Hello Happy Bunny

Recently I tried one of Costa’s Christmas Orange Hot Chocolates at Atlantic Village. I asked for cocoa powder and I got a frog on the top! How … Christmassy? 

Pikachu wishes you a Happy Christmas!

On Sunday December 4th, Bideford Quayside was closed for the Christmas Lights Switch On event. Due to work, I wasn’t able to see the lights switch on, but I visited the fair beforehand. It was very cold but that didn’t stop the many visitors from getting into the Christmas spirit! There was an opportunity to have a “steam train” ride around the town and free reindeer antlers and Santa hats were being given away for free! There were lots of rides, hot food stalls and games. We won a teddy! There was also live music playing from the stage. Well known characters, including Batman, Peppa Pig and one crazy looking Pikachu walked around greeting everyone. It wouldn’t be Christmas without a few reindeers! They attracted a big crowd and mostly did some eating. The event closed with some spectacular fireworks from the riverside.

On a Sunday afternoon, Latte and Lunch was quite busy, which shows how popular it is. Unfortunately, we had just missed breakfast so we decided to try a cream tea (£3.75 for one). With good quality tea and scone (would be even better if the scone had been warmed up), it makes for a tasty and inexpensive afternoon treat!

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...

Rose Salterne is a branch of the Wetherspoons family in Bideford. The food is nothing spectacular but it is good value for what you get. So, if you are looking for somewhere cheap and cheerful to eat, this is recommended. Usually from lunchtime, it starts to get very busy. Hot dog and chips Waffle with blueberry and raspberry compote, served with ice cream

The Chocolate Teapot is a small cafe with indoor and outdoor seating in Bideford. As you can guess from the name, chocolate is the highlight here. The Chocolate Dipping Platter is quite popular here, where you are provided with fruit, marshmallows and other treats to dip in melted Belgian chocolate. The Ultimate Hot Chocolate allows you to make your perfect drink. You can melt Belgian chocolate drops in the hot milk provided to you and add fudge and marshmallows according to taste. For those who don’t want to make so much effort, the Luxury Hot Chocolate is a creamy hot chocolate, with marshmallows on top (I tried this – it was very nice!) The cafe serves hot food, sandwiches and other puddings, but for me, the cakes are the best thing here. Homemade and inventive, I would happily go back for more! During my visit, I opted for the trio of traybakes, in which I got to taste the Chocolate Orange, Caramel Shortcake and Eton Mess cakes (the Eton Mess is a recent addition. I heard it h...