulse.
Walnuts are a great substitute ingredient for pesto.
Perfect lunch!
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