Green Owl, Buckhurst Hill

This owl themed cafe in Buckhurst Hill, Essex was the perfect place to spend three hours catching up over brunch.

It was super busy when we went in so sat at a bar rather than a table but we were pretty comfortable. I imagine it gets really popular as it’s a great spot in the cute little town.

With poached eggs being a breakfast favourite of mine at the moment, Eggs Benedict was the perfect choice alongside a latte. 

The menu choices were very broad with all day breakfast, sweet pancakes, toasted and sandwiches. They also had specials and an ice cream bar making it perfect for kids too.

After chatting for hours a sweet treat was in order. Banana loaf for I and Almond cake for Alice. Would have been a perfect accompaniment for a tea or another coffee. Green Owl does cream tea which was very tempting! 

The decor is really cosy with owls placed everywhere to reflect the name. With owls being a fashion accessory of the moment, I bet they were easy to find. 

Some customers brought in their little Jack Russell which I was pleased to say hello to. I love visiting dog friendly places.

For a Essex based coffee shop, this is definitely worth a trip.

Hitchin Coffee Lab, Hertfordshire

Since coming back from university, I have been on the hunt for some coffee shops in Hertfordshire. When searching, Hitchin seemed to feature a few lovely looking places and as I had never visited Hitchin myself, it felt like a perfect excuse to go along.

My boyfriend’s family have recently moved to the area so whilst visiting we thought why not pop in to Hitchin Coffee Lab. I’ve been following them on Instagram for a while and as they feature the fantastic Cakemeister cakes, it had to be the first stop in Hitchin.

Hitchin is a lovely little town with a real traditional British feel. Hitchin Coffee Lab is nestled down a lovely little street amongst other restaurants but this one stands out with it’s grey front and white decoration.

As you enter the coffee shop you see the large coffee bar filled with goodies. It is very tempting to try everything they have on offer. However we decided to have the Ragu Arancini. I love italian food so this was a must.

We had a latte each and tried the Cakemeister Raspberry and Chocolate Cake and a coconut slice. We were very pleased and full by the end of it all.

The decor is very cosy and clean with a choice of individual tables and benches to sit on. There was a mixture of customers, mums with prams, friends catching up and even someone working on a laptop (even on a Sunday). 

It’s a great little place that would not go unnoticed amongst the London coffee shops scene. If you live in Hertfordshire or like me had never been to Hitchin, make a trip! It’s definitely worth it. 

 

Northern Tea House, Huddersfield

The final guest blog has gone back to Coffee and Cake Dates roots with a coffee shop in Yorkshire. 

Hi, I’m Anna and I blog at Anna International about renovating my 1870s Yorkshire cottage, DIYs, food and recipes, my travels and coffee. Quite a lot of coffee.

I moved up to Huddersfield a couple of years ago, and there weren’t many independent coffee places in the town centre, so when I came across Northern Tea House just after it opened I was delighted. Don’t let the name fool you – though they have an incredible selection of teas and do amazing looking afternoon teas (haven’t tried one yet, it’s on my To Do list!), they also take their coffee seriously, with an extensive menu and experienced baristas who will sometimes go ‘off menu’ for you if you ask very nicely – I am in the market for a mocha cortado next time I’m there! Their milk art is also pretty spectacular, which is always nice for Instagram, even if it makes me a little sad every time I take a sip and ruin it (and my husband annoyed that he has to wait for me to take pictures before he can drink his!).

Not only are they the best coffee place in town (currently with stunning floral takeaway cups designed by the wife in the lovely husband-wife team that owns and runs the Tea House), but the food is amazing too. Sandwiches, baked potatoes, platters etc at lunchtimes, cake all day every day (good cake too, which is important – I mean, look at this cheesecake), and best of all, they now do breakfast.

