An amazing place, a bakery opposite Lot 51, bread, cakes, hot and cold food.
I ordered cakes to take away.
Chicken and roast potatoes to eat outside.
Then baclava and tea and a box of baclava to take away.
Posts Tagged ‘cakes’
Bread Factory
February 22, 2023In Love Again cake
November 8, 2022I had stopped at Cocona and had a bite to eat, then food and drink at a private party at Merlin Cafe.
I decided to skip dinner, have coffee and one if their delicious looking cakes at In Love Again.
No coffee, a private function, but I could have a cake.
I could not describe the cake other than to say delicate, subtke and delicious.
Cheesecake con dulce de leche
June 29, 2022Excellent cheesecake, the best I have ever tasted.
Nonna Juana Deli has fresh made pasta made on site.
They also have the most amazing cheesecake.
It is worth a visit to Nonna Juana Deli for the cheesecake alone.
Nonna Juana Deli
June 28, 2022My experience of Pasta le Disaster aka Pasta Evangelist was just that, a bloody disaster. Website not fit for purpose, order does not arrive, and the pasta when it arrives, I may as well get from Waitrose or M&S and save myself the hassle. Shipping fresh chilled pasta via a courier service is not viable. The only way is fresh made pasta, made locally, for a local market.
Last week I learnt of Nonna Juana Deli and decided to pay them a visit.
An attractive shop front and a very warm welcome when I walked in.
A lady taking orders and a chef. Our conversations switched between English and Spanish.
On sale fresh pasta, dried pasta, Argentina influenced savoury pastries, sandwiches and cakes.
They apologized for very little choice, closed Sunday and Monday, more choice later in the week.
I sampled lamb that was cooking. Excellent Also a couple of sauces.
I was offered home made pesto. Maybe another day.
I came away with mushroom ravioli (and verbal instructions on how to cook) and two slices of cheesecake.
I was tempted by lasagne, but for another day. Maybe beef lasagne.
Hopefully next visit they will be making the pasta in their open kitchen.
Use of WhatsApp not good. I recommended use Telegram.
I also recommended they were on Twitter.
Whilst I was there, a steady stream of customers.
Nonna Juana Deli will be at a food festival in the castle grounds next month. I walked through the castle grounds. No mention of the food festival.
I recommended a stall during the summer at the farmers market in Castle Hill and the Sleaford street food market.
We are sadly seeing more and more corporate chain eateries in Lincoln. By contrast, Nonna Juana Deli an independent local business where they care and are passionate about food, a breath of fresh air.
From the city centre, walk up Steep Hill to Castle Hill (or take Walk & Ride to Lincoln Cathedral), walk through the grounds of Lincoln Castle, head to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, walk along Burton Road, past a parade of shops and one of the last shops on the right. An alternative route, catch No 7 Ermine Bus from Central Bus Station, alight at the Museum of Lincolnshire life, then continue along Burton Road.
Coffee tasting Blue Bear Bookshop
October 3, 2020Passing by Blue Bear Bookshop, oh just who we need, would you please come in and give your opinion of two blends of coffee we are trying?
Yes but first I am going for lunch. I checked when closed and said I would pop back.
When I popped back after lunch at Gail’s bakery it was less busy, earlier very busy, too busy.
I had given some thought and decided would have four coffees, two as expresso and two as cappuccinos.
I decided to be a little more professional, asked for pen and paper to make notes.
I would emphasise this was coffee tasting, not coffee cupping which is a formal method of tasting and evaluating coffee.
Of the two, one a slightly smoking aroma and a slight fruitiness, the other insipid by comparison. Not a lot in it and neither were pleasant as espresso.
My cappuccino was intended for a customer, too hot, too much foam and horror of horrors, chocolate on top. Not a very good cappuccino.
My opinion, neither of the two blends were good.
I was also not happy with coffee beans being bagged as Blue Bear Bookshop. No reputable roastery would do this. Coffee, specialty coffee, traceability, transparency, through roastery, to region to the farm.
Blue Bear Bookshop need a good blend as a basic workhorse for espresso based coffee.
