Great Cafes

Suki Tea

2012-02-27T10:00:00.000Z

Quality tea and attractive tea pots - Suki tea at Dobbies garden centre cafe, Ashford. Are you still offering a cheap stainless steel dribbling teapot with no-name untagged teabag?

Let It All Hang Out

2012-02-26T10:00:00.000Z

Love the glass panelled fridges at Leon - such a good way to show off what you have in stock. Making a positive out of back-of-house space and storage is right on-trend.

Fougasse

2012-02-25T10:00:00.000Z

The most delicious filled flatbread - fougasse - at the Albion Caff

See similar posts:

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2012/01/tortino.html

Variations on an Egg

2012-02-24T10:00:00.000Z

Scotch Eggs - Scrumpy, Ploughman's, Chilli, Classic, Smokey Joe and best seller Black Watch (sold out but contains black pudding) at the deli at edgbaston in Birmingham. Bravo to owner Simon who also operates the grocer at edgbaston http://www.thegroceratedgbaston.co.uk/

Bakery Cafes

2012-02-23T10:00:00.000Z

Dobbies garden centres are really serious about their baking and cakes.

Design Tips

2012-02-22T10:00:00.000Z

Wall as blackboard as menu at Pimlico Fresh

Light feature at Hackney Empire's Urban Pantry

Memorable cafe name - Tina, we salute you - in Dalston

Treasure those butcher's blocks at Leon

Baked Fries

2012-02-21T10:00:00.000Z

Forget the fryer; Leon offer baked fries - seasoned with smoked paprika and Anglesey sea salt!

Ever Sat on a Mop?

2012-02-20T10:00:00.000Z

Mop head seats at Passatge del temps - one of Barcelona's Wax Museum's brilliant cafes.

Speakeasy

2012-02-19T10:00:00.000Z

Speakeasy Espresso & Brew Bar is off Carnaby Street and the second unit of the Dept of Coffee & Social Affairs folk in Leather Lane. They reckon they are the only UK cafe to sell Bellocq tea from the USA.

The downstairs Brew Bar

Spring has come Early

2012-02-18T10:00:00.000Z

The savoury sandwich is getting more adventurous - this is Carluccios Pane Casareccio - a stuffed (cheese meat and egg) savoury bread ring.
Apparently eaten by Italians on Easter Monday to celebrate the unofficial start of Spring. Bit like our year round hot cross buns.

See previous blog: http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2012/01/tortino.html

Spianata on the Shelf

2012-02-17T10:00:00.000Z

Quite difficult to actually find a chilled sandwich in the trendier cafes - hallelujah. Another example of better product for the customer, savings in kit/running costs for the operator and a better carbon footprint.

see previous blog posts:
http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2012/01/browns-of-brockley.html
http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/04/now-thats-how-to-sell-sandwich.html
http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/07/now-thats-how-to-sell-sandwich-part-2.html
http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/10/more-recipease-please.html
http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/06/pret-coffee-kitchen.html
http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/11/carluccios-expanding-displaying.html

A Healthy Station

2012-02-16T10:00:00.000Z

Sourced Market fruit display at St Pancras station with simple, inviting price point

Under the Arches - More Cafes; Less Eels

2012-02-15T10:00:00.000Z

E5 Bakehouse under the arches in Hackney - passionate about sourdough.

http://e5bakehouse.com/

Next door is the Happy Kitchen Canteen, Bakery & Pantry

http://www.happykitchen.org.uk/

A short distance away in Broadway Market, one of the few remaining eel and pie houses

Red (Chocolate) Roses

2012-02-14T10:00:00.000Z

Three special ladies in my life - wife and twin teenage daughters - will get Carluccios chocolate roses and a short break to Barcelona - anyone know some great cafes there?

"Marry Me?" cakes and cupcakes at Dobbies garden centre cafe at Ashford - this is one very switched-on cafe operation and a treasure trove of future blog posts. Tesco, who owns Dobbies, is on to a winner. Will Dobbies will sort out Tesco cafes one day?

You just cannot get enough heart shapes - Krispy Kreme's doughnuts and Millies cookies. I prefer the chocolate roses.

