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?

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/

Doorsteps

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

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

Love, Hugs and Coffee Mugs

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

Brown Sugar

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

Cycle Buns

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

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.

Raw Sandwiches

 Raw sandwiches consisting of unprocessed plant based foods exposed to no more than 42 degrees in the cooking process - coconut chips, sunflower seeds, flax, onion, cold pressed olive oil, cashew nuts, coconut aminos, lemon, tomatoes, garlic, reverse osmosis water, maple syrup, lettuce, raw apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika and Himalayan salt.

Raw Falafel, Club and BLT sandwiches at £5.99

Time, Tea & Timberyard

Timers issued with every tea ordered so you get the brew time right at Timberyard.

Congratulations Chessington

Chessington Garden Centre's cafe has won joint Best Destination Garden Centre Restaurant 2014.  Owner Jolyon's passionate leadership plus manager Caroline's attention to detail is a winning combination (plus it may help being one of our long standing clients).  They have taken the Cafe Tour, use us to audit the operation every year and always strive to get from very good to great.

Adapt

Adapted cutlery available at the National Trust's headquarters cafe in Swindon.

Reuse:Recycle

Waste bin made out of ventilation ducting at Timberyard.

Rocking and folding chair from goodness knows where at Timberyard.

Timberyard Two

 Timberyard at Seven Dials know how to present food that sells itself.

 Oranges used to hold the merchandising tickets and provide some colour.

Hazelnut Brownie Hearts for Valentine's.

Working for the Revolution

 Street Food at Canary Wharf last week

Check out the latest apps, awards and operators in Street Food at http://britishstreetfood.co.uk/

1,000 Strong

The Beach Cafe at Wells-next-the-Sea has just signed up the 1,000th dog owner/cafe customer to its K-9 Club and awarded its Dog of the Year (see http://greatcafes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/could-it-be-you.html ).  Brilliant off-season marketing by the Holkham Estate and well done to Layla.

Next Big Thing

Cannoli (brandy snaps with fillings) are the next big thing in baking according to Jo Wheatley, bakery Author and Great British Bake Off Winner 2011, speaking at the HTA's Catering Conference last week.

£3 Mini

 Mini £3 and gourmet paninis at Illy's Regent Street Espressamente cafe.

Save Water, Drink Wine

 Attractive branding at Squires Garden Centre cafe.

 The garden implement wall decorations are eye-catching and relevant.

Coffice

The cafe office comes alive at Ziferblat in Old Street where you are charged on a pay-per-minute basis.

'Creative Working Space' is the designation (due to planning use) and both credit cards and receipts seem off the menu ('donations' please).  The self help kitchen (and washing up) is novel.

Mix It Up

Jo Wheatley, bakery Author and Great British Bake Off Winner 2011, spoke at the HTA's Catering Conference of what sweet combinations are appearing:
 Townie (Tart/Brownie)

 Cragel (Croissant/Bagel)

 Crookie (Croissant/Cookie)


 Pike (Pie/Cake)

Cronuts http://greatcafes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/croissant-doughnuts-cronuts.html
Duffin http://greatcafes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/doughnut-muffin-duffin.html
plus Cupnut (Cupcake/Donut) and Cheeselova (Cheesecake/Pavlova)

Loose Leaf Tea Machine

Interesting and visually stunning machine to brew loose leaf tea within one minute.  Exhibited at the HTA garden centre industry's catering conference yesterday. If anyone installs one let me know the reaction; loose leaf tea is certainly the way ahead.

Dreaming of Dry Cafes

Living on the Thames flood plain has its pleasures and challenges.  Blog posting is suspended whilst we wade, row, (bake bread) and look forward to a return to normality.