Thursday 28 February 2013

Nuts & Coffee

 Athens-based Carpo has opened on Piccadilly with a huge variety of nuts amongst the coffee and chocolate
 Romanian Hippophaes caught our eye.  Apparently it is a superfood.
Plus the Chinese dried Goji berries
 They roast and salt (in the cement mixer looking kit) on the premises

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Decidedly Dodgy

Definitely not for the kids. Shortbread Jammy Dodgers at Konditor & Cook.
YOLO = You Only Live Once.  DILF you will have to look up for yourself.

Tuesday 26 February 2013

The New Pubs

London Evening Standard yesterday "Cafes are the new pubs" talking about places where you can actually meet a friend without being intimidated and where you can hear yourself speak.  You can't argue that pubs are closing and cafes are growing.  The Standard list their top 50 cafes at: http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/bars/londons-50-best-cafes-8509145.html

Monday 25 February 2013

A Truly Fresh Sandwich

Bravo to Company of Cooks for being able to say that their sandwich bread is baked today.  Not even Pret can say that.

Friday 22 February 2013

Hotting Up

The coffee price war continues with Giraffe restaurants offering take-out lattes and cappuccinos at 50p until 10.30am Monday to Friday.

Thursday 21 February 2013

Scaffolding & Steps

 Scaffolding stools and tables at 3FE cafe in Dublin
 Step up seats at Clement & Pekoe, Dublin

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Gluten Free

Esquires Coffee Houses in Dublin are serious about attracting the gluten-free market.

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Charming Intelligent Staff

Metro Cafe in Dublin grabs attention, praises its staff and is one of the best 'staff wanted' signs we have seen.

Monday 18 February 2013

Counter Treats

Lemon & Polenta Gugelhupf - a gugelhupf is a bundt cake - at The Counter cafe at the Delaunay.
 Hazelnut Crunch
Apple Poppy Seed cake

Saturday 16 February 2013

Real Food

Guest Spot
Congratulations to the Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum for their ace fish & chips - They have just been awarded 'Winners of the Best Independent Food Service Outlet' in the National Fish & Chip Awards.  The owner Sarah is also switched on to the benefits of great cakes, publicity and mugs by Moonpig.com.

Friday 15 February 2013

Goodbye & Hello

The Breakfast Club's topical comment.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Cosmic Hearts

"A fudgey chocolate hazelnut cake enrobed in marzipan and chocolate fondant, decked out in spacey bling, and inscribed with 'Take Me to the Moon and Back' for a cosmic Valentine's Day"  at Konditor & Cook.
Cuore (Heart) at Princi

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Finishing Touches

EAT, the take-away sandwich operator, has a cake table at its new Fleet Street branch.  The lines continue to blur between cafe and take-away.

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Happy Hours

POD's £1 latte, cappuccino and flat white promotion from 10-12 and after 3pm is different from the usual filter coffee promotions.

Monday 11 February 2013

Coffee with Mastic

Kahve Dünyasi has cafes throughout Turkey and have opened up on Piccadilly.  Coffee with Mastic may suffer in the translation - mastic is a resin obtained from the mastic tree.
There are some interesting cakes and pastries - chocolate pizza and mozaic cake for example -  in addition to the UK staples. 
 The chocolate spoon is a fun touch.

Saturday 9 February 2013

Eye Contact

Guest Spot
 Thank-you Lisa Looker from Haskins Garden Centres for these eye-catching photos of Greenwich's pop up cafe The Movement (MVMNT), constructed from containers and located by Greenwich DLR station.

Friday 8 February 2013

Fruit Cake

Blackberry & Poire William Pear cake at Benugo
Orange & Plum cakes at Peyton & Byrne

Thursday 7 February 2013

S'more

Ottolenghi's S'mores - biscuit, marshmallow and chocolate.  The US version of a Wagon Wheel. They are a traditional night-time campfire treat popular in north America consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Pimp your Potsu

Itsu provides plenty of ways to personalise your lunch - soy, worcestershire, hoisin, sesame seeds and roasted pumpkin.   The moral is clear be it soup, food or coffee - Personalise the Experience.

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Graffiti is Good

Graffiti art is mainstream - just visit Shoreditch to see the creativity and artistry.  One of our favourites is the Locksmith.
Some of the artwork is stunning even if I am not sure what it is selling.

Monday 4 February 2013

Pop Up at Fortnums

 Fortnum & Mason have a pop up British Bakery cafe on their first floor.
Mark Hix's shortbread, garibaldi biscuits and more are on until 10th February.
 The Torta Di Ricotta cake with warm chocolate sauce is proving a winner.
 It sounds as if a fortnightly trip to Fortnums will be required until April.

Saturday 2 February 2013

Wow the Cyclists

Guest Spot
Cycle rack at Tesco's in Norwich spotted by Alan Miller.