Hello Happy Bunny

So this week’s collection begins with Barnstaple Coffee Shop. They have added a new Chocolate Orange cake to their range, and I love this one so much! The sponge is chocolate orange flavoured itself, with orange biscuit balls and a slice of Terry’s on top. It’s been a while since I last went to The Chocolate Teapot in Bideford. I was wanting some of their Eton Mess, but there was none available! Nevertheless, all of their traybakes look gorgeous and I treated myself to two – Aero Mint and Chocolate Orange (I have a bit of craving for chocolate orange haha). Definitely a must for chocolate lovers these traybakes are full of chocolate pieces inside too! Back to Barnstaple, Green Lanes cafe had some Halloween specials last week. I had the Severed Finger Dog, £4.85 with chips. Whilst I applaud their efforts to get into the spirit (haha) of Halloween – having cut the hot dog like a finger – I was a little disappointed. It felt like a cheap poor quality meal to me, nothing reall...

So I have been back to Green Lanes Cafe a few times and have tried their specials. The first is ham, egg and chips. I also tried the Cornish pasty, beans and chips. These were decent meals at good prices. The portions are very big and filling, and plenty of chips on the plate! Another hotspot in Barnstaple is Lindsey's, a cake shop and cafe. The highlight is their cheesecakes - I have tried strawberry, mixed fruit, chocolate and mango and passionfruit. Last week, I tried their banoffee pie (I had a craving for banoffee...) and it was sublime!  Lindsey's also does a cheesecake loyalty cake where if you buy 8 cheesecakes, you get the next free.

Some food and drink photos from this month… Macaroni Cheese with Garlic Bread, The Corner Cafe in Barnstaple. This was one of the specials priced at £3.50. This was delicious – portion size was just right and satisified my craving for cheese! Victoria Sponge with a pot of Earl Grey tea, Barnstaple Coffee Shop. Again part of their afternoon tea deal. The filling is a little too sweet but the sponge was soft and fluffy. All-day Breakfast Bap with Chips, Green Lanes Cafe. The bap includes bacon, egg and sausage. This is a filling and indulgent meal, very good value! Driftwood Coffee Shop, Barnstaple. This is a caramel latte, priced at £3.00. The pricing is similar to Costa Coffee but the coffee here tastes amazing! The staff are very friendly. Driftwood also serves food as well – I saw another customer order a sandwich, and they are very big indeed!

Quiche Lorraine with chunky chips. A tasty and filling lunch!

This week, I went back to Tea By The Taw and Barnstaple Coffee Shop. I tried a Tea By The Taw Breakfast this time. Breakfast is served until 11am. For £6.45, the breakfast includes two local pork sausages, double-yolk egg, 2 slices of bacon, mushrooms, tomato, and a slice of toast. Tea or coffee is also included. Good value and a good quality breakfast. Local produce is used, and the best of the best ingredients are used here. A very tasty and filling way to start the day! I also went to Barnstaple Coffee Shop to try the hot drink and cake deal - for £3.80, customers can get a slice of homemade cake and coffee/tea. I opted for a slice of chocolate cake (with chocolate cream, fudge and buttons on the top) and a cafe latte. A lovely way to spend an afternoon!

It seems like lately I am doing a tour of Barnstaple's eating establishments, and why not? The town has many hidden gems. This time, I went to Barnstaple Coffee Shop, and had my favourite: cream tea. Fantastic food and good quality Clipper Earl Grey tea. I would like to return, and try one of their all-day breakfasts, or any pieces of cake which catch my eye...

Another place I have heard good things about is The Corner Cafe in Barnstaple. Situated at the end of the high street, The Corner Cafe provides hot food, cream teas and homemade cakes. It was very busy and both the top floor (which looks much nicer) and the ground floor was full of customers. I ordered an English tea and an FFLT (fish finger, lettuce and tomato, I think) sandwich. There was an incident in which I found a hair in my food, but the staff dealt with the situation very quickly and well, and offered to make me a fresh lunch. The food itself was a very big portion, very filling! The idea of a fish finger sandwich reminds me of when I was younger. The chips are also said to be homemade. The staff are very friendly and happy, which makes the experience very good. The food is not too expensive either - good if you are looking for a quick bite to eat whilst in town.

Last week, I went to Tea By The Taw in Barnstaple, which was in the news recently when David Cameron visited as part of his campaign trail. Described as a vintage tea room, the interior lives up to its name: tea pots and cups adorn the walls, old posters and music add to its charm. The bathrooms feel quite homely, nice and spacious. Instead of paper towels, there is a basket of actual hand towels are provided, after which they are put in a basket when they will be rewashed (good for the environment too). It makes one customer remark to one member of staff: "your toilets are the best toilets I have ever seen!" All of this, and the good quality food and drink, show that this tea room has a lot of heart in what it does, and that is what sets it apart from other eateries. This is a must-see if you are in the area. Situated by the riverside, Tea By The Taw has a wonderful view when you are eating Cream tea time! My table, table 10 - the same David Cameron sat at! ...