I recommended visit DT Roastery in Winchester, speak with Dhan Tamang and recommended their espresso blend which they serve in Coffee Lab.
An idea, try the Congo coffee from Waitrose. By the till. At the front no, but that at the yes, beautiful aroma.
Coffee at 33 their espresso blend is excellent.
If going to sell bags of coffee, there are many excellent coffee roasteries to choose from spoilt for choice, but ensure does not sit on the shelves.
I suggested an Ethiopian from Cartwheel Coffee very unusual as an espresso.
Cakes are far better than Gail’s.
I would suggest Blue Bear Bookshop stock high quality bean-to-bar chocolate from Luisa’s and Bullion.
The only downside of Blue Bear Bookshop they are in a lousy location, on a busy congested polluted road. Long overdue the centre of Farnham was pedestrianised.
Unlike Gail’s in Farnham, Pho in Guildford, no issues with covid-19 biosecurity, but then that is the difference between an indie business that cares about reputation and customers and a corporate chain employing bored zero hours minimum wage temporary staff.
Lunch at Gail’s bakery
October 3, 2020What is it with these places, why no understanding of covid-19 regulations?
I walked in, unpleasant loud music blasting out.
I explained breach of covid-19 regulations, explained why, noisy, customers shouting, emitting 30 times coronavirus at high velocity across the room, I had to shout to make myself heard repeat to make myself understood.
I ordered a sausage roll. Usually they hot it up. Not served cold. A fresh batch was brought out of the oven, one of which I was offered.
I found a clean table as far removed from others as possible. I would usually sit outside, too cold, raining and no free tables.
Sausage roll was good, and was cooked Previous visit not cooked through.
Very noisy, music not turned down, unpleasant atmosphere, not possible to relax and I was starting to get a headache.
Tables not cleared of dirty crockery. This is the norm in Gail’s, tables not cleared, tables not cleaned. Bad enough in normal times, unacceptable during coronavirus pandemic.
Eventually tables were cleared, but not not cleaned, not wiped down and decontaminated.
I left, asking for a drink of water on my way out. I had asked for a drink of water when I ordered but none ever arrived.
For some perverse reason only half a door open, causing congestion on entering or leaving.
Covid-19 biosecurity appalling. I was not asked for contact details, loud music blasting out which was not turned down on request even though explained why, dirty dishes piled on tables not cleared away, tables not wiped down and cleaned. Only plus, staff wearing masks at all times and wearing correctly. Gail’s must be shut down and hit with a hefty fine.
Loud music, noisy environment, people shouting, are projecting thirty times covid-19 at high velocity across the room. Quiet conversation, minimise the ejection of covid-19 and only into the immediate surroundings of those talking.
If we are to get a grip of coronavirus, establishments like Gail’s which flout the rules must be shut down.
Gail’s is a chain, overpriced bread, low paid temporary staff, never see the same person twice, due to open soon in Tunsgate in Guildford.
Neither cakes nor coffee good. Far better cakes and coffee in Blue Bear Bookshop and Krema, where also take covid-19 biosecurity seriously.
Pino
December 27, 2019A greasy spoon cafe with pleasant decor.
Location is wrong for two reasons.
- On a corner of a busy junction, no outside seating, if there was too polluted.
- Within spitting distance of two greasy spoon cafes, two corporate chains serving disgusting undrinkable coffee.
Bread sourced from Iceland.
Coffee sourced from LavAzza. .
Layout poor, too much space devoted to their serving counter reducing the seating area.
Ambience not pleasant, mainly due to poor layout and hard surfaces, very noisy, impossible to relax.
LavAzza therefore my expectations were low, and they were not exceeded. Cappuccino with chocolate dumped on top sent back, second coffee undrinkable. All the classic mistakes, including coffee scalding hot.
Why oh why does no one know do not put chocolate on top of a cappuccino? Not unless trying to disguise that is crap coffee. At the very least ask. And a good coffee shop would not dream of asking as would not wish to insult their clientele.
No water brought to the table, nor could I see water on display to help oneself to.
The norm in Athens, as soon as sit down, ice cold water brought to the table. It is called service.