Buckets of Ingenuity

2012-02-13T10:00:00.000Z

Chozen Noodles' new unit in Borough High Street with lights in buckets from Ikea - the contents of the buckets are changed with the season. Eye-catching and inexpensive.

No Froth Here!

2012-02-12T10:00:00.000Z

A. Gold - traditional foods of Britain - in Spitalfields has proudly not joined the espresso revolution. Great place for new ideas of well packaged British food and drink. Check out http://www.agoldshop.com/

A Great Start to the Day

2012-02-11T10:00:00.000Z

Bacon Sandwich with HG Walter's organic bacon and Lantana tomato chutney on white sourdough bread. £6 of great grub at Lantana Cafe, W1.

Jamie's Chic Shack

2012-02-10T10:00:00.000Z

Bicester Village - the chic outlet shopping venue for hordes of overseas visitors - has an interesting mix of catering. The largest Pret I have ever seen plus Carluccios, Villandry Grand Cafe, Busaba Eathai and this shed by Jamie Oliver's outside catering company Fabulous Feasts. Quite what the visitors think of chelsea buns and eccles cakes, goodness knows but they were of good quality.

Snacking

2012-02-09T10:00:00.000Z

Apostrophe

Benugo

Pret

"Healthy" snacks = Growing sales

Mini Cakes Part 2

2012-02-08T10:00:00.000Z

The mini-cake roll-out continues

See previous blog posts:

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/08/mini-cakes.html

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-mini.html

Container Cafe

2012-02-07T10:00:00.000Z

The Box Park, alongside the railway line in Shoreditch, is the "world's first pop-up mall" http://www.boxpark.co.uk/
Two of the boxes/containers are taken by Foxcroft & Ginger with their latest cafe. Wonderfully innovative.

Jing Tea

2012-02-06T10:00:00.000Z

Jing Tea have some great glass teapots as well as first rate tea

See http://jingtea.com/

Snowmen

2012-02-05T10:00:00.000Z

Snowmen at one of my favourite garden centre cafes, Barton Grange at Brock, Preston. We can spot a winner - Barton Grange was recently voted Garden Centre of the Year 2012 - congratulations to Guy, Russell and the team. See previous blog posts:

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2012/01/multi-deck-salad.html

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/12/toilet-humour.html

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/12/that-local-story.html

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/12/hot-pot-footfall.html

Cake, Mangle & Coffee

2012-02-04T10:00:00.000Z

It remains one of my favourites - Foxcroft and Ginger - with their graffiti art sign, pummel horse tables, bare wire lighting, sacks of flour, great food and ..... mangle supporting the cakes.

See previous http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/07/foxcroft-ginger.html

They have a new outlet at the Box Park in Shoreditch - follow this blog for more details of the world's first pop up mall and a cafe in a container.

The Iron Lady

2012-02-03T10:00:00.000Z

Having just seen the film - great acting but does not do the lady justice - Konditor & Cook offer "Your chance to stick the knife in or celebrate the Iron Lady". This is one switched-on cake and cafe company given they have an outlet within the Soho Curzon cinema. Like the film - in poor taste but clever marketing.

See previous blog post http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2012/01/back-to-80s.html

Fingers & Buns

2012-02-02T10:00:00.000Z

Gail's take expansion seriously and slowly - their latest is in Wardour Street opposite Princi. The food and its display is stunning.

Brownie Fingers and Cinnamon Buns

The Ultimate Spirit

2012-02-01T10:00:00.000Z

Prufrock Cafe assure me this is the espresso coffee machine - £17,000 worth of 'Spirit' Kees van der Westen's machinery - and they should know (they run a barista training company and are as coffee obsessed as one is likely to find).

They also reckon the perfect espresso cup is 5oz - the white one on the left - and this is an unusual size

See previous http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/11/your-favourite-cup.html

Tortino

2012-01-31T10:00:00.000Z

De Gustibus' eye-catching Tortino sandwich slices - vegetables, mozzarella & olives.

