Tag: cafe

No. 12 Peartree Pantry and Pup troubles!

Finally, we tried out a new tea room.  It’s been so long since we went anywhere new that even Sister Y forgot to take a photo of our cakes – clearly we are out of practice!

Anyway, this week we went along to the Peartree Pantry on the outskirts of Hatfield Peverel and Witham.  It’s one we’ve been meaning to try for a while and we were glad we did – what a lovely place, enhanced further by the extremely warm welcome from the lady owner.  She made a big fuss of the teeny tot, giving her colouring and crayons, showed us to a table and gave us all the daily specials.  I had chocolate brownie which was delicious, warm and rich, Sister X had her fave – ginger and cinnamon cake – and Sister Y had lemon drizzle.  Unfortunately, they both said that they weren’t really lemony or gingery enough.  It was more expensive than other local cafes – £6.45 for a pot of tea and cake – but it was big (plenty of room for buggies if needed), comfortable – tables interspersed with sofas and snug areas, spotlessly clean and the friendliness of the staff left a lasting impression.  There is also lots of parking at the rear and, something that may be of interest to Husband X on his travels:

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Chuckle, chuckle . . .

So, on to the issues facing the Sisterhood this week: Sister X has a dog problem.  I’ve been there so totally feel her pain.  Her neighbour has acquired a dreaded yapper – a small, barky dog – which interrupts her constantly throughout the day when she is trying to nap … I mean work!!  No, seriously, she only took one nap, once – just the one time – and was unfortunate enough to get caught in the act by Husband X home early from work.  She really does work very hard, honestly.  Sister Y and I very sensibly and maturely advised her to put a note through the door and run . . . no, of course we didn’t really!  I pointed out that, if the neighbours are not there when the dog is barking, they probably don’t realise it’s doing it, so the best and first course of action is to knock and play the concerned neighbour – informative; understanding; supportive.  ‘You trap more flies with honey’ as my old mum would say.  If that doesn’t work then by all means go bad ass on them – and by bad ass, I mean telephone the council in a very grown up manner and request a noise disturbance form.  Or, get a laser pen and wind the dog up with it in the middle of the night so that they get an idea of how annoying it is.  Really, what a childish suggestion – I’d never do that.

Sister Y is still waiting to hear about the job. She’s not holding out much hope as her boss can’t seem to remember her name – but she does keep complimenting her choice of footwear . . . I have no idea how that translates in terms of career progression prospects!

Until next time, cake lovers x

 

No. 11 – The Barn at Stanway

Well, we all made it this week – yay – so off to a good start. The Barn is a garden centre and cafe located on Turkey Cock Lane in Stanway (and yes, we all had a predictably juvenile reaction to the name).  How could we not pay a visit?  Sister X was particularly keen – always had my suspicions about that one!  It’s actually a really nice garden centre with loads of lovely ‘things’ for sale.  You know the type of ‘things’ – all that beautiful vintage-look stuff that you know would never look quite right unless you owned a stunning Georgian house or Victorian cottage with a quaint country garden.  The rustic crates and shabby chic milk churns certainly wouldn’t have the same wow factor in a 60’s semi!

Anyway, the tea room is big with lots of tables but still feels quite cosy.  I had no trouble locating a high chair and there was space for the buggy, although I did have to tuck it out of the way by the door or there wouldn’t have been room for people to walk past.  The toilets are also very nice and clean with decent baby-change facilities.

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The cakes looked amazing on the counter under big glass kloshes – I went for chocolate, Sister Y had lemon and Sister X had ginger again (she’s not pregnant, really, she just likes ginger cake!).  Sister Y and I both agreed that there was way too much butter icing on ours – nice cake but too sickly.  Sister X said hers was more gingery than The Woodlands offering last week but not as sticky so she couldn’t quite decide between the two.  £5.75 for tea and cake so on the expensive side but I did get 3 (small) cups out of the pot.  I think we will be heading back there at some point.  In fact, Sister Y already has been – she took Husband Y in an attempt to convince him that they did actually need lots of lovely vintage-looking tat for their garden (don’t think he came up for it though … ).

 

 

 

No. 10 – Tiptree Heath, Woodlands Tea Rooms and World Book Day!

Poor old Sister Y was stymied yet again this week by another child shaped vomiting bug – what are they putting in the water in North Essex?!  So it was just Sister X and myself who met on a bit of a dubious weather day for a stomp around Tiptree Heath.  We practically had the place to ourselves and, luckily, did not encounter the evil pony that tried to ‘kill’ myself, Sister Y and our offspring last time we were there (slight exaggeration but it did charge at us and the children do like to dramatize things!).  I think the ponies are possibly only in residence from April so a bit early in the year to see them roaming free which is actually a lovely sight to behold.  If you do take a buggy on the heath, especially in inclement weather, make sure it’s of the sturdy variety – I took my old, beaten up Baby Jogger which I was very thankful for over the bumpy, uneven, muddy paths.