Ibriks on display. For show? To my surprise they served Turkish coffee. Though the bed of sand not large enough. I did not try.
Poor use of social media. Facebook, a message box pops up even though may have no wish to post a message. If do, lack the courtesy to reply.
Maybe would have got away with opening a greasy spoon cafe serving undrinkable coffee ten years ago, not now, the world has moved on, and if wish to drink undrinkable coffee have the corporate chains, two of which Caffe Nero and Costa are located nearby.
The market is saturated. If opening these days have to serve quality coffee, quality food, otherwise on a hiding to nothing. Source coffee from local roasteries Stokes or Seven Districts but God forbid not from Lincoln Tea and Coffee, cakes and bread from a local bakery.
Bricked-up windows opened up have improved a red-brick Victorian building, but why the grief and hassle by the local council, three months delay for a resolution? If going to give grief give for the garish entrance out of character with the building not the windows. The same council with not a clue what constitutes good town centre design, the town centre trashed, ugly buildings, binge drinking bars.
Love Brownies Guildford revisited
November 22, 2019Last week I passed Love Brownies Guildford in Tunsgate, splashed across the window, Now Open, only they were not open.
An example of Guildford surrealism, Alice down the rabbit hole.
Tuesday Love Brownies Guildford were rumoured to be open.
Were they? Er yes and no.
A handful of people there in the afternoon, but not open. Open at five, but only to the media.
If tried to attend the media event, ordered out by ignorant Yorkshire man. How to alienate the locals, a classic example of how not to a launch event.
The success of their exclusive media event not a mention in the media.
Friday try again.
Yes, were open, only one customer, three staff.
Find a clean table. One table dirty, another piled with dirty dishes.
I settled for a stool by a shelf in an alcove. Furthest away from the door. The tables were conveniently arranged by the door, a blast of cold air every time the door opened. The tables were jammed far too close together, difficult for staff and customers to pass once it started to fill up.
I asked of the brownies. No one knew what was the difference, chocolate, double chocolate or triple chocolate. But a moot point, as only had double chocolate.
Cappuccino ordered. What size? There is only one size, the correct size.
A very long wait before order delivered, and this is an empty cafe, though it was slowly filling.
I moved away from the dirty table where I had first sat, and sat by a shelf. Banged my hand on the overhang. I banged my head again when I stood up.
Eventually a cappuccino arrived, all froth and foam with chocolate dumped on top. A brownie the size of a postage stamp.
I take the cappuccino back, say no chocolate, query the size of the brownie. It was a fraction of those on show.
I was told these were vegan, and yet I had pointed to one when ordered.
Tiny samples of a vegan brownies were on display, smaller than a sugar cube. These were ok. Unusual as vegan cakes are usually dire.
I could not say the same of what was brought to my little alcove. Very cloying. Nowhere the quality I have had at Coffee Lab when they were supplied by an independent bakery.
I questioned the cappuccino. All froth and foam, too hot, all the mistakes one could make.
It looked disgusting and was not good.
No surprise, cheap catering supply coffee from Caffe Society, clueless on coffee those making the the coffee. Not to be confused with Society Café a coffee shop serving excellent coffee.
When I queried the coffee, the usual defence for all ills, we have been trained.
An SCA qualified trainer? I doubt.
Ambience pleasant, bright and airy.
Two guys serving were pleasant.
For how long will they be giving away free brownies for birthday? Or will these free brownies be the sugar cube size samples?
Once again makes the point, cannot train baristas. Not that I would call them baristas, as to do so would be to insult baristas.
I asked of the cost of the espresso machine. Refused to say. I guessed less than £5,000. I hit the ballpark.
A good machine will be in excess of £10,000.
The size of a postage stamp brownie, anywhere else would be a sample, was in a little cardboard box.
At a time when we are trying to cut waste, reduce packaging, Love Brownies Guildford serving postage size brownies in a little cardboard box. And we thought we had a problem with supermarkets.
The brownies are shipped from Yorkshire.
