Small Batch, Big Humour

Small Batch Coffee in Brighton

plus some toilet humour

Smart Butter

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

Skinny Dip

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

Terrific Toppers & Centres

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

http://bakeitinacake.com/

Terrific Toppers miniature customised clay models for that memorable cake memento

Store Street Sandwiches

Well presented sandwiches at Store Street Espresso off Tottenham Court Road

The cakes and coffee are pretty good too

Stainless Chalkboard

Neat use of chalk pens (and crushed ice) on the salad bar well

British Museum staff restaurant operated by Benugo

Glorious Treacle

Loaf cakes at Treacle & Co cafe in Hove

Cake, cake

and more cake

plus sandwiches

and illuminated ducks on the tables

Ice Cold

Costa are well prepared for the heat

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.

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/

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

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.

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

Chichester's Cool

Cool design and great pastries at Amelie and Friends in Chichester, West Sussex

Design by Southsea and Shoreditch design boutique 'ILoveDust'

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.

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

A Dog's Life

Display in chocolate at Choccywoccydoodah's cafe

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.

Hot Hot Hot

EAT are being inspired by Cuba

and Vietnam

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