Scoop

2012-01-30T10:00:00.000Z

Wall displays get ever more innovative - Scoop in Soho - and their gelato is pretty good too

Story of a Seat

2012-01-29T10:00:00.000Z

Story is selling their seats - sturdy industrial packing cases - at £17 a time. Let no one say design trends are expensive. To be found on Redchurch Street just by the Albion Caff and re-located from Brick Lane because the area was too much hassle, Story is a real one-off:

No bookings
Cash only
Open every day including Christmas 12.00 to 22.30
100% organic ingredients
£15 pizzas
http://storydeli.com/
Great seats

I also liked their business card on recycled scraps of cardboard - so much better than the neat corporate effort alongside it.

Fuller Longer

2012-01-28T10:00:00.000Z

M&S and their Fuller Longer products. Will this catch on?

15.4 Million Wi-Fi Reasons

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000Z

We were wrong - only 15.4 million Ipads were shipped in the 12 weeks to Christmas - not the 20 million we reported back in October http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/10/wifi-get-with-it.html

Unbelievably, we still come across 'third spaces' (a.k.a cafes) that haven't yet installed wi-fi. Wakey, wakey, another cafe with wi-fi will takey your sales.

Back to the 80s

2012-01-26T10:00:00.001Z

Don't you feel old when CDs are seen as a retro item! Konditor & Cook's fun take on 'Back to the 80s' good value cakes. Their outlet in the Soho Curzon cinema on Shaftesbury Avenue is so much better than the usual popcorn emporium.

Everything including the Kitchen Sink

2012-01-25T10:00:00.000Z

Tapped & Packed Cafe at 26 Rathbone Place clearly believe in recycling, minimising capital costs and creating an unique design - a wonderful antidote to the stainless steel well.

Wall clock feature and sugar bowl - treacle is offered with the porridge.

Cake + Plants = 55 Million

2012-01-24T10:00:00.001Z

55 million people visited a garden centre cafe last year according to a report just out from the Horticultural Trades Association - up from 36 million in 2008. Garden centre cafes are booming - 10% up in 2011 on 2010 according to the larger centres represented by the Garden Centre Association.

The only slight issue may be that customers under 45 are apparently less delighted with garden centre catering than those over 45. My take on this, as outlined at the GCA's conference yesterday, is that as the cafes get bigger and more professional they are losing some of their appeal in terms of personality, humour and quirkiness.

Solution: Read this blog and sign up for a London Cafe Tour! The best have already done so.

Good food is at the heart of a great cafe but I am coming to realise that good design is the way to stand out, be noticed and win the hearts and business of those under 45s.

Browns of Brockley

2012-01-23T10:00:00.001Z

Superb sandwiches at south east London's Browns of Brockley

Poilâne the Baker

2012-01-22T10:00:00.000Z

Named rolls (at £3.05 each) and decorated loaves at Poilâne the baker's only UK store in Elizabeth Street, London. Famous for their sourdough and wood-fired ovens.

Tea Selection

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000Z

Fortnum & Mason's tea display is great - you can savour the smell of each type of (dried) tea by lifting the lid of the see-through tea pots.

Popcorn Kettle Crisps

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000Z

Confused? Popcorners new shape of popcorn

See previous blog posts

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/04/popcorn-and-not-just-at-movies.html

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/09/its-popping.html

Banana Pretzels & Bronky

2012-01-19T10:00:00.000Z

Good on Fresh Element at the Baltic for coming up with some original items - a Bronky is made of cookie dough; hard on the outside and soft inside, so now you know.

It's Very Hot. Oh No It's Not!

2012-01-18T10:00:00.001Z

It's pantomine season on the East Coast train from Newcastle to London. We try not to moan on this blog - there are so many great cafe stories to tell - but the warm water dispensed from the trolley service made for a truly revolting cup of tea. On the way up, the trolley had no hot water at all. £1.85 worth of disappointment and the waste of a Yorkshire Gold teabag.

Thankfully, Fresh Element at the Baltic made up for it with a Bronky - see tomorrow's blog for explanation.

Brrrr ..... Blankets

2012-01-17T10:00:00.000Z

Baker & Spice have the right idea for those sheltering (or smoking) outside.

