Salads on the South Bank

High quality and well presented boxed salads by Company of Cooks at the Festival Hall on the South Bank:

• Ham Hock and Pearl Barley salad with Mustard
• Rare grilled Salmon, Broad Bean, Pea with minted Mayo
• Broccoli, Quinoa, Feta, Lentil & Toasted Seeds

Submarine Shortbread

Caterer Ampersand highlights the naval connection at their Portsmouth Dockyard cafe with submarine shortbread.  'Freshly baked' is emphasised (although the Chelsea Buns appear to have stayed on the seabed).

Six Forty-Four

Krispy Kreme has an interesting take on emphasising the freshness of its product - the dough is prepared at 2.15am and at 6.44am is delivered to their stores.  In terms of bakery, fresh is all.

Rival Dunkin' Donuts have announced another go at European expansion - watch out for doughnuts giving cup cakes a run for their money.

Favourite Recipes

Clever use of recipe book recipes and features cakes for sale at caterer Ampersand's Portsmouth Dockyard cafe

 Fridge cake - simple, chocolate, popular, chilled.  Terrific.

Freshly baked muffins get the same recipe book treatment

Window Dressing

Blanche Eatery, Hammersmith and their enticing window display

Crustless Chicken

Chicken Finger sandwiches at Pardoe - crustless is popular for afternoon tea so why not at lunchtime?

Festival Sandwiches

Company of Cooks' impressive South Bank operation in the Festival Hall has simple, yet effective sandwich presentation.  The three types of bread (Granary Bloomer, White Tin & White Bloomer) and labelling assist the homemade and high quality image.

Summer Spirits

Searcys at Blenheim Palace offer cans of Pimms & Lemonade

Enough Sun?

Sunglass Hut sponsored 'sunglass cleaner liquid dispenser' and cloth to help that holiday feel.

Modern Tate

Tate Catering has some original juices in high-profit cups: Apple & Elderberry Juice, Lemon & Elderflower Presse

Gooseberry & Elderflower Cooler, Lemongrass & Lime Iced Tea

Cafe of the Year?

The Delaunay Counter Cafe on the Aldwych is great quality and value; as one has come to expect from London's top restaurateurs Chris Corbin & Jeremy King.  Chicken Soup with Noodles and superb bread and nicely presented butter in a beautiful setting for £4.50 is just an example.

The pastries are equally memorable; experience the Lemon (Meringue) Tart

Cake on the South Bank

Company of Cooks' gluten free and spelt cakes plus 'sticky buns' on the South Bank

Pop Up Propstore

Theatres should be the perfect organisations to design and fit out pop-up cafes

The National Theatre's summer pop up Propstore cafe bar on the South Bank fits the bill

Script menu and characterful bar counter top

Got a Gooseberry?

Gooseberry and Elderflower cheesecake at Company of Cooks

Gooseberry & Elderflower Cooler at Tate Modern

Rhubarb Smoothie

Cafe Brera demonstrates innovation, seasonal relevance and health awareness.

Cafe with a View

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth's cafe with a view

Full Leaf Teas

Starbucks has full leaf tea, not powder, in their tea bags.  You will be able to taste the difference, trust me and better quality tea should allow you to charge more.

Benugo are switched on to quality tea

Welcome

Welcoming cafe window in Bermondsey - Bicycles welcome, Pet Friendly.

Hot Multidecks

Pret are rolling out more and more self-service hot units where soup, wraps, porridge, bacon rolls are immediately available, don't slow the service and rival the eye appeal of the sandwiches.

10 Calorie Cappuccino

Cafe Brera has switched on to the demand for no fat, low calorie yet recognisable drinks.

Olympic Record

Little Chef (like G4S) should be ashamed at any Olympic connection.  The Popham site (famous for a great reincarnation by Heston Blumenthal) managed to take 42 minutes to produce the above with two items missing and only four other tables of two in the place.
The talented restaurant critic, Giles Coren, in last Saturday's Times Magazine reports on his visit to Little Chef: "The Olympic Breakfast is completely s****.....if you happen to catch sight of the Little Chef in this, our historic Olympic year, my advice is to take him away and hold him till he pees in a test tube.  Then ban him for life".

Established 1948 and Up to Date

Silvios has four different units and locations - three in EC2 - but has certainly moved with the times.  Decent tea in the ubiquitous Kilner jars, well presented sandwiches and appealing cake.  The chef came out on the street to promote his sandwiches and bread.  You can be well established and move with the times.

Flickering Idea at McDonalds

Difficult to see in this photo but look top right of the bean to cup coffee machines and there is a flickering night light candle in the coffee cups to catch your attention.  Simple clever idea and at Mcdonalds.

Seriously German About Bread

Bakehaus' bakery cafe in Hammersmith has some interesting ideas including out front production.

Self-serve hot drinks and quality tea

Some new pastries that may be common in Germany but aren't usually seen over here