ΑΝΕΞΑΡΤΗΤΟΙ ΠΑΝΑΘΗΝΑΙΚΟΙ
Το blog απευθύνεται αυστηρώςPublished on: 24.04.2012
Friday Breakfast: Boca Cafe
11 May 2012 11:49:00
Boca Cafe has recently opened in our neck of the woods: bravely tackling the dead zone of Cheltenham Road that comes after the vibrant shops of Gloucester Road have come down the hill and hit the full stop of the arches, after the rag-tag assortment of rag-tag second hand shops have elongated that full stop into an ellipsis, well before things pick up with the riot magnet that is Tesco Stokes Croft, surrounded by the anonymous ex-shop fronts of Cotham Girl’s School, the local library and really not a lot else, it is a beacon on a wind-swept busy main road.
How could we resist? The atmosphere inside is light and fun, as is the proprietor, even before 8am. She’s chatty, but not overly so, and the vibe is relaxed. The breakfast menu is a little flat – nothing quite jumps out and says “eat me,” but they are just getting started and responding to feedback: the small veggie breakfast was added due to a customer request.
We finally both opted for the healthy breakfast: poached eggs on white toast with freshly squeezed juice. After ordering we noticed the board outside with a morning special of bacon roll and coffee, which would have been great – but it wasn’t on the list inside so we didn't notice it.
When the plates came the portions looked small: just one egg and two hash browns (we opted out of white toast), with a side of wilted spinach. However, it tasted great and even with the addition of two lattes the bill came to a very pocket-friendly £11. We were also treated to a freshly baked custard tart from the Portuguese wizardesses in the kitchen – a sure fire way to tempt us back.
Overall, a very promising start. The key ingredients are in place: great food, lovely fresh juice and reasonable coffee. Once the menu is sorted this should be a sure fire winner and there’s a good chance it will breathe some life into the dead zone.
Friday Breakfast: Chickpea
04 May 2012 03:28:00
This week’s breakfast hunt sees us heading to Cotham Hill, a collection of small and interesting shops just off Whiteladies Road, itself a collection of medium-sized and moderately interesting shops that is literally and figuratively set apart from the massive-yet-boring shops of Cabot Circus.
Zoé’s off for a swim at Clifton High School, the temporary home of Bristol University swimming pool whilst it undergoes renovation, and Cotham seems like a good midpoint on her journey and a likely place to find somewhere open at 7:45.
After a brief bike-reccy we opted for Chickpea. The name and decor suggested the kind of place that caters for vegans and others with restricted diets, which is usually a good place for good food, but I have to admit I was pleased to be able to order a bagel with poached eggs and bacon from the friendly chap behind the bar.
Whilst waiting for it to arrive we enjoyed a delicious fruit smoothie, but sadly this turned out to be the high point. The bagels were soggy, the eggs rubbery (and almost certainly microwaved) and I felt so sorry for the side salad that I left it alone.
Disheartened, we paid up and made a hasty exit without coffee. Sortir café, sans café. We won’t rush back.
Friday Breakfast: Poco
27 April 2012 03:09:00
Today is a special Friday Breakfast because it is my birthday, and that’s fitting because we finally dragged ourselves through the Brizzle drizzle and into Poco, a not-so-new-anymore cafe-cum-tapas bar that opened in the old Zazu’s building right at the heart of the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft.
But first: what’s Friday Breakfast? When we were away earlier in the year, Zogsy and I started a new tradition, if you’ll excuse the oxymoron, of breaking fast together on a Friday. Think of the slightly tacky American concept of a date night, then make it slightly more British by doing it first thing in the morning over scrambled eggs and the Guardian, and you get the idea. We’re trying to hit a different establishment each Friday in search of spiritual fulfilment, beautiful memories and a cracking fry-up.
So, back to Poco’s. The vibe is perfect for the setting: slightly upmarket but oh-so-laid back. There are three types of character in my version of Stokes Croft: downmarket hippies (or “crusties”, as my mum delightfully calls them), upmarket hippies and mummies who lunch. The narrow door, internal steps and close tables help keep the pushchairs at bay, and we almost have the place to ourselves.
For breakfast we order merguez sausages with scrambled eggs. It’s a good job Zoé brought some presents and cards for me to open because the laid-back service takes some time to deliver our food, but we’re happy with some named-variety apple juice to tide us over.
When the food does arrive it proves worth the wait because the sausages are spicy and delicious and the eggs well cooked though slightly cool. The accompanying harissa sauce is delicious and takes it into interesting territory; I would have preferred it heated to help out with the luke-warm eggs, but I think the hot-spice/cold-temperature contrast would work wonders on a sunny day.
I’m already late for work but it’s my birthday so we opt for a latte, which features a nice dark roast that is robust enough to shine through the milkiness, and the milk is well-frothed and not overheated (my personal bête-noire).
The Perfect Ending
23 February 2012 08:00:00
Giovanni's Deli (Huge) Croissant. Check. (Almost jinxed by woman in front who nabbed two of remaining plain ones, we had to just have chocolate. The pain of it.)Swim in Open Air Seapoint Pool. Check.Iced coffee at Truth (Fave BaZo coffee haunt). Check.Sailing cruise in Table Bay (Awesome awesome.) Check.What a great way to end such a wonderful break.
Nailing It
22 February 2012 01:48:00
Despite not really celebrating Valentine's Day, my wonderful husband decided that in Africa, do as the Africans do. And so, we headed over this morning to Petticoat Parlour, a beauty salon with 50's style decor, music and refreshments. I decided to go the full hog and have a French manicure and a French pedicure. Meanwhile, a very shy, awkward young beautician gave Barney a 'man' - icure and proceeded to draw blood whilst pumicing his feet, so he decided he needn't have the red nail varnish after all.
And then it was off to Mzoli's in the evening for a true African experience. The South African government have, in recent years, provided grants to black citizens to help them start up their own businesses. Mzoli was one who was awarded with such a grant and with it, he started up a butchery. It became a storming success and now pulls many local and international visitors for braai's on site, cooking up meat fresh from the butchery. We waved off the taxi only to find Mzoli's closed and us in the middle of a Cape Town township, the only white people in sight. Not only that but we had no idea how best to get back into town. As might be expected, we survived the experience (much to the surprise of the local white South Africans) and not only that but located that 'oh-so-famous' Barney's supermarket. The European style bistro in Seapoint was graced with our custom instead and we devoured a rabbit, chicken and chorizo paella. Yum.
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