London Cafe Tours

2012-01-16T10:00:00.001Z

Check out our new London Cafe Tours video produced by talented Pete Horton-Fawkes with music by Avicii. The tours are customised for each client and designed so that you can appreciate trends, innovation and best practice in this fast-changing sector.

Contact us if you all too rarely get out of your office and want to see what is happening in the marketplace in terms of:

· New and evolving cafe developments, brandsand products

· The latest and leading elements of 'buy withyour eyes' cafe presentation

· How the bar is constantly being raised in termsof standards

· The leading players and those to watch

· Design ideas as they may relate to your market

· Being challenged by a leading catering consultant who is aware of who is winning business and why

Meat Fruit

2012-01-15T10:00:00.001Z

Finally made it to Heston's 'Dinner' restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental hotel - 2.45pm on a Saturday lunch and packed. The famous Meat Fruit starter apparently has its origins in the c.13th - 15th century and the leaf isn't edible. It takes three days to make, cost £14.50 and was quite delicious.

Vintage Tea

2012-01-14T10:00:00.000Z

On a visit to Gateshead I heard about Stacie Stewart who supplies savoury tarts to the Sage:

Stacie - a Masterchef finalist from Sunderland - has set up the Beehive Bakery and comes to your home or workplace in a vintage VW campervan with "an array of stunning handmade cakes and sandwiches on vintage kitsch china served with high tea!" Check out http://www.thebeehivebakery.co.uk/the-beehive-vintage-tea-party-experience.html

I love her on-line profile: "Ive been a mod since about 96, I love music, clothes and food. I ride on a 68 Lambretta Li 125 and a Lambretta J125 Starstream. I can't spell, but I have impeccable manners."

Food wagons and afternoon tea are all the rage; Stacie and her Vintage Tea sound fun.

Fighting the Cold

2012-01-13T10:00:00.001Z

Pret's Hot Winter Menu - soup, wraps and toasties

Soup at Caffe Nero with toasted ciabatta bread - another clever use of that panini grill

Peyton & Byrne's Soup & Lamb Sausage Roll for a fiver offer

Pod's Pots

2012-01-12T10:00:00.000Z

Pod's pots - Oaty Lemon Curd, Blackberry Fruity Superfood, Honey Seed & Prune Yohurt and Mango Superfood

Water on Tap

2012-01-11T10:00:00.000Z

A new, fun meaning to 'water on tap' at Department of Coffee & Social Affairs Cafe

North of the Border

2012-01-10T10:00:00.000Z

We occasionally get north of the Border and my colleague Charles reports that Hendersons in Edinburgh Old Town combines a characterful vegetarian restaurant, bistro, deli and shop plus a few seats and free water.

Carrot, Mango & Lime

2012-01-09T10:00:00.000Z

EAT continue innovating with their juices - Carrot, Mango & Lime plus Pink Grapefruit & Passionfruit are their winter recipes.
see previous http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/08/beetroot-apple-ginger.html

Grind to Stratford

2012-01-08T10:00:00.000Z

Grind Coffee has a unit in Putney and has gone east to Westfield Stratford

Open bakery kitchen

Sugar

2012-01-07T10:00:00.000Z

Sugars with a difference at The Hungry Guest, Petworth

Multi Deck Salad

2012-01-06T10:00:00.000Z

Neat use of a multi-deck chiller to display a salad bar at Barton Grange Garden Centre

Simple Sandwich

2012-01-05T10:00:00.001Z

EAT's new Simple Range and large price stickers

Coffee Shops just keep on Buzzing

2012-01-04T10:00:00.001Z

'Even hard times can't curb our thirst for daily cappucino' proclaimed last night's London's Evening Standard. Sales up 10% overall and 35 new independent artisan espresso bars opened last year reports Allegra Strategies who have produced The London Coffee Guide 2011. The Independent Coffee Book 2012 edition is hot off the press and published by the same team who produce the excellent Brighton & Hove Independent Cafe Guide.
If you want details of the coffee machine, grinder and coffee roaster at all the trendiest places in town these two guides will see you right. Our London Cafe Tour visits most of the central ones listed and we were out, rain and all, yesterday filming a clip for YouTube - coming soon.