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The heath ponies on a previous visit

We had lovely walk, discussing the merits of World Book Day and airing our grievances at the parents who basically can’t be bothered to make any effort and just order an outfit from Amazon and then moan about the cost!  Jeez, people, it’s not hard or expensive if you put a little time and effort in – and it really can be minimal effort, let’s face it.  Send them in pyjamas as one of the kids from The Midnight Gang; put your daughter in a dress and give her a book to carry – Matilda.  It really does not require the buying of some mass produced nylon costume for £20 on Prime.  Rant over, let’s move on to the cake . . .

The Woodlands Tea Room (or it may possibly be Forget Me Not Tea Rooms now – the sign says the former, the menu says the latter and I forgot to confirm with the ladies behind the counter) is attached to Tom’s Farm Shop on the B1022 between Great Totham and Tiptree Heath.  It is a lovely, homey, bright space and the staff are quite friendly and accommodating.  I didn’t need the buggy as we had to drive from the heath – it’s just short of a mile along the main road – but there would be plenty of room for one if needed.  They had highchairs and even provide a little paper bib which was a nice touch.

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Another ‘half way through’ photo!

I had lemon drizzle and Sister X went for the ginger cake.  Mine was really yummy and my discerning companion also enjoyed hers – not enormous slices but plenty considering I’m supposed to be watching the old waistline.  We also rather liked that the milk was served in mini churns – cute!  £3 for the cake and £1.50 for a pot of tea so pretty reasonable.  We will definitely return with our third member – she’s much better at photographing the goods!

No. 9 – Wyvale

My 20 year old self would have firmly believed that tell-tale sign of middle age is acquiring a Wyvale Garden Centre loyalty card.  We of the Sisterhood all have such a thing in our possession.  However, I would protest that the only reason I got one was because it entitles the children to use the soft play for 50p less than the non-member price – and Sister Y suggested it!!  (we used to frequent the Wyvale at Stanway regularly when our little ones were of pre-school age).  Anyway, it did come in very handy this week when we all got our weekly/monthly? email containing all the current offers.  Obviously, the ones about actual gardening are of no interest (pah!) but the one that declares ‘FREE hot beverage with any slice of cake’ is a sure fire winner.  How could we possibly resist such enticement?  So off to Stanway Wyvale we went.  I did not require the buggy but it is a big, open café and there would have been room for it if necessary.  They have lots of high chairs but never enough staff at this place.  There is always a long queue of retired folk and frazzled looking mums waiting patiently for one woman to take orders, make all the hot drinks and take payment single handed – despite the fact that there are two tills.

I went for a Victoria Sponge and the sisters both opted for a Chocolate Orange Drizzle Cake.  Mine was a little on the dry side (I think it must have been a few days old) but very tasty nonetheless.  The orange cake was apparently very scrummy – not a crumb remained on either plate!

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So, I reckon, discounted ‘member’ price taken into account, about a 7/10 for Wyvale.  The soft play is great for little ones and, whilst being in the café, it is shut off so not a disturbance for other customers but mums can enjoy a drink in semi peace knowing that the children are safe and visible through the windows.  And they have an outlet of The Works (love it!) which we always end up spending loads of money in.  But they need to rethink the staff ratios and till operating system.  Shame there’s nowhere to walk nearby as all our trousers are getting a little tight now – we really must put more effort to finding some new places with exercise opportunities!

Until next time x

No. 4 – Reservoirs & Revelations!

We have actually been to Abberton many a time before with all the children but have never really explored as all they have ever wanted to do is picnic (they do love their food, our lot) and go on the climbing equipment and we have never had the heart to insist that they drag their little limbs around the whole site.  Okay, that may be a partial lie – we have probably just wanted an easy life and couldn’t be doing with the inevitable moaning that would have accompanied leaving the adventure playground!  We have also never purchased anything from the café, bar the odd ice cream, so thought it would be nice to sample their bakes!  It’s free to park, completely buggy-able and they just ask for a, I believe, voluntary donation for the Essex Wildlife Trust.

As always, it was pretty windy but the sun was shining so it was a coat on/coat off kind of a walk.  We tried to check out one of the hides but there was a “twitcher” in situ and we thought he probably wouldn’t really appreciate our wittering on whilst he was trying to .. twitch?!  (Why are they called twitchers? Answers on a postcard.)  We continued walking and our chat turned to the subject of Sister X’s workmen, currently doing some renovations for her, and the fact that they were rather ‘Diet Coke break’ easy on the eye.  Unfortunately, after much merriment on the subject we came to the rather sobering realisation that they were probably young enough that we were actually, possibly – biologically at least – old enough to be their mothers! Oh the shame …. the shock when you realise, suddenly, that you aren’t 21 anymore!  Clearly, it was time for emergency cake!!

