Pretzels

Cheese topped pretzels at Tesco and a product that would sell well in any take away cafe.

Quality Food Shop

Quality Chop House on Farringdon Road, London opened in 1869 and now has a food shop - see  http://qualitychopshop.tumblr.com/

A Good Throshing

 Another regional cake from The Real Norfolk Cake Company.

A Slice of Britain

The Real Norfolk Cake Company's Vinegar Cake is featured in this interesting new book 'A Slice of Britain' by Caroline Taggart which features regional cakes.

In an age when pastries are similar in almost every cafe, regional cakes provide that point of difference.

Traybakes

Cakesmiths in Bristol reckon they are the coffee shop cake specialists and their traybakes at the London Coffee Festival hit the mark for quality and offer something a little different.

New for the Chains

'New' large jaffa cakes at Costa and 'new' meringues at Paul. 

Tesco Euphoria

Euphorium Bakery section at Tesco in the West End - premium sandwiches and pastries.

Colour Me Beautiful

 Simple use of colour at Turner Contemporary's cafe in Margate.

 Colourful chairs and food presentation boards.

Allergen Aware

EAT have taken steps to comply with the new allergen regulations coming into force on 13th December. Have you? See the Ham & Cheese Toastie contains some of the 14 allergens that need to be declared:

1. Cereals containing gluten
2. Egg
3. Milk
4. Mustard
5. Crustaceans
6. Fish
7. Molluscs
8. Lupin
9. Nuts and nut oils
10. Peanut
11. Soya
12. Sesame
13. Celery and celeriac
14. Sulphur dioxide and sulphites

Townies & Blondies

 Townies - tart + brownie - at Bea's of Bloomsbury Farringdon.

 Brownie selection - Valrhona, Blondie and Killer (coconut, peanut butter, hazelnuts, praline and more)

Bubble at Home

I never thought it would take off in the mainstream market but 'make at home' Bubble Tea kits were getting attention at the recent Food and Drink Expo.

Gluten Free Growth

 Handmade Cake Company are experiencing their biggest growth with gluten free cakes and traybakes.

 No.G bakery have a whole range of gluten free products and their website is www.toogoodtobeglutenfree.com

Distinctly Different

 The Table in Southwark is the winning combination of architects Allies & Morrison, whose offices it sits in, and Shaun Alpine-Crabtree.  A small range of distinctive homebaked savouries and pastries.

Going Green

Vegetable juices are the cold drink phenomenon at trade shows and now on cafe shelves.  Savse's broccoli, pear, spinach, kale, kiwi, lemon and banana drink. Vegesentials have celery, apple and kale juice in the green bottle below and more half fruit/half vegetable juices and smoothies at http://www.vegesentials.co.uk/

Pain Quotidien has their '1 a Day' Green Juice of swiss chard, celery, apple, orange, lime and ginger.

Predatory Pricing

 Latte breaks the £3 barrier at Workshop's new cafe in Amazon's headquarters building.

A £5.50 brick sized flapjack to take out at Del' Aziz Bankside.

Every Pound Counts

The free entry Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate may have a concession caterer operating their cafe but they publicise the fact that every purchase supports their exhibitions, community and school projects.

  More museums and galleries should make the message clear.

Coffee Cycling

 Peloton & Co's cycle shop in Spitalfields offers coffee and demonstrates the link between cyclists and cafes.

 Coffee machine manufacturer Faema makes the connection clear at the London Coffee Festival.

Rhubarb Heralds Spring

 Company of Cook's Spring Rhubarb Festival pastries at the Brewhouse Cafe, Kenwood House.

Rhubarb Lemonade

Booming Coffee

The London Coffee Festival sees the launch of Allegra's latest London Coffee Guide 2014.  Packed with reviews of 138 of the best independent coffee venues it features 37 new cafes - it's not just London house prices that are booming.

Best Buns

Cinnamon buns at the Nordic Bakery.

Said Hits The Spot

 Chocolate moulds act as wall decor at Said's chocolate cafe/shop.

 Milk churn seats.