Our Changing Values

2012-01-03T10:00:00.001Z

I have now finished 'Spend Shift' - great book about how we haven't been forced to sort out our values. Until now.

So many of the examples in the book talk about cafes and food being the engine of regeneration in some tough places.
Two points that I found of especial interest:

73% of folk are "willing to pay a premium for companies that contribute to my local community"
"The key to moving a customer is a good story"

The ten point summary (page 208) is somewhat American but applies just as much to us Limeys.
Read the book, assess your values and consider changing your business.

Bubble Tea

2012-01-02T10:00:00.002Z

Bubble Tea at Harvey Nicholls tested by my colleague Charles who reports "a remarkably refreshing cold drink. Assam tea with Tapioca which tastes and feels like jelly pieces (at £3.35)!" The main store Bubbleology is in Soho. Not sure this is a trend for 2012.

You Need To Cheer People Up

2012-01-01T10:00:00.002Z

I don't often get around to reading a book but 'Spend Shift' by Gerzema & D'Antonio really gets you thinking about how the world is changing and what businesses are doing to adapt.

Detroit gets a bad press but the book details how low rents and local passion are creating some success stories - Le Petit Zinc cafe was set up by Charles Sorel and "the secret of his success is even more basic than good food and service. To succeed, he says, "You need to cheer people up"".

A pretty good motto for us all in 2012.

Happy New Year

Lactose Free

2011-12-31T10:00:00.000Z

"Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest milk. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and nausea. It is estimated that 75% of adults worldwide show some decrease in lactase activity during adulthood ranging from 5% in northern Europe to more than 90% in some African and Asian countries." Wikipedia.

Looking after those special interest groups costs pennies but wins you fans. Lactose free dairy 'drink' to accompany tea and coffee - purchased from a local supermarket and as seen at a National Trust property courtesy of a supervisor who knows the issues.

How Not To Sell Crisps

2011-12-30T10:00:00.000Z

Museum Exhibit yes,

Impulse sale no

See previous blogs for how to sell crisps http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-your-face-crisps.html http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/03/that-extra-sale-crisps.html

Pistachio & Orange Blossom

2011-12-29T10:00:00.000Z

Pistachio and Orange Blossom cake at L'Orchidee, Westfield Stratford

For other unusual cakes see http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/09/dandelion-burdock.html

Christmas Trees and Cars

2011-12-28T10:00:00.001Z

Kranz cafe bakery in Tokyo.

A couple of interesting shots culled from Cafe! Best of Coffee Shop Design (Braun 2011) - a book I would browse but not buy.

Volkswagen Cafe, Beijing

Supermarket Bakeries

2011-12-27T10:00:00.000Z

Waitrose

The supermarkets are getting better and better with their in-store bakeries and displays

M&S

And hardly a plastic dome in sight

An Alternative to Turkey

2011-12-26T10:00:00.000Z

Not really a cafe but I love the idea of an Indian that does Partridge and Pheasant Tandoor or Curries

Meghdoot's in Petworth. Locals claim it is terrific.

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T10:00:00.001Z

Thanks Caterer for the Christmas present
(and white glove to handle it!)

Happy Christmas to all

Pie Man

2011-12-24T10:00:00.000Z

Attractive hot pie unit and good cold pie and chutney presentation at Westmoreland Services

See other examples http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/05/pork-pie-piccalilli.html

Demanding Hanging

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000Z

Hanging items from walls and ceilings seems to be all the rage.

The Buttercup Cake Shop at Westfield Stratford. Maybe the high ceilings demand it.

Hotel Chocolat at Westfield Stratford

See other examples http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/12/hanging-hams.html
http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/09/doddington-hall-farm-shop-cafe-more.html

What makes You more Likely to Buy a Cake?

2011-12-22T10:00:00.000Z

Sea of Cake or Sea of Plastic

Toilet Humour

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000Z

How many cafes make money from selling postcards of their urinals?! Barton Grange Garden Centre demonstrates humour, creativity and quirkiness.

