a visit to Betty's cafe in Harrogate

It has been a tumultuous (not sure why I have used that word, I must be reading too many gossip magazines at the moment!) week for me.  I sure had my fair share of ups and downs.  But that is life, isn't it?  With out getting too philosophical, I think I needed to share a light hearted post today and I took a look through my images from my recent trip overseas.  A particular Sunday morning in Harrogate is well represented through my pictures, we were lucky enough to spare a good hour to visit Betty's in Harrogate! 

 

Betty's is quite famous in Yorkshire, known for it's baked and patisserie products as well as for the dining experience.  Although it was wet and freezing cold this particular day, Betty's was very busy and we were lucky to score a table. 

Beautifully displayed macarons in the window, perfect enough to rival the French equivalent patisserie Ladurée. 

For more traditional English fair they have scones and similar, all displayed in wooden English dairy bowls.  We bought a couple for the road, after all we were sure to work it off at some stage on the trip!

Betty's also bake loaves of bread, again displayed in dairy bowls on cute little milking stools. 

Inside on the marble counter they have delicate treats for the sweet tooth.  Not really my cup of tea, I much prefer macarons.

What I love most about Betty's is their use of antiques in their display, such as old garden tools above these shelves.  I bought a similar child's wheelbarrow at a fair a few days later!

 
If you are planning a trip to Yorkshire, take note: Betty's Harrogate is a must visit!  Take your time, and whatever you do, do not say no to their offer of the cakes trolley...

new gourmet food and produce store in Hobart! welcome the aproneers...

Image from here

As an Eastern shore resident I am over the moon, or should I say under the rainbow with the arrival of The Aproneers, a new gourmet and produce food store on the East Derwent Highway, Lindisfarne.  I literally could not contain my excitement after my first visit to the store, I came home raving for the next few hours as I prepared a meal with ingredients sourced entirely from The Aproneers.  I discovered the store on its very first low key opening day, a week before it's grand opening on May 26th May, above.  Despite nearing the end of its first day, the staff were far from tired but were instead on a natural high from the positive feedback from locals throughout the day. 

From the outset I was impressed by the range, which I noted was mostly from local producers.  I gravitated towards the dairy section with a great selection of goats milk and cheese products.  Whilst I was shopping I had several staff members assist me and fill me in on their main food mantra - "sustainability".   In a nutshell, they have a food rating system which grades each food product in terms of sustainability e.g. local produce has a higher sustainability rating compared with imported food. Simple concept, but I like it!

Image from here

Kylie Kwong helped to officially open The Aproneers at the jam packed community grand opening.  And customers were given bags of local Tasmanian apples throughout the day.  

Image from here

On The Aproneers' website your can find recipes made from ingredients to be found in store, such as this sticky fig and ginger cake.  I am already addicted to this exciting and refreshing concept store, lucky it is in walking distance!

great little cafe in our Derwent Valley town! cheeky little place...

Cheeky Little Place is a (little!) cafe that has been open for around a year in New Norfolk. Owner's Deb and Matthew have a passion for great local produce and are translating that into the quality and fresh food they prepare. It has become a local and visitor's favourite, that is for sure. And my personal favourite, too!

The interior is quirky and the blackboards list the beverages that are available, including good old fashion milk and thick shakes...not just for the little ones. There are stools at the bench in the front window, and some tables outside at the front and to the side of the cafe for alfresco dining.

A delicious vegetarian and ricotta tart is just one of the many savoury options that one can sample, along with gourmet pies, salads, sandwiches and a selection of other savoury pastries.

I can never resist the gorgeous sweets, from berry frangipane tartlets to gluten free choc hazlenut expresso torte. Yummy! And perfect with the great coffee they serve.

A selection of fruit and frangipane danishes...

I can't help but admire the careful presentation of these strawberry and cherry tarts. Definitely made with love and passion, wouldn't you agree?

Cheeky Little Place is a must stop little place whilst visiting the antique shops of my town, or stock up and go down to the Derwent river for a little picnic. The perfect day out!

Opening hours 8-4.30 Mon-Friday 9-4 Sunday. Closed Saturday. Burnett Street, New Norfolk.

new French style bakery cafe in Hobart...Daci & Daci

I am very excited with the new bakery cafe that has only just opened in the last few weeks, right near Salamanca Place in Murray Street. It is called Daci & Daci, the names of the passionate duo who are currently baking their hearts out to deliver artisan breads and patisserie items to meet Hobart's demands. I called in this afternoon and bought some fig and walnut bread, green olive bread and their grainy bread, too! I didn't know which to try first...And the bread is all displayed on a 19th century French iron baker's stand. The bread has been selling out quickly, as you can see. You may recognise the baker's stand from our store. We were pretty sad to see it leave, we all loved it so much. But now I get to visit it in its new home. And the best part is it is now being used for its original purpose - to display bread!