It is a standard breakfast-date venue when we have a day in town (or sometimes we just go into town specially for breakfast there), with my husband ordering the maple bacon pancakes and me going for some combo of eggs, avocado and bacon most times. Flawless every time, and also spectacular to look at!

The décor is gorgeous – industrial meets modern vintage, with comfy leather Chesterfields and reclaimed wood tables, and pretty floral wallpaper juxtaposed with a polished concrete wall, often the backdrop to displays by local artists.

Huddersfield is well worth a visit for many reasons, but Northern Tea House certainly adds to them!

You can find them at 36 King Street in the town centre. Enjoy!

You can find Anna over on her blog at Anna International or on Twitter and Instagram.

Soloist Coffee Co. Beijing

When visiting coffee shops in London over the summer I was pleased to grab a free copy of Caffeine Magazine in selected shops. In one of the editions I was excited to read a special feature on Beijing coffee shops. With our trip to China impending I sent a picture to my boyfriend hoping that he might be persuaded to visit one while we were away.

Now here in China, we’ve had a great time trying all the Chinese food but sometimes we really crave western food so a coffee shop style lunch was exactly what we were looking for. Luckily I still had the photo of the Caffeine extract so we looked it up and headed to Soloist Coffe Co.

Based in a Hutong which are an old fashioned Chinese streets, the coffee shop was a renovated building that was very similar to the coffee shop styles we see in the UK.

We were hoping for some food but unfortunately they specialise specifically in coffee so only a selection of coffees and cheesecake and walnut pie was on the menu. However we stayed for a rest and had a latte, a cold brew latte and shared a slice of cheesecake.

After drinking a lot of tea in China, the latte tasted amazing. As someone that isn’t keen on tea, the taste of coffee was really appreciated. You could understand why they specialised.

The cheesecake was also very good as they don’t have desserts like ours in China. We’ve definitely missed sweet foods.

The Black Poppy, Glasgow

This week’s guest blog features our first Scottish coffee shop by Sarah from Caffeinated Reactions.

I love coffee and I am a keen baker, obviously I like cake, so when the opportunity to guest post for Coffee and Cake Dates, I just had to do it! Off I went on a glorious Saturday afternoon, on my own, just 20 minutes down the road to my personal slice of heaven…The Black Poppy.

I live in Glasgow, Scotland which is full of well-known and rather amazing coffee shops but I think the best ones are those independent cafes. The ones you have to search hard for but when you do find it then it seems a life without that particularly place seems meaningless. For me that coffee shop is The Black Poppy.

Situated on a busy road just off the main street where I live lies this amazing café. To understand why I call this place a slice of heaven I will need to paint you a picture of the area I live. It is not what you would call cosmopolitan nor is it up and coming. It’s a place full of bargain shops, tanning beds and discount vaporiser shops- the typical main street from the Southside of Glasgow. Don’t get me wrong I love where I live but let’s face it we got really excited when we got a Weatherspoon! To find The Black Poppy was amazing! I could slip off into another pretentious world and pretend I am somewhere a little more cosmo!

Sitting in The Black Poppy feels like home! It is a family run business with lovely jams and gift ideas lining the walls. All food is freshly prepared there on the premises with an amazing range of sandwiches, hot foods, drinks and home baking. They even sell venison pate, yum! Just looking at the menu I realised I was slightly hungrier than I thought so ordered a Cajun chicken salad sandwich, an Americano (no milk or sugar, black and bitter just the way I like it) and a lovely slice of milk chocolate caramel shortcake. I went to the gym the day before so deserved a treat right? The waitress serving me was so friendly and even stopped to have a chat when she saw I was wearing a festival wristband so I definitely felt welcome and I think everyone else in the coffee shop felt the same.

Whilst relaxing with my coffee and cake I got to really look around the café. Having previously been with company I never got to fully appreciate the place for all its wonder. They have a range of lattes and hot chocolates for a more adult palette (containing liqueurs and spirts) and ice pops containing champagne and prosecco for grown-ups! I will need to try them on my next visit.