Chilled Crepes

2011-12-20T10:00:00.000Z

An unusual pastry at Apostrophe - mini crepes with chocolate and banana, chilled.

See previous blog for hot crepes http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/09/garden-crepes.html

Are You Fun?

2011-12-19T10:00:00.000Z

Boring cafes buy special catering bits of kit and spend lots of money

Fun, quirky cafes use every day objects in a new role

and save money

That Local Story

2011-12-18T10:00:00.001Z

Local produce is big and you need specifics, not blah blah. Great messages at the National Trust's Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire and Lancashire's Barton Grange Garden Centre

The Hungry Guest

2011-12-17T10:00:00.001Z

Petworth, West Sussex has the rather good Hungry Guest bakery, food shop and cafe

http://thehungryguest.com/The_Hungry_Guest/Welcome.html

Made By Us MSA

2011-12-16T10:00:00.001Z

Westmoreland Motorway Services Area in Cumbria is a one-off with a real commitment to local sourcing and quality. They have just opened their 'Made To Go' outlets.

Even the ceiling is fun. Nice to know their catering supremo Alistair is a fan of this blog.

Hot Pot Footfall

2011-12-15T10:00:00.002Z

Mary Portas is spot on with her comments about the need to drive footfall. She might not be so happy with how garden centres and farm shops are pulling folk away from the high street. Guy, Russell and the team at Barton Grange near Preston know how to pull them in - their cafe is offering Hot Pot (with red cabbage and crusty bread) at £2.95 between 5pm and 7.30pm. At a time when the cafe would otherwise be quiet 480 customers came last Tuesday all buying drinks and items in the garden centre. Little wonder their business is up 12% on last year.

Christmas Cosy

2011-12-14T10:00:00.000Z

Seasonal tea cosy at Jamie Oliver's Union Jacks restaurant

See previous blog re tea cosies http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/06/tea-cosies.html

Tasty Titbits

2011-12-13T10:00:00.000Z

Planet Organic's chocolate brownie nibbles

The Modern Pantry's flapjacks

Tom's Deli

2011-12-12T10:00:00.000Z

Tom's Deli cafe at Somerset House, London with great cake display

"We made this here" sandwiches

Retro Kit

2011-12-11T10:00:00.000Z

Utility is a fabulous shop in Brighton with everything from second-hand bakelite handle knives to those lovely enamel dishes our mums used. Their on-line shop is at http://www.utilitygreatbritain.co.uk/shop

Not Amused

2011-12-10T10:00:00.000Z

Cake howler - upon asking what a Lebanese Sponge Cake was, I was informed it was a Victoria Sponge

Blog of the Year

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000Z

"Blogger Chris Brown scooped new category for this year, Blog of Year, with his Great Cafes blog (http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/) providing news and views for the professional operator. One judge commented: "The author of this blog understands that a picture speaks a thousand words. It offers a great combination of good photography and helpful comments and top ideas for any café owner."

Rhubarb & Custard

2011-12-08T10:00:00.000Z

M&S with their new and claimed 'artificial flavour-free' Rhubarb & Custard sparkling drink.

"Tangy rhubarb and sweet custard as tasty in a drink as in a sweet"

Hanging Hams

2011-12-07T10:00:00.000Z

Fernandez & Wells' latest cafe at Somerset House, London with interesting display of hams on the bone, sandwiches and cakes.

That Lived-In Look

2011-12-06T10:00:00.000Z

And I always thought those brick walls were real!

Corporate Pret are certainly aware of the change in cafe feel/fashion/interior design

The 'new' lived in leather look

Sex, Drugs & Bacon Rolls

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000Z

Sign at The Breakfast Club - "Home of the Bacon Butty" although it wasn't a patch on Popham Little Chef's Heston special with five rashers of Denhay Wiltshire cure bacon - two back and three streaky - in quality bloomer bread. That was magnificent.

Pret's new British Bacon Buttie sold from the heated wrap/porridge unit

Eccles Heaven

2011-12-04T10:00:00.000Z

The bakery at St John Bar & Restaurant in Smithfield is out front and on show. The message is clear - if you have real bakers and chefs, put them and their equipment on show. 'Homemade food' menu descriptions and signage are then wonderfully redundant.

