In last week’s blog post, A Cup, A Cup, A Cup, A Cup of Sodium Caseinate I detailed my disgust and disappointment with a tasteless bottle of chemicals masquerading as Pumpkin Spice coffee creamer. Although you don’t have to have read that post before this one, you won’t want to miss the clever writing and laugh-out-loud hilarity contained therein. So go on back and check it out. Don’t worry. We’ll wait.
My sister-in-law Lisa, and talented artist Jean at Snoring Dog Studios both urged me not to give up on the whole galaxy of pumpkin coffees until I tried Starbucks’ pumpkin latte. They raved, and I was intrigued.
Not a coffee bean.
Saturday I drove 1-1/2 hours up to Chicago, for no other reason than to try the pumpkin latte. Well, I might have done a few other things as well, like…
- Tour the beautifully restored, 100-year-old Monroe Building
- Stroll through the Chicago Cultural Center and admire the architecture, views and Tiffany stained glass windows
- People watch in the sunshine over lunch in Millennium Park
- Shop, shop and shop at Filene’s Basement, Nordstrom’s Rack, Marshall Fields/Macys, etc, etc, etc.
gimme a latte
- It seemed all walks of life and just about every country on earth were admiring their reflections in the bean at Millennium Park. I saw a group of 7 Buddhist monks, and no less than 5 wedding parties there. I can report that navy blue seems to be the hot color this fall. For bridesmaids, that is. The monks were sticking with saffron.
As the sun set, it was time to get out of Dodge (meaning Chicago). I stopped at Starbucks for the promised pumpkin latte before heading to my car. I exhorted the barrista to make it as skinny as possible, since I’m trying to get my body that way. The two amply padded counter girls tried to talk me into the whipped cream, but I remained firm.
Just a gal and her latte, lose in the big city.
My verdict? Drum roll please…I give it Peg-o-leg’s highest rating:
Yum-o-licious!
It was definitely worth the trouble, and the almost $4 price tag as a special splurge. This experience has taught me an important lesson in trying new things. And, equally important, that I should never again approach the shoe department at Nordstrom’s Rack without leaving my credit card at home.
Peg-o-Leg's Ramblings 
Sounds like a great day. Love the monks admiring their reflections in the bean. Now I must go to Nordstrom Rack. I totally forgot there was a new one that opened not far from me. Shoes….
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May I suggest you ask a trusted friend to hold on to your Visa card?
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I hope Blurt doesn’t see this … he doesn’t think too highly of pumpkin…
I’ve yet to try the pumpkin latte, PegOLeg, just as I’ve yet to hear a negative review of the said latte. I won’t ask Oma what he thinks. I already know.
Glad you had a wonderful trip to the city!
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Go ahead and try it – you’ll be glad you did!
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Shoes and the latte – well worth it : )
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It was a great day; just me, myself and I.
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Ooh, that is good stuff. I also love their cinnamon dolce latte even though I look like a dolt-che trying to pronounce it (and I thought saying “grande” was hard enough) Next time be sure to bring your credit card, that coffee sure isn’t cheap once you’re addicted to it.
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I’m more a McDonalds coffee kinda gal, so no danger of getting hooked. I’ll try the cinnamon next time since you love it, dolche?
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New shoes and a Starbuck’s treat—life doesn’t get much better than that!
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To be honest, I resisted the shoes but couldn’t pass up a couple of sweaters that were calling my name.
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Wait… you had never had a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice latte?! Had I known this when I read your previous post, I would have sent you there post-haste. I had my first of the season the other day (I don’t like to rush it – give it two weeks and their Gingerbread variety will be out)… you really can’t beat it. And I, like you, go for skim with no whip. I don’t even want to know how good it is with all the accoutrements.
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Nope. I was a Starbucks pumpkin latte virgin before this weekend.
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Well PegOLeg, we definitely share definitions of a perfect fall day… Chicago, Nordstrom’s Shoe Department, people watching, Nordstrom’s Shoe Department, architectural adventure, Nordstrom’s Shoe Department, pumpkin latte at Starbucks, Nordstrom’s Shoe Department. Can you tell I am Nordstrom’s deprived since moving to Maine? Oh well, it’s good for the Visa… I also have not had a pumpkin latte. I think I need to go to Starbucks this afternoon… maybe I could stop at DQ on the way and get a pumpkin pie blizzard to have with it!
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Nooooo! Stop! I’m in rehab, recovering from a serious, 3-Blizzard-a-week habit. Not listening la la la la (fingers in ears).
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Well, this post is appropos for me today; I had to wake early to return a peice of rented equipment, and, risking turning it in late (and the extra charges) stopped first at a local coffee shop, and got me up a cup o’ that Pumpkin Spice! Not Starbucks, but I, too, am holding out for that Gingerbread Latte’!
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OK, apparently there’s another Starbucks latte in my future. I’ll give it a couple of weeks before I venture in again for the Gingerbread.
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(pssssst….c’mere…here’s a secret: you can ask for, and receive, the pumpkin spice, and the gingerbread, year round at Starbucks… just show them your tip $$ up front…and ask very, very quietly. must cast eyes furtively about first, making sure no lip-readers are in the house)
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(that’ll be our little secret, hmmm?)
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Bravo to you for being so open-minded as to venture into Starbucks! You are my hero! 😉
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Thanks, but I think going to Starbucks is a pretty common thing nowadays.
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Oh man, don’t even get me started on their Christmas-time coffees! Peppermeister (hubster) and I take the train into NYC every December to get into the spirit, and Starbucks is one of our first stops (although they have them at every turn here in NJ). So glad you enjoyed it, and it sounds like you had a wonderful day all around!
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I hear the gingerbread latte is next up on the Education of Peg-o-leg. Have you had that one? If not, take that leap with me this season.
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I’ve never tried one. I just didn’t think it could taste anything like pumpkin. I may have to finally bite the bullet and get one. It better be good. If not, I’m holding you accountable. 🙂
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It really is good Amy. If I’m lying, you can come to my house and punch me. I’ll even tell you where I live. Somewhere in the midwest.
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I’ve never had one but will try one this week!
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I’m sure even the “skinny” version has mucho calories, but go for the splurge, Jane. You’ll be glad you did.
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I’ve been able to resist thus far but I hear it calling………….
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Give in…give in…give in…
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I have heard so many good things about the Starbucks Pumpkin Latte. I do not like coffee or pumpkin, however, so it holds no appeal for me. =)
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That would put a bit of a buzz-kill in a pumpkin coffee drink. Permission to hold out for a peppermint milk shake next month.
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Nordstrom Rack is my bane, as well! I hate shopping, but when I do go shopping, it’s there. And then eight bags of it are no longer there, because there are in my car, followed by my apartment.
I had a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte a couple weeks back. I expected to love it the way I had before I had Li’l D (and love it I did, a couple times a week), but I only drank it because I paid $4 for it. I think the key is in the expectations. I need to take the approach I took as I approached Wild Wild West and parenthood. If you start with a “this sucks!” baseline, it’s allllll beautiful from there! :p
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That’s an interesting view of things – if you don’t expect too much, things can only look up. Brilliant! Maybe I loved it because I’d never had it before, so had no expectations or memories to try to recreate.
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This pertinacious quality in your personality can only be admired. I’ll bet you were also the brightest reflection in the bean.
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I’d like to think so. But then, I ALWAYS like to think that.
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