Thank you to Coffee and Cake Dates for allowing to share the amazing Black Poppy with you all. I can’t wait to go back and if you are ever in Glasgow Southside I urge you to visit.

Thanks to Sarrahjane for this fab blog! Check out more of Sarahjane on her blog,  Caffeinated Reactions or give her a follow on social media on Twitter and Instagram.

An American’s search for Britain’s Iced Coffee

This week’s guest blog is from the lovely Emily from Livin’ Lemon.

When I was preparing to leave America and move to London, I did some research on what kind of culture shock I was in for. I was prepared for a lack of peanut butter (clearly a vicious rumour) and better Nutella but was surprised by the lack of graham crackers (essential ingredient in the traditional summer dessert, s’more). What didn’t occur to me was my summer would be iced coffee-free. It’s probably for the best that I didn’t know that ahead of time, it could have been a game-changer.

Now, before you get too upset and declare “oh but that place down the street has a sign for icedcoffee in the window!” or “Starbucks has cold brew”, let me clarify what constitutes ‘iced coffee’. For me, the gold standard is a Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee beverage, a staple in my former Boston home. Founded in Massachusetts, Dunkin’s are more prominent than even Starbucks locations with approximately 8 locations within walking distance from my old office. While I have seen some Dunkin’s in London, they mostly seem to emphasise the ‘donut’ part of their name and aren’t as abundant.

Iced coffee isn’t simply coffee poured over ice, it’s technically double brewed coffee that’s cooled and then served over ice as well. This differs from cold brew coffee which has been allowed to steepfor a day rather than double-brewed. Nothing caffeinates me or makes me more manically productive than a good ol’ iced coffee so I gave London iced coffee a go, testing out those places with advertisements in the window cold coffee beverages. I think it comes down to the fact that coffee here is espresso-based instead of brewed like in America. I’ve found that in London, there’s a consistency among the definition of iced coffee which breaks down to espresso + milk=iced coffee. Cloooose but not really.

The most common variety I’ve found has been to put ice, espresso and milk into a blender and then serve it almost like a Starbucks Frappuccino (minus the whipped cream). While also delicious, there’s too much milk for me with this version. This formula has also been made into a to-go (sorry, take-away) version that looks remarkably similar to chocolate milk. Again, delicious in its own right but not exactly iced coffee.

Summer to me isn’t complete without iced coffee so I got hyped up on caffeine while visiting the States recently. Sadly, it’s not really something you can transport in bulk back to London. Far from curing me from my addiction, the lack of original iced coffee here has only strengthened my resolve to find it in London. Or become a millionaire by bringing it to this country in its true form (now you all know my million-dollar idea, oops).

Got any favourite iced coffee spots? Please let me know, my soul thanks you. In the meantime, I’ll beover at Starbucks with some iced macchiato and cold brew to drown my sorrows.

Find Emily at her blog Livin Lemon or follow her on Twitter and Instagram for updates on her new British lifestyle and some great recipes.

Thanks Emily!!

George Street Canteen, St Albans

On a mission for more travelling gear, Mum and I went shopping in St Albans and stopped for some lunch at George Street Canteen.

Slightly hidden on George Street by the cathedral, you’ll find the cafe down an archway leading into a little courtyard.

As we had been treated to some sunshine we chose to sit outside in the courtyard to make the most of the sun. There was a canopy to sit under as well as some inside seating, so plenty of choice.

The cafe had table service so we ordered an iced latte and a latte and mulled over the menu.

There was a good range of options with all day breakfast choices, sandwiches, healthier options and something for kids.

I chose to have a Mediterranean breakfast with halloumi cheese and Mum had the healthier frittata.

The food was really fresh and tasty with plentiful portions. Mums frittata came with homemade coleslaw which was very nice too.

The cafe has a choice of cakes and pastries also on offer. I also noticed the homemade dog biscuits available for the four-legged visitors. I’m always fond of dog friendly establishments.