They still do the best Eccles cakes - £2.50 worth of heaven. See http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/05/best-eccles-cake-ever.html

The Postcode for Cafes - EC1

2011-12-03T10:00:00.000Z

J&A Cafe

Shoreditch Grind

plus those already featured

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/11/st-ali-of-melbourne-clerkenwell.html

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/11/disciplined-deli.html

http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/11/not-just-any-doughnuts.html

Seeds & Sticks

2011-12-02T10:00:00.000Z

EAT's pot of pomegranate seeds and Costa's Tropical Fruit Sticks show that cafes are not just purveyors of sugar and fatty foods (a.k.a. cake).

Flowerpot Bread

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000Z

Spotted at Borough Market and an idea just waiting to be picked up by a garden centre coffee shop!

Self-Serve Soup Station

2011-11-30T10:00:00.000Z

Welcome Break's self-serve soup station with accompanying bread items that show some original thought - Tomato Swirlys and Savoury Cheese Twists

Freshly Baked

2011-11-29T10:00:00.000Z

Benugo in Clerkenwell with "All our products have been freshly baked this morning in our Bakery"

Basket of 4 types of sandwiches plus prominent bake off oven clearly in use

Not Just Any Doughnuts

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000Z

Sourdough doughnuts, with homemade jam, at the Clerkenwell Kitchen. I just love the new variation of an old favourite.

A far cry from Krispy Kreme's seasonal Gift Tin

Spot the Heart-Shaped Sale

2011-11-27T10:00:00.000Z

Not everyone has fryers but trust Welcome Break on the motorways to spot the additional sale potential of 'Chips only 99p' stickers on every sandwich, panini and baguette and use a heart logo endorsement.

Showing Now

2011-11-26T10:00:00.000Z

Old fashioned picture house signage is all the rage - internally here at the Giant Robot cafe/restaurant, Clerkenwell

and externally at the Shoreditch Grind cafe

Purple Party Parlour

2011-11-25T10:00:00.000Z

Bashall Barn is a Food Visitor Centre / Farmshop / Cafe / Restaurant in the middle of nowhere (near Clitheroe in Lancashire) and has this party room for budding chefs

They make their own ice cream with fun toppings

They make beer, do weddings and hold themed evening events too!

Just the Best Breakfast

2011-11-24T10:00:00.000Z

Freshly cut orange and grapefruit segments plus the prunes

Blackberry, Raspberry & Strawberry fresh fruit purees

Quality fruit salad - grapes, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries

Darren's homemade muesli

Homemade Lemon Curd, Yorkshire Heather Honey & Yorkshire Honey Marmalade

Alan Walkers handmade sausage, Wensleydale middleback bacon, roast tomato, homemade black pudding, flat cap mushrooms, Heinz baked beans, free-range egg

Darren Parkinson is the Head Chef of Shibden Mill Inn, just outside Halifax, and he should be really proud of the breakfast (and all the other meals) he and his team produce. First class. Actually the best I have ever had (and I've had a few breakfasts in my time). Not perfect - the coffee and toast could be improved - but Shibden Mill Inn's breakfast sets a standard few come close to.

Compare & Contrast

2011-11-23T10:00:00.000Z

So you want to make some money mid-morning and mid-afternoon? It's all about presenting cakes well ....or not, as the case may be. We really do see the whole range of quality in our line of work. Want to get your cafe to good (or from good to great)? Invest in a little advice.

Pineapple Platter

2011-11-22T10:00:00.000Z

Fresh pineapple segments seen in the cafe at the British Museum - seasonal, looks good, not seen elsewhere and avoids the ubiquitous plastic pot.

Science Museum Shakes

2011-11-21T10:00:00.000Z

Shake Ice Cream Bar

Good display by caterer Benugo

Great child-friendly toppings - maltesers, jaffa cakes, blueberries, peanut butter ....

Tarnished Tableau

2011-11-20T10:00:00.000Z

Fun use of old silver cutlery - wall display at the French Kitchen in Holborn