Friday, 11 May 2012

Fruitbox Ilusion

If you cannot display boxes of fruit, vegetables and salad - do what Pret does and create the illusion and window decals

Thursday, 10 May 2012

New Exhibits

Benugo take over the catering at the British Museum
The UK's biggest visitor attraction with almost 6 million visitors a year
Happy staff too - this is the staff restaurant cake table

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Poached Egg Cups

Leon's poached egg pots - healthy, innovative and tasty with six types of topping

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Kiwi Ozone

Ozone, near Old Street in the City,  is another New Zealand cafe roastery that is showing us how the artisan coffeeshop can be done.
Tasty and well presented food and  fabulous coffee

Monday, 7 May 2012

The Price of Love (in Cake)

Choccywoccydoodah's 'I Love Cake' will feed 1,000 and costs £4,500.  Their new London store and cafe off Carnaby Street is fairly amazing to look at.  They  have a second series on the Good Food Channel starting tomorrow, Tuesday 8th May.


Sunday, 6 May 2012

Loose Leaf or Tacky Teabag

Upscale Tea Palace in Covent Garden ready for the Jubilee
or tacky Royal tea bags from another store nearby


Saturday, 5 May 2012

Stands at The Savoy

Attractive handmade glass cake and cup cake stands on sale at The Savoy's afternoon tea 'shop' in the foyer.  Pretty good value at £25 and £18 given afternoon tea is now £40 a head and their silver teapot is on sale online at £305.


Friday, 4 May 2012

Cake Break

Great homemade cakes, on old workshop table, at Salvation Jane cafe in the City.  Sister cafe to Lantana and as they say "a little bit of Australia in Shoreditch".

On the subject of cake, may I wish the MS Society all the best with their Cake Break 2012 charity event today - read about it at http://www.mssociety.org.uk/ms-events/2012/05/cake-break

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Golden Showers

Yuforia frozen yoghurt have a topical promotion - upgrade to a bigger size, for free, when it's raining.
Note the pallet signage.

Wednesday, 2 May 2012

God Save The Cream

One of the more extraordinary 'boutique' ice cream shops, located in Covent Garden, is a testament to how marketing can get you noticed.  Baby GooGoo breast milk vice cream alongside the more restrained Jubilee Strawberry.  Retailers are going jubilee crazy - do you have a promotion that catches the eye?
Would you have guessed this is an absinthe 'drip' for their Sex Pistols dessert.

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

O2, Oh Dear

Really well presented fast food - at the O2
Now when will they sort out the milk powder cappuccino coffee?

Monday, 30 April 2012

Oriental Inspiration

Pastries with a difference at the Japan Centre - some of these could really appeal given the reassuring ingredients - substitute 'pastry' for 'bread' and you would be away.
Apple & Almond Bread - excellent apple and custard filling
Cappuccino Bread
Green Tea Melon Pan - green tea pastries are starting to appear but this might be a harder sell.

Sunday, 29 April 2012

Will Stainless become trendy?

Great loose-leaf tea and old fashioned mis-matched china at Foxcroft & Ginger's cafe in Berwick Street - the cafe that uses pummel horses as tables.  I love the quirkiness of the place.  And yet the milk comes in a stainless steel jug!  They do say that every trend comes full circle.

Saturday, 28 April 2012

Rice Cakes

Another clever transfer from Julian Metcalfe's Itsu operation to mainstream Pret - chocolate covered rice cakes.  Will they follow popcorn and go nationwide?
See our post about rice burgers http://greatcafes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/rice-burgers.html

Friday, 27 April 2012

Ultimate Hot Chocolate?

Paul A Young's chocolate shop in Soho
The add-in spices add that touch of something special
Ginger, Green Cardamom, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Cayenne Pepper Chilli


Thursday, 26 April 2012

Pram & Bears

Childrens' selection at the right height with appealing bears and a wonderful old pram for the hula hoops
Stables Cafe at Holkham in north Norfolk
See our Kids Photo Board for more examples of child-friendly cafe presentation http://pinterest.com/turpinsmale/great-cafes-kids/ 

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Rice Burgers

Clever and tasty rice burger at the Japan Centre
Two patties of sticky brown or white rice with lettuce, onion, nori seaweed, teriyaki sauce, mayo and a choice of fillings.
Easily microwaved

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Variety is the Spice of Life

The humble sausage roll is now getting the 'varieties' treatment - Moroccan Spiced or Classic at L'eau a la Bouche deli & cafe in Broadway Market.

See our Pinterest Great Cafes Photo board for more examples of savouries http://pinterest.com/turpinsmale/great-cafes-savouries/

Monday, 23 April 2012

Cheap Seats

Didn't we once throw these out?! - Market Cafe, Broadway Market
I swear these were the most uncomfortable town hall chairs from yesteryear - now centre stage at Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen in the City
Outside perches at Leila's Cafe & Shop in Shoreditch

See our Tables & Chairs Pinterest Photo board for more examples.

Sunday, 22 April 2012

Violet Cakes

Lemon Squares & Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies at Violet Cakes - a Californian bakery cafe in East London
You cannot help but feel part of the baking action
Whoopie Pie's


Saturday, 21 April 2012

Ear Plugs but no Coffee

Cafe Oto is part of the Arcola Theatre in Hackney
Nightmare for a cafe
Love the Ear Plugs for 50p