Today I talked to someone who bakes quality cakes, including brownies. They said not economical to ship from Yorkshire, not unless using low quality cheap ingredients.
Though on the other hand if serving postage stamp size portions at at least pushes up the margins.
Award winning brownies?
The award, Great Taste award, a meaningless award that gets slapped on anything and everything, for which pay to obtain. No guarantee of quality.
To charge £5-50 for cheap low quality undrinkable catering supply coffee and a mediocre postage stamp size brownie is blatant rip off.
On display a glossy Surrey magazine. Not worth reading. Not sure if display or for sale.
Nothing of quality for example Cereal, Ambrosia, Drift, as find in quality coffee shops.
In a addition to mediocre brownies and poor quality coffee, what could only be described as overpriced gifts, make the whole operation look like a poundland or poor man’s version of Caracoli.
This type of tourist tat may sell to gullible American tourists in a tea shop in Ilkley, I cannot see it selling to locals in Guildford.
If wish to buy honey, local produce, try the farmers market in the High Street or the excellent cheese shop Partisan in Chapel Street.
Only half a dozen tables, which is not viable.
In Athens ice cold water brought to the table. It is called service.
In Love Brownies Guildford had to ask.
What beggars belief is fools and their money easily parted have paid £50,000 for a franchise, for what is in essence a cafe serving poor quality coffee with a very limited choice of cakes.
I am reminded of the Monty Python sketch, spam, spam or spam.
In Love Brownies Guildford, a choice of brownies or brownies or brownies.
They could have simply opened a cafe serving mediocre coffee and sourced cakes locally for a fraction of the price.
Or save on the franchise, invested in decent equipment, hired a skilled head barista, sourced quality coffee, and still had change to spare.
These days on a hiding to nothing opening a coffee shop serving poor quality coffee, as have the tax dodging corporate chains serving bad coffee. And in a town saturated with coffee shops, does nothing to add to the coffee scene.
In Guildford, if love coffee, there is Krema, ironically only a few doors away from Love Brownies Guildford. Quality coffee, a choice of cakes not restricted to brownies, and the brownies if you want brownies are at least a decent size, not a postage stamp size.
After my visit, the coffee left untouched apart from a sip, a decent coffee in Krema.
Love Brownies Guildford located in Tunsgate opposite Tunsgate Quarter zombie shopping centre.
Love Brownies Guildford
November 19, 2019Friday last week across the window of Love Brownies Guildford in big letters Now Open. Only they were not open.
Welcome to Guildford surrealism.
Rumour was open Tuesday.
Late into Guildford, nevertheless stopped and had an excellent cappuccino off FCB kiosk followed by excellent late lunch at Bamboo Shoots in Jeffries Passage.
Passed by Love Brownies Guildford late afternoon, my only reason for visiting Guildford. They appeared to be open, maybe.
No, not open, open for media at five.
Now a little odd, open only for invited guests, not a good way to get your coffee shop known.
At the very least would have thought would have offered a coffee, but no.
Five actually quite late considering the weather, most people want to be home.
I suggested if wished media coverage put out a well written press release to Surrey Advertiser and lazy scribblers will regurgitate.
Yorkshire man: I will talk to our marketing department.
Marketing department. WTF, it’s a coffee shop. He also fed me bullshit about branding.
Once people start talking about marketing and branding, they have completely lost the plot.
Nothing about the coffee, single origin, where sourced from.
Clueless too on use of social media, no mention new coffee shop opening in Guildford.
Cappuccino in Krema, gone five, maybe just time to pop in Love Brownies Guildford before the shops close.
I walked in, lady by the door, she says says yes, please come in, your are very welcome. Explains to me she did their design, and that the businesses started selling gifts on-line and expanded from there.
Good design is all well and good, but at the end of the day, it is all about the coffee.
I ask of the coffee, I am pointed to the coffee counter and told ask there.
I ask of their coffee.
Caffe Society who I have never heard of. I check later, a supplier of cheap catering supply coffee, thus no interest in quality coffee.
These days no excuse whatsoever to source poor quality coffee. In Yorkshire I am aware of Dark Woods, North Star, The Blending Room, to name but three.
