NorthJersey.com
Think of a cup of coffee as a bagel, says Jonathan Echeverry, owner of Paper Plane Coffee Co. in Montclair.
“You have tons of different types of bagels cinnamon, onion, everything,” he said. “But if you burn every single one of those bagels, they would taste more or less the same. If you just put a light toast on it, it would accentuate the natural flavors of that bagel.”
Same deal with coffee. Plenty of coffee shops over-roast their coffee beans. Which is fine, said Echeverry. It’s what we’ve come to expect in a cup of coffee. A burnt bagel will still fill your belly and burnt coffee will still wake you up.
These gardens are making a comeback
The Ventura Botanical Gardens were barely planted before the Thomas fire burned through them in late 2017. Now
Life quickly prevailed; about 60 days after the fire scorched the gardens, some plants were showing new growth. Case in point: The gardens’ rare Chilean wine palms continued to grow despite their charred trunks.
The Mediterranean-climate shrubs, trees and succulents are a treat for the eyes and nose, but even if you’re not a plant buff, the views of Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands and the Santa Monica Mountains make the gardens worth a visit.
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The gardens are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Mondays. Admission costs $7 but is free on Fridays.