A hard frost first thing in the morning. Cold sunny afternoon in Hull. A cold breeze blowing in off the sea.
The low sun over the Humber as train approaches Hull a little before the Humber Bridge.
I am pleased to see Paragon Arcade is slowly slowly being restored to its original splendour.
Occasional evening events in Paragon Arcade.
I had only meant to look in Two Gingers to say hi, but as I was chatting, decided to stay and have a cappuccino.
By far the best cappuccino all day. Their own blend from The Blending Room.
They also have guest coffee from La Cabra Coffee, a Danish coffee roastery.
Suggestions for future guest coffee:
- Athens – Taf – The Underdog
- Nottingham – Cartwheel Coffee – Outpost Coffee
- Brighton – Coffee at 33 – Pharmacie
Tea pigs not quality tea. Added as an afterthought, but indie coffee shops these days do make the effort to source quality teas.
Imperial Teas in Lincoln a good starting point.
Two Gingers had no wish to be listed in the scam Indie Coffee Guide, thus a cheek listed against their wishes.
Next door White Rabbit which I had not noticed before. But if you are going to open a chocolatier, please have quality chocolate and employ people who know about chocolate.
Quality chocolate has to be bean to bar, not bought in chocolate melted down and remoulded.
And please note quality chocolate:
- cocoa mass – sugar
- cocoa mass – cocoa butter – sugar – vanilla
Anything else is not quality chocolate. Quality chocolate is not bulked out with emulsifier. In the US legal definition of chocolate excludes emulsifiers. Emulsifier used because cheaper than cocoa butter.
The bars of chocolate excellent copy of Hotel Chocolat, the look and feel even down to obscene use of plastic and addition of emulsifiers to what is claimed to be quality expensive chocolate.
Near the Maritime Museum a new coffee kiosk, The Lost Flip Flop.
The coffee I did not try, but catering supply coffee from a coffee roastery in Surrey I have never heard of.
Do not touch with a barge pole Cupsmith tea or coffee, nor Surrey Hills Coffee. Chimney Fire Coffee in the Surrey Hills maybe.
There are though many excellent coffee roasteries. To buy in cheap crap commodity coffee is a bad move and to serve poor quality coffee on a hiding to nothing when can buy poor quality coffee from the corporate chains.
Tea poor quality tea pigs.
On to Trinity Market.
None too pleased to find Shoot the Bull had stopped serving. What is the point of quality food if piss-poor service?
A falafel off The Falafia. ok but not great.
Cappuccino off Caffeinated.
When I first encountered Caffeinated least year I was told to be in the scam Indie Coffee Guide was a mistake, a mistake they would not be repeating. And no, they are not listed in the latest edition, apart from an entry in the back. But why then tell me they sold all their copies when previously said unable to shift and ended up giving away. And it would be amazing if they did sell when no one else manages to sell.
The concept of Trinity Market is excellent, and puts to shame the disgusting Central Market in Lincoln, but standards are slipping, the Yorkshire pudding stall in the corner for example and the low environmental standards are not acceptable. Food served in polystyrene boxes. Why is it council run markets always have low standards?
Hull Old Town is unfortunately crossed by a busy heavily polluted road which is difficult to cross. No help to those businesses such as Thieving Harry’s located on the other side. At the very least operate the pedestrianise crossings more frequently.
Cappuccino at Thieving Harry’s far better than it looked.
Thieving Harry’s are featured in Coffee Shop North. Quite wisely they have pulled out of the scam Indie Coffee Guide though like Caffienated still listed at the back.
Thieving Harry’s an excellent location to watch the setting sun this time of year.
There are three coffee shops worth a visit in Hull, Two Gingers, Caffienated and Thieving Harry’s. Of the three, Two Gingers in another league, partly the skill of the barista and partly they choose their own blend.
Keithpp's Blog 