Monday 31 March 2014

Sunday 30 March 2014

Great Great Grandmothers

Guest Spot
The Beach Cafe at Wells-next-the-Sea may have a seasonal trade but they keep up the humour and appeal to attract dog owners, cyclists, nature-lovers and mums all year round.

Friday 28 March 2014

From Rome with Love

 Chocolate specialist Said from Rome has opened in Broadwick Street with homemade cakes and lashings of chocolate sauce.
Hot Chocolate in three versions - dark, milk and ganache.
 Chocolate cake to die for.

Thursday 27 March 2014

French Flee France

 Yet more French influence at Pain de Mie cafe on New Oxford Street.


Wednesday 26 March 2014

Simple Self-Serve

 Pay at the till where you are given a mug and then serve yourself.  It works well at an Asda cafe and the calorie count is clear.

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Trucking

WiFi password code at 193 Cafe on Wardour Street.

Monday 24 March 2014

Catch Them Young

Disposable bibs at Asda cafe.

Friday 21 March 2014

8.5 Million Moggies

 The fact that there are 8.5 million cat owners in the UK might explain the extraordinary success of Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium cafe in Shoreditch.
 £5 cover charge per person for a two hour session and they are booked up until June.
There is a real lesson for all cafe operators about the power of attracting special interest groups.
 Enjoy your moggie, macchiato and macarons!


Thursday 20 March 2014

Latte & Lager

 Bars are going to have to watch out as more and more cafes sell beer/alcohol and extend their hours and customer base.
 Bulldog Edition is the cafe inside the Ace hotel in Shoreditch.
The Mull cheese and truffled leek toasted sandwich (at £4.80) was original and excellent.  Note the beer taps.

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Dum Dum's Zebras

 Dum Dum Donutterie in Boxpark does their version of a Cronut with layers of chocolate and plain croissant in a Zebra.
The Croconut with coconut
 Raspberry Creme

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Extend a Favourite

Shortbread in five flavours - Classic, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Mint Chocolate Chip and Treacle Toffee - at £3 a slice at the Cafe  Royal's Cafe.

Monday 17 March 2014

Dum Dum Good

 Creme Brulee donuts and the special part is that they are baked, not deep fried.
 Dum Dum Donutterie have only been open three weeks at Boxpark with their superior baked donuts and they are flying.  Watch out for more openings as the owner is on a mission to produce the world's best donuts.
 Banoffee and Real Raspberry
Double Dipped Almond Glaze and special of Morello Cherries and Pistachio

Friday 14 March 2014

Alice in Wonderland Cake Tables

Great Cafes is launching a competition for the best 'buy with your eyes' cafe cake table inspired by a comment from foodie Jason Danciger, new F&B Director at the Garden Centre Group, at a recent garden centre catering conference of his wish to create "Alice in Wonderland" cake tables.  Email entries to me.  Still the best I have seen is Ottolenghi - who can do better?

Thursday 13 March 2014

A-Board Fun at Caffeine

 New magazine Caffeine says "give a barista an A-Board and you'll have gags all week".
 The magazine is available for free at good coffee shops http://www.caffeinemag.com/findus/

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Doorsteps

Fish finger and cheese/marmite doorstep sandwiches at the Cupcake Cafe, Margate

Tuesday 11 March 2014

Tables with a Difference

 Wonderful solid wood table at the National Trust's headquarters cafe in Swindon
Suitcase tables at Timberyard's new cafe at Seven Dials in London

Monday 10 March 2014

Love, Hugs and Coffee Mugs

Breakfast Club in Spitalfields manages to convey humour and a positive message at every turn.

Friday 7 March 2014

Brown Sugar

Sugar pot with attitude at The Liberty of Norton Folgate in the City.

Thursday 6 March 2014

Cycle Buns

 Cinnamon and cardamom buns at Rapha's cycle clothing cafe store by Piccadilly.

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Vanilla Gran Cru does it for Me

La Patisserie des Reves in Marylebone.
 Delectable pastries - coffee eclair
 Raspberry and Matcha Tea Pound Cake
 Tarte Tatin
and my top favourite - Vanilla Gran Cru.