A little corner of heaven

I am a reluctant Starbucks grrrl. I want very much to set up my laptop and hand over my skinny sugar-free latte devotion over to an independent cafe with Obama posters tacked to the wall and old copies of the Utne Reader and Bust on the Salvation Army end tables. Sadly, all the independent spots around me have come, stayed long enough for me to stake out a spot and then gone.

The good thing is, I do sometimes leave my neighborhood. I ventured outside of my half-block woobie last week to buy a gift for a grrrlfriend when I realized I hadn't had breakfast or nearly enough coffee. I was in front of a 'bucks but because I was far enough from my own neighborhood, there were three more places within a couple of blocks.

And then I saw the clear winner for my caffeine stop -- a little bakery that I've passed many times, admired for its adorable sign and then moved on. This time, I went in and immediately fell in love. My new favorite corner of Chicago is Angel Food Bakery.

Maybe it was the retro vibe that was perfectly captured in the kiddie kitchen set that serves as a cream and sugar station in the corner. Maybe it was the framed Easy Bake Oven ads or sherbet-colored iced cupcakes lining the display case.  It was bright and lovely inside and I wanted to sit, enjoy, eat.

That day, I couldn't. I got the biggest cup of coffee they had, ordered a creamy, delicious blueberry muffin and promised myself I'd come back. And I have been back, for more coffee and for their divine commuter sandwich, made simply of prosciutto, brie and fig jam on ciabatta that I think I could eat every single day of my life.

I haven't been through every option in the display case (yet). I have been so distracted by the adorable tins of sugar, spoons and plastic-knobbed stirrers hanging on the wall that I haven't yet asked if there's wi-fi or even an outlet in the place. If it does, oh my. I may be moving out of my neighborhood and into this place.

If you are the Chicago kind, you must stop in. And if you're not, maybe just this once step outside the Starbucks to see if land on a lovely little cloud of your own.