Today, I went for one of my staple choices (not risking going rogue again after the disappointing lemon cake last week, oh no!) – carrot cake.  £4.55 for a slice and a cuppa.  I can’t actually remember what the other two had but, having studied the photo it looks as though Sister X had some kind of chocolate-crunch-cakey-flapjacky type of thing and Sister Y?  I’m going with either orange or ginger.  Apologies, I must pay more attention or possibly take notes – this is the main purpose of the blog, after all!  Anyway, ‘dry’ is the adjective that sprung from their lips when I asked what they thought and I’m afraid I have to agree.  Mine was also a bit warm and the frosting was melting.  So not great cake but a lovely, light and airy café with lots of space between tables and views out over the reservoir.

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It looked nice!

We were actually there for quite some time – the conversation turning to the perfect subject to pair with cake: our children’s personal hygiene habits.  I will not reveal which of our children was the source of the hilarity to save embarrassment but one of us discovered with horror that the face cloth we happily cleanse our pores with on a daily basis also has a second use.  Imagine the delightful family morning bathroom scene if you will . . . Mummy, upon finishing her facial cleansing routine, places her cloth on the side of the sink and busies herself with her next ablution.  In wanders a certain offspring, picks up the cloth and begins enthusiastically cleaning a particular part of his anatomy with it.  ‘Oh no darling, that’s my cloth.  I use it on my face.’ He smiles, ‘I know Mummy.  I use it every day too!’  And with that information, cake lovers, I leave you ……!

 

The Second One: Danbury and dodgy directions!

Our travels took us to Danbury today, for a wander around the Common (free parking in the National Trust car park – we don’t like to pay for parking!!) and then on to Hudson’s Café – part of the Mission Church on the Maldon Road.  It was all going so well; Sister X was early – again!  I have told her I find this slightly unnerving after 7 years of her always being slightly tardy.  Sister Y actually managed to find the car park (none of us are particularly blessed with fantastic senses of direction – if you knew me and I told you that I was the most reliable of the three when it comes to way-finding … well, that would indicate just how bad the other two are!) ‘without hysterics’ – her own words – she is not actually of a hysterical persuasion on a daily basis but referring to a recent trip to Hylands Park which began with her questioning her competence as a road user, mother and human being – ok, I’m exaggerating somewhat but you get the gist!

So, anyway, we had a good old stroll around the common – even quite exerting ourselves at some points wrestling the buggy over tree roots and pushing uphill.  My eldest offspring was accompanying us on this occasion, being off school following a minor op, so we were able to rely upon her, a KS1 pupil, to ensure we did not get lost (we weren’t overly confident that, had she not been with us, we wouldn’t still be wandering aimlessly through woodland and heathland several hours later in Blair Witch style panic).  After half an hour or so we decided that it was high time for cake and so returned to the car park.  We discussed the location of the church, with me assuring the others that it was just ‘right and right again’.  Sister X confidently declared that she had it down and that it was in her Sat Nav anyway so no need to worry.  At this point Sister Y foolishly decided that she would follow her and so they tootled off with me bringing up the rear.  Off they went up the road, straight past the right turn that I had suggested.  Never fear, I thought (as I checked with my seven year old that we had indeed come the right way), she has her Sat Nav on so it must just be taking them a different route.  We duly arrived at the church a few minutes later having indeed turned right and right again but there was no sign of X or Y.  Five minutes later, they pulled into the car park, grinning sheepishly and giggling at Sister X’s misguided notion that she would actually be able to trail blaze successfully (even with the use of a Sat Nav).  I still can’t quite fathom where they went but the main thing was that they had made it and it was time for cake!!

The Mission Church is a very modern building and actually looks nothing like a church – lots of glass, wood flooring and carpet.  Hudson’s is separated from the congregation by glass panels and is quite spacious with a mix of dining chairs, tub chairs and sofas.  Plenty of space for the buggy without it being in the way and they even have a little area with some baby toys, books etc which is a lovely idea.  The hot chocolate was tasty – £2.40 for a normal sized mug without any extras so not as cheap as you might expect from a café linked to a church, especially as I believe it is run by volunteers – and the cakes were good.  Sister X had a ginger cake which she said was nicer than she thought it would be (ha ha!) and Sister Y had Lemon and Blueberry cake.  I shared some sort of Malteser-cake/flapjacky thing with my eldest which was very yummy and only £1.50 so quite reasonable.

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We are lucky that Sister Y persistently relishes taunting workmates/husband as I forgot to take a photo yet again!

The general consensus was that we would definitely return – it was really clean and bright and they even had boxes of tissues in the toilets (I’m easily pleased!).  Sadly though, the Sisterhood were obviously not radiating enough divine energy during our visit as we weren’t offered any kind of holy-fellowship/kindred spirit discount – outrageous!!

Until next time, cake lovers xx