The antique Gothic style counter has inset marble for the French style sweet pastries. I bought a traditional French escargot pastry to bring back memories of Paris.

The asparagus and gruyere tart had all but sold out. The savoury pastries and fresh sandwiches are displayed on these French style cheese boards.

Other baked items available for purchase, such as vanilla marshmallows, toasted muesli, Christmas cakes along with many other goodies, all made on site. In fact, the building was originally a bakery. There is a photo of the 19th century bakery within the cafe.

You can sit out on the deck on a nice day on these vintage French cafe chairs at original French bistro tables.

It is because of passionate people such as Daci & Daci that makes me love living in Hobart. I am pretty sure I will become a frequent visitor of Daci & Daci...did I mention that they make a great coffee?

a visit to the greenhouse restaurant in Perth, WA

I have just returned from a break in Perth and the Margaret River region of Western Australia. One of the highlights of my holiday was the Greenhouse in St. Georges Terrace, Perth. I was expecting the food to be very good as the Greenhouse has made it into the Gourmet Traveller's 2011 Restaurant Guide. But I was gobsmacked walking up to the exterior of the restaurant with its amazing vertical garden, juxtaposed directly in front of modern sky rise buildings.

The vertical garden consists of thousands of small terracotta pots and plants encased in the metal framework. It gives something pleasant and green for passersby to admire, the walls almost look like they are breathing.

Inside, the walls consist of raw plywood. The light fixtures are made from wound lengths of fencing wire and it was very effective in creating a relaxed and natural, almost country, atmosphere.

The breakfast menu consisted of many tempting options, including spanner crab omelette and an upside down quince cake.

But I decided upon the wild mushrooms with slow cooked eggs and grilled polenta. It was an earthy and hearty start to my day.

And I resisted the pile of doughnuts which were sitting at the bar next to me, tempting me with their sugar coated good looks.

After breakfast we were directed to the rooftop which functions as a bar area in addition to a rooftop vegetable garden.

Most of the plantings were leafy green vegetables. For more on the fabulously "green" Greenhouse, visit their website.

Launceston boutique shopping and a great Tasmanian provincial cafe!

One of my favourite stores in Launceston is The Vintage Rose which happens to be right near the Albert Hall, the venue for the Launceston Antiques Fair (see previous post for our stand at this fair). Owner Amanda has such a flair in choosing and displaying her lovely vintage and French inspired home wares and linens. Unfortunately I was too busy at the fair to visit her store on this trip to Launceston, but I took some after hour images of the great window displays... I was quite taken with the big earthenware pitchers on the ladder. For more on the Vintage Rose click here. Next stop was Gallery 54 in St John Street, Launceston a boutique showcasing the delightful jewellery designed by Katherine Brunacci. At the gallery's opening last April (see previous post) I bought some gorgeous semi-baroque pearl earrings. This time I fell totally in love with and subsequently purchased the above silver and gemstone pendant necklace titled "Lantern Pendant" from Katherine's Autumn 2011 collection. It is a truly magical piece and features moonstones around the lantern shaped pendant. It is beautifully hand crafted and is weighty, too.

(Images Copyright Katherine A Brunacci, not to be used without permission)

Other examples of Katherine's work. The sterling silver crucifix necklace features a handmade chain of adjustable length and the cross is inspired by a Victorian period crucifix. The winged pharaoh necklace has malachite and fire opals incorporated into the chain. Too many gorgeous pieces to choose from! A lot of Katherine's pieces are limited editions for example the Lantern Pendant of which there is only one more available. For more on the talented Ms Katherine Brunacci click here. After we had packed up at the antique fair and on our way home we stopped at the Ut Si cafe in Perth, northern Tasmania for lunch. I enjoyed a warming Jerusalem artichoke and potato soup with their famous wood fired bread. I was a little jealous of a fellow diner's mushroom and pearl barley risotto though!

A friend has started a new blog titled "touche de vintage" which will feature vintage pieces incorporated into fashion. To visit, click here.

iconic cafe and food store featuring antiques

French cafe chairs sit outside the entrance to Bill's cafe in the historic town of Lewes, Sussex. Galvanised tin bins are used for display in the front window. As I have mentioned in a previous post, tin is quite in vogue in the UK at the moment. I didn't have time to sit for a bite but I bought some fresh produce supplies for the road.

An old cart displays hundreds of oranges which are in season here.

Inside Bill's in the produce area old French picker's baskets are used to display fresh fruit. I have managed to find quite a few of these baskets on my travels which is great as we have all but sold out in the store.

A few doors along from Bill's another cafe with some antiques displayed in the window including a French cafe chair and folding bistro table.

There is no shortage of good food options in Lewes, across the road from Bill's you will find The Real Eating Company which stocks a lovely selection of cheeses. In the front window rhubarb forcers are displayed on baskets. I could easily have spent more time in Lewes. Maybe next time...