Biddy at The Flower Pot Café

I happened to be in Inches Yard and decided to make my first visit to the tiny café there – The Flower Pot Café.

There is just enough space for four tables and I was lucky to get the last one when I called in. There is clearly a regular clientele here, and people were coming and going collecting their lunch orders, so it was busy, buzzy and friendly.

I settled on my usual Americano, then was hard pushed to choose between chocolate cake, carrot and banana cake, brownies, croissants … but finally succumbing to a slice of yummy flapjack, packed full of nuts, chocolate and cranberries.

This is a charming little café, serving a good size cup of coffee, milk in pretty jugs and sugar in pretty basins with tongs. 

The premises may be tiny but they do a great job not only with the homemade cakes but breakfasts and lunches too.

The breakfast menu looks really good and I will make a return visit to give it a try, with options ranging from porridge with maple syrup to a full English, though what I really like the sound of is their breakfast sarnie (veggie versions available).

The lunch menu is equally tempting, with salads (such as haloumi, apple and walnut), and sandwiches, ciabattas and jacket potatoes with a good choice of fillings.

The children’s menu is very reasonable – a sandwich for £1.50 or half a jacket spud for £2.

Everything I saw being served looked really good and, as the sign says, it really does seem to be ‘Made with love’.

Do go and give The Flower Pot Café a try ... and save a slice of flapjack for me!

Biddy x

Biddy at The Real Macaron Company

Macaron or macaroon? The coconutty cakes of my childhood were definitely macaroons with a double ‘O’. But the gorgeous, pretty, colourful, flavoursome delights at The Real Macaron Company in Newbury are surely only a distant, and far more sophisticated, Parisian cousin.

Having passed The Real Macaron Company on the way into town many times, I had been meaning to stop off and treat myself to a box of macarons for ages. Anyway, with a special tea-time planned for some of my nearest and dearest, I decided now was my opportunity.

The Real Macaron Company is on the corner of Newtown Road, close to its junction with Andover Road on the St John’s roundabout. There is on-street parking but I as I needed to be in town anyway, I decided to walk from there – and it only took me 15 minutes from Parkway.

They open at 10am (Wednesday to Saturday) and I arrived a few minutes beforehand, so on an unseasonably warm day sat and watched the world go by on the outdoor table and chairs until the lovely owner arrived to open up.

What I had not appreciated was that this macaron shop is also a lovely little café too, serving hot and cold drinks (very good coffee, and you know how I love my coffee), along with the essential macarons, home-made brownies and cupcakes, as well as fresh croissants and pan au raisins. Heaven!

Despite all the other temptations, including the smell of baking coming from the oven, I was determined not to be swayed and plumped for a macaron – a pistachio one, such a beautiful green, how could I resist? And very delicious it was too.

The café is tiny – but cosy, fresh and contemporary. I was surprised how many people arrived while I was there. A young woman who was also trying it for the first time, followed by a couple of regulars, and then a family of four. It was fairly bursting at the seams by now, and there was a lovely, friendly atmosphere. There are macaroon cookery books to browse through while you enjoy your treat, and on display are some fabulous ideas for wedding or party cakes – brilliant fun and a perfect way to ‘theme’ to whatever your colour scheme is as you can get macarons made to order in more or less any colour or flavour you fancy.

The owner, Gaye, was more than happy to describe all the macarons available that day, so before I left I bought a box of delights (lemon, chocolate, vanilla, coconut … and another couple of pistachio which were sooo good) to take with me. She also let me know about the macaron workshops that she runs regularly. I am planning on adding one to my birthday wish list …

Biddy x

Biddy says Bonjour to PAUL

It had only opened the day before I visited PAUL, the new bakery/pâtisserie cum Parisian café in Parkway, so it was all pretty much new to the staff as well as the customers, of which there were many.

Dressed in pristine white overalls the staff looked very bakery, very fresh, just as you’d wish – and there were plenty of them attending to everyone’s desires.

And when you step inside their premises selling gorgeous French breads, cakes, pastries and savouries there is indeed much to be desired. Because they all looked so good I took my time over the display of goodies while I tried not to drool.

Front of shop is the counter, with pretty tiles behind, traditional black and white tiled flooring, and great black and white photos on the wall. Here too there are high tables and stools for perching, while beyond is the more relaxed seating/dining area, all looking very chic.

There was a constant stream of customers, all eager to try out Newbury’s newest café, but the friendly staff seemed to manage to seat everyone. Ahead of me in the queue a young guy was already taking advantage of PAUL’s takeaway Parisian breakfast deal – coffee, tea or hot chocolate, with a croissant or pain au chocolat. At just £2.95, it’s great value. 

I sat on one of the high stools by the window – always my seat of preference! It was a great spot to people-watch while I enjoyed my coffee and croissant. I’d plumped for a croissant pistache. Crisp and flaky on the outside, soft and sinful on the inside, this is your traditional croissant with an added twist. And very yummy it was too. Just the million calories per bite, you understand! But my latte was a skinny one, so does one balance out the other? (Who am I trying to kid?)

So, what of PAUL? It certainly has a good track record as it is the biggest bakery in France; the first one opened in Lille in 1889 and the business is still family-owned, now in its fifth generation. Its popularity has seen it open in 29 countries, and in the UK the Newbury branch is only the second one to open outside of London.

Opening hours are long – Monday–Wednesday 8am–7pm, Thursday–Saturday 8am–9pm, Sunday 9am–6pm – giving everyone a chance to sample what’s on offer, whether it’s breakfast, brunch, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea or a post-work snack or early supper.

As well as the traditional French breakfast, also on offer will be: Oeufs á la Coque (also known as boiled eggs and soldiers); Oeufs Royale (poached eggs with smoked salmon, hollandaise sauce on delicious toasted bread); Brioche Perdue (French toast with crème anglaise – or eggy bread and gorgeous authentic custard if you want to get down to basics); and Les Criques de Gramat (potato cakes, ham, Emmental cheese and tomatoes, topped with a fried egg).

Later in the day you might try their charcuterie and cheese platters, and there is also a choice of wines – well, it wouldn’t be French without, would it?

I left with a pain de Campagne tucked under my arm for the husband and the intention of taking him with me when I next visit as I really want to try their signature French-style afternoon tea. Au revoir, PAUL, until then …

Biddy x