Local to Guildford, in Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, London, there are many excellent coffee roasteries, far too many to name.
I learn Love Brownies a chain of nine coffee shops based in Yorkshire, by the end of the year 19, or maybe that was the target for a year.
The franchise scam. Minimum investment of £50,000, £25,000 up front. Fools and their money easily parted.
The woman I was talking to knew nothing of Brew & Brownie Bake Shop in York. Very odd when a very popular coffee shop in York with emphasis on brownies, especially when Love Brownies based in Yorkshire and ship their brownies down to Guildford every day from Yorkshire.
The set up is like a watered down version of Caracoli, coffee shop cum deli with overpriced gifts, nether one nor the other. One reason Carocoli went bust.
The woman I talked had no idea of Caracoli.
Surely you do your homework?
I ordered a cappuccino. Asked what size, Er, wrong question, the correct size. I wandered around to find it was waiting for me.
It then turned very unpleasant. The woman who I had been talking to said I could not have it just as the young guy who had made it handed it to me. All very embarrassing for the young guy who was trying to hand it to me.
I felt sorry for the guy. Allegedly trained and once again made the point cannot train baristas. It was all froth and foam, half an inch above the cup carpet bombed with chocolate. The only time I have seen a cappuccino this bad was at a dreadful coffee shop in Lincoln, The Old Mouse House Cheese Shop & Coffee Bar at the top of Steep hill.
No, no, no, this is not how you make and serve a cappuccino.
If this young guy wishes to learn how to brew coffee, then please go and work in a decent coffee shop.
I never did get to try the coffee, but from appearance, it was undrinkable, as at that point Yorkshire man ordered me out, reiterating it was a private function and my presence was not welcome.
Welcome to Yorkshire hospitality. How to win friends and influence people.
Yorkshire man not doing the fools and their money easily parted for the franchise any favours by almost frogmarching out a potential customer.
Any new coffee shop would welcome people to their launch event, as word of mouth these days essential.
Contrast with the launch of Blue Bear Bookshop in Farnham on Saturday. Everyone very welcoming, did their best to answer questions. But then they were not a franchise scam, it was a lady passionate about books, who always wanted to own a bookshop, and serving excellent coffee and local cakes.
I never did get to try the coffee, but from what I saw I would hazard a guess undrinkable coffee. And the rows of syrups indicated undrinkable coffee.
In which case what is the point? If want disgusting undrinkable coffee we have the tax-dodging corporate coffee chains.
Today if opening a coffee shop, have to be passionate about coffee, know about coffee, and serve quality coffee.
And for those who appreciate quality coffee, we already have in Tunsgate, Krema. And I cannot see any of their clientele drinking bad coffee.
Love Brownies Guildford located in Tunsgate opposite the Tunsgate Quarter zombie shopping centre.
Ohh Boy revisited
November 18, 2019Pretentious cake shop serving mediocre coffee, not doing Taf any favours.
What a difference a few days make.
I stumbled upon Ohh Boy a couple of days previous when lost coming down from Lycabettas Hill in the dark. No time for a coffee, I said I would revisit.
Then friendly, today no, rude barista who could not make coffee.
Giving Taf a bad name. Very pretentious.
I asked at the bar, told go and find a seat to be served.
All tables occupied.
I sat on a stool by an open window. Told no, cannot sit there. But OK to sit there and blow smoke in through the open window onto coffee and food.
I joined a lady at a table drinking white wine.
A long wait before served, I asked at the counter, and was told to find a seat and the waiter would take my order. No water brought to the table until coffee brought. Previous visit water brought as I sat down.
Coffee served in a dainty china tea cup. Served with sugar, which is insulting. Maybe a commentary on the not very good coffee.
I had found a seat with a lady at a table. As she was leaving, I said she had made a wise choice with wine as the coffee not good. She agreed, not for coffee, and knew many of the good coffee shops in Athens. I had been advised Ohh Boy good for cakes but not for coffee.
Not recommended. There are better places for Taf coffee. For example Little Tree, Duo Goulies & Duo Mpoukies and of course Taf.
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