Thursday 31 May 2012

Small Batch, Big Humour

Small Batch Coffee in Brighton
plus some toilet humour



Wednesday 30 May 2012

Smart Butter

Butter packs can be so naff but this quality packaging and format from Benugo at the British Museum looks good.

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Skinny Dip

Skinny Dipping at Pret - all 190 calories and doesn't it sound better than "pea & mint humous with Crudites"

Monday 28 May 2012

Terrific Toppers & Centres


Bake a heart into a cake! If you’re too shy to tell someone you love them, you can just let the cake do the talking. Here’s how you do it.

Two fun ideas on how you can make more with your cakes

celebration_cake_topper_lionel
Terrific Toppers miniature customised clay models for that memorable cake memento

Sunday 27 May 2012

Store Street Sandwiches

Well presented sandwiches at Store Street Espresso off Tottenham Court Road
The cakes and coffee are pretty good too






Saturday 26 May 2012

Stainless Chalkboard

Neat use of chalk pens (and crushed ice) on the salad bar well
British Museum staff restaurant operated by Benugo


Friday 25 May 2012

Glorious Treacle

Loaf cakes at Treacle & Co cafe in Hove
Cake, cake
and more cake
plus sandwiches
and illuminated ducks on the tables


Thursday 24 May 2012

Ice Cold

Costa are well prepared for the heat


Wednesday 23 May 2012

In Car Espresso

Check out http://www.handpresso.com/handpresso_auto.html#
No excuse for a second-rated coffee on your way to your favourite cafe!   Now for the in-car milk frother.

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Seating

Small Coffee Company's outlet in Hove has simple outside seating
Choccywoccydoohdah's London cafe goes for the retro stools and weird table
See our Pinterest photoboard for more: http://pinterest.com/turpinsmale/great-cafes-tables-chairs/


Monday 21 May 2012

Danish with a Hole in

Raspberry and Chocolate Brioches at the excellent Amelie & Friends in Chichester
Didiers Patisserie's Danish at Waitrose's espresso counter, Canary Wharf

Sunday 20 May 2012

The Tale of Two Coffees

Welcome to the Future say Nestle "Super Premium Beverages" about their Viaggi concept.  I don't think so.  A £10k Cimbali machine making espresso coffee from instant coffee granules and concentrated long life milk.  The smell alone was enough to put you off.  If this takes off in the UK, words fail me.

A better but still different idea from Scanomat is the hidden coffee machine
This may work in Business & Industry sites, especially where the architect wants a really clean line counter.  No reassurance about the quality at first sight and cafes are all about buying with your eyes.

Saturday 19 May 2012

Getting Ready For Summer

Caffe Nero are gearing up for the summer with Iced Drinks - choose from the chiller unit and take to the counter and have it blended
Fruit Booster
Frappe Milkshakes
Frappe Latte

Friday 18 May 2012

Chichester's Cool

Cool design and great pastries at Amelie and Friends in Chichester, West Sussex
Design by Southsea and Shoreditch design boutique 'ILoveDust'

Thursday 17 May 2012

Are Chocolate Fountains History?

What will someone think of next?  Chocolate kebabs!  Rotating in a refrigerated shawarma unit and scrapings are put in a sweet pancake pitta bread.  Seen at the Caffe Culture Show.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

You'll either Hate it or Love it


Rice cakes from Marmite.  See previous post re Pret's sweet version http://greatcafes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/rice-cakes.html


Foodservice guru Peter Backman of Horizons is just back from the Chicago National Restaurateurs Association Show and reports:
"The American consumer has been persuaded that gluten-freedom is the path to a happy life and consequently gluten free is all the rage. You want gluten free bread of course - you can have hamburger buns, sub buns, hot dog buns, muffins, cookies, desserts (including gluten free mudslide pie) - and more".  

See Peter's informative and free 'What's Hot in the USA 2012' report at http://www.hrzns.com/mint/pepper/tillkruess/downloads/tracker.php?url=http://www.hrzns.com/files/Whats_Hot_in_the_USA_May_2012.pdf&force&inline&utm_source=Horizons+Newsletter&utm_campaign=985adb

Tuesday 15 May 2012

A Dog's Life

Display in chocolate at Choccywoccydoodah's cafe


Monday 14 May 2012

Karelian Pies

Rye crusted savoury snack with rice or potato mash filling - a Finnish traditional pastie.
Nordic Bakery in Golden Square is just that little bit different and distinctive with their food - egg and herring sandwich for example.

Sunday 13 May 2012

Hot Hot Hot

EAT are being inspired by Cuba
and Vietnam




Saturday 12 May 2012

Corrugated Iron & Wooden Pallets

Grab is a Thai Street kitchen in the City and I love the design simplicity - sheets of corrugated iron, wooden pallets and builders-style lighting
Fit outs don't have to be expensive; they do have to be creative

Friday 11 May 2012

Fruitbox Ilusion

If you cannot display boxes of fruit, vegetables and salad - do what Pret does and create the illusion and window decals