Dave Lackie and Starbucks- A Perfect Pairing

I was so lucky to score an invite to Dave Lackie’s Starbucks at Home event on Friday on top of the Hudson’s Bay in the Arcadian Court. I was offered a crème brulee latte at the door and sipped it as I overlooked the skating rink at Nathan Philips Square and watched all the commuters below scramble onto the streetcar to work.

​Some ladies were sitting down in a makeup chair getting a complimentary touch up from Estee Lauder.  I’m always nervous about doing this for some reason, but really enjoyed watching a few girlfriends get a mini makeover.  A popular eye palette, pure colour envy in Fiery Saffron was used quite a bit and was really beautiful. I was thrilled to see it in my gift bag when I got home!
If you don’t follow Dave Lackie on social media, you’re doing yourself a major disservice. He has his finger on the pulse of all things beauty and fashion. He knows the hot lip colours to wear to holiday parties or paint your nails with. He has thousands of followers from all around the world. The Starbucks event was live on periscope and we could see little dots light up all over the map of where fashion fanatics and coffee lovers were tuning in to join us.

The Looks

​We were seated at a huge table adorned with bouquets and Christmas tree decorations awaiting a three course breakfast from Oliver & Bonacini. Three little Starbucks espresso cups sat in front of us, ready for sampling. We were lead through a coffee tasting, Blonde (True North), Medium (Pike Place) and Dark (Italian Roast). We were told to gently cover the espresso cups with one hand and deeply inhale. Next step was to slurp (yes, SLURP the coffee), we held it in our mouths for a moment to really get the taste and different flavours of the brew. True North was rich with cocoa and toasted nuts (my personal favourite) Pike Place features sweet maple notes and Italian Roast was dark with hints of caramel. I found taking the time to really stop and smell the coffee before tasting it helped me notice some of the different, subtle flavours.
We also got to see a really interesting Kitchen Aid Siphon Coffee Brewer demonstration. It’s an automated full immersion brewing unit that can easily brew up to 8 cups of coffee.  It brews rich coffee automatically and with standard electric power. It was pretty cool to see the coffee rise to the top glassware and back down to the bottom. It’s a fun conversation piece.

​Breakfast was brought out, and was so delightful. It consisted of a compressed fruit & berry plate, Greek yoghurt parfait and Artisian apple batard French toast with peameal bacon. It was really a feast! We snacked away as we listened to Dave explain how more coffee scents are showing up in fragrances and skin care.  It made me surprised that it took this long for Dave and Starbucks to get together in the first place!

After the event, we walked away with beautiful goodie bags from Starbucks and Estee Lauder.  I got a really funny mug to bring in to work, Via Instant packs for when I need a quick coffee on the go and a pack of Pike Place! Estee Lauder was generous enough to give us pure colour envy eye palette and lip stick and their advanced night serum (YES!) I can’t wait to sample these products, coffee and beauty alike!
Big thanks to Dave for the invite and truly wonderful morning. Seeing all my online friends I’ve made just from following Dave on social media is always a highlight of the event.  The little community he’s created online is pretty incredible. If you want to know more about Dave, he has a website (DaveLackie.com) and I highly recommend that you follow him on social media at @DaveLackie … you’ll be glad you did! If you need any more info from me – I’ll be the one SLURPING away on her coffee.