Wednesday 31 October 2012

Five Good Reasons

Good exhortation at Cafe in the Crypt, St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square 

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Cyclists, Cake & Coffee

'Tour of Britain' cakes at Rapha Cycle Club's cafe just off Piccadilly Circus.

Monday 29 October 2012

Knowingly Undersold

Notice anything inconsistent?
Tea at Peter Jones comes with plastic milk jiggers.  Apparently you can ask for milk in jugs but John Lewis needs to wake up. Consistency of experience counts.

Friday 26 October 2012

Not a Cookery School

The School of Artisan Food is part of the Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire - superbly equipped and their (over-subscribed) bakery course appeals greatly.
 The estate's Farm Shop benefits from great bread and a local cheese - Stichelton
The Limehouse Cafe also appeals

Thursday 25 October 2012

Flash, Beep & Vibrate

What cafe do you get when you cross Taylor St Baristas and Tesco.  Answer: Harris & Hoole.  Interesting use of pagers even when the order is for just one small latte.  It was a good coffee when it was ready.
Rolls of brown paper signage
Strong evidence for home baking
Lots of messages
Cakes and sandwiches all the better for open display and ambient temperature




Wednesday 24 October 2012

Free Range Children

Signs at The Pink Pig Farm visitor attraction and cafe


Tuesday 23 October 2012

Cheese Straws

Home-baked Cheese & Cumin Straws at Steff's Kitchen at Fairweather's Garden Centre in Beaulieu - worth a visit.

Saturday 20 October 2012

Go Pink

Guest Spot
Fait Maison's new store in Gloucester Road has gone pink to support the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. 

Friday 19 October 2012

Love at First Bite

Costa claims the ultimate Eccles cake; it was good but St John Bread & Wine still comes top.

Thursday 18 October 2012

On Display

 One of the best pastry table displays - National Gallery Cafe, London by Peyton & Byrne

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Is your Grub as good as Heston's?

Great tasting meals from Heston/Waitrose.  Worth studying the ingredients given how many cafes offer Mac cheese and Shepherds Pie.
Truffle oil and paste really makes the difference.
Check out the 31 ingredients including brown cap mushrooms, whole grain mustard, sun dried tomato paste, redcurrant jelly and star anise!




Tuesday 16 October 2012

School's Out

 It's not school; it's the menu at Barbican Foodhall

Monday 15 October 2012

Eat My Balls

Meatballs on the move from the Bowler Gourmet Balls seen by Kings Cross station and opposite Eat My Pies


Friday 12 October 2012

Free London Cafe Tour

To celebrate 100,000 page views Great Cafes / Turpin Smale are offering four fortunate individuals a free London Cafe Tour on Monday 19th November 2012.  Starting at 10.30am in the City we will visit up to thirty of the best and brightest new cafes in central London.  Cake, coffees and cabs included and, if you feel it is a day well spent, a donation to charity would be nice.
Apply at chris.brown@turpinsmale.co.uk

Thursday 11 October 2012

Eccles in Caravan by Fountain

Can't miss signage
Eccles cake at Caravan restaurant, bar & roastery in Kings Cross' new Granary Square - not up to St John standard but good coffee.
Great Cafes will even give you a quick glimpse at Granary Square's outside water feature.

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Eat My Scotch Eggs

More varieties of Scotch Eggs from 'Eat my Pies' - 3 Bean Veggie, Smoked Haddock, Chorizo, Thai Red Curry, Chicken Mushroom & Tarragon, Haggis, Black Pudding plus All Day Breakfast



Tuesday 9 October 2012

Bill's Candles

 Bill's Produce Store in Soho uses candelabra and lit candles to good effect right through the day
 Oranges on the table mean the table is reserved!
Items hanging from the ceiling

Monday 8 October 2012

Dog Day

Buy an ice cream cone and get a free dish of ice cream for your dog.  Only in America?! 

Saturday 6 October 2012

Bath Oliver

Guest Spot
Jamie's new Deli in Bath spotted by Amanda, owner of excellent local boutique B&B Villa Magdala who says "I think it's pretty good - love the pasta machine that turns out fresh pasta every day - and the bread is great.  There are a few tables for coffee and nibbles - seems to be doing well."

Friday 5 October 2012

Definition of Toilet

Royal William Bakery, Plymouth gets full marks for humour.
Caravan in London has a more utilitarian approach to its unisex 'toilets'.


Thursday 4 October 2012

Cafe Moo Moo

 Terrific signage at Fishers Farm Park in West Sussex
 Cute biscuits
Refreshing honesty when it comes to the 'instant' coffee cappuccinos in the seasonal kiosks - not to worry, they have quality bean to cup coffee at Cafe Moo Moo.

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Plates of Cake


Plates of cake were selling at the rate of five a minute at Hobsons Patisserie in Stratford upon Avon.  Sure Henley Street has an excellent footfall and the pricing was keen - £1 a plate - but the volume of trade was astonishing. 

Moral: invest in Hobsons or try the same idea if you have a similar footfall.  Their sandwich presentation also looked good.