We really enjoyed our visit to George Street Canteen. It’s a hidden gem in St. Albans that needs shouting about more as it’s the perfect place for a summer lunch.

It was definitely the perfect place to start with for the Hertfordshire based coffee shop blogs.

The Black Penny

After going to The Black Penny for an event with work and seeing all the delicious food being served, I had to go back and try it for myself.

My friend Alice and I meet up regularly to catch up and go for brunch so this time The Black Penny was the place of choice.

Located only 5 minutes walk from Holborn station, the coffee shop is perfectly placed in Central London so accessible wherever you are in London.

We arrived at around 11:30 and got ourselves a latte and a mocha before taking advantage of the breakfast options both getting Bubble and Squeak to avoid either of us suffering from the dreaded food envy. It was served with BBQ sauce which was unusual but a really nice added flavour to the dish.

After a building up an appetite chatting for so long we also opted for some cake both choosing white chocolate and raspberry loaf. The icing was really yummy.

The coffee shop is decorated with wooden panelling, exposed brickwork and light fixtures. Although the seating area is hidden away in the back of the shop there is plenty of light creating a nice ambience about the place.

I don’t think The Black Penny has been open long but it really is a delectable choice for brunch in Central London.

Bloomsbury Coffee House

A few weeks ago on the way to the post office whilst on my lunch break, I spotted this adorable underground coffee house and noted it down as one for the to do list.

With work being really busy at the moment, I felt I deserved a full lunch break and ventured out to the Bloomsbury Coffee House.

When I last passed the coffee shop it was jam packed with not many options for seating, however this time I was pleasantly surprised to see the place quiet. I was able to choose where to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet away from the  hustle and bustle in Euston.

With the date of my travels fast approaching, I was pleased to see I could follow my ‘healthy eating’ with the lunch choices including four salads and a variety of quiches and frittatas.

I chose a slice of Quiche Lorraine with two of the salad choices. One with butternut squash and feta, the other with beetroot and Cous Cous. When I was served my food, I was delighted at how colourful my plate was. It looked and tasted delicious. It was also a lovely change from the food trends in coffee shops these days which seems to be mainly fixated around brunch (although I do love brunch).

I also got myself a latte and on the girls in the shops’s recommendation a slice of German  apple and pear cake – not so healthy after all.

It was a really delightful visit. For the Sheffield readers, it reminded me a bit of The Grind with the healthy options available.

Bloomsbury’s a hidden little gem that I’d really recommend in the Euston area. With lots of offices around the coffee shop I’m sure it’s a regular lunch stop for many London workers.

Wild and Wood Coffee

After an event with work in Moorgate, I met Lisa for a coffee and a catch up at Wild and Wood. With lack of signage it was rather difficult to find, however I spotted the chalk board outside after walking past it a few times.

Upon arrival at around 11 o’clock the coffee shop was pretty crowded with the few seats in the coffee shop filled. The coffee shop has a sharing table policy so we sat next to some business people and got our coffees.

We got a cappuccino and a latte in good sized cups which can sometimes be rare to find in independent coffee shops.

I got myself a toasted cheddar and tomato roll and Lisa got a cinnamon roll which were rather enjoyable. I also got a salted caramel bun which turned out to be a cronut (croissant/donut) which was delicious.

The place is decorated with wooden panelling and pictures of old stars framed on the walls. Particularly actors and actresses from the Carry On films which was unusual to see. Maybe the owner is a big fan? 

We sat and chatted for some time and noticed the place clear out to be rather quiet when we left. Maybe when we arrived we were in the midst of the morning meetings that filled the place. It only showed the popularity of the place and that it was a good choice of coffee shop but by the end was also nice to have some peace to chat after the rush.

I would definitely recommend this little coffee shop in Moorgate as prices were reasonable and the unusual cronut was delicious!