I am one of the biggest drum-beaters when it comes to supporting independent businesses over corporate giants and also a big believer in customer service. With this in mind it might be a little strange for me to say this, but I really hope that sooner or later the cafe in the picture above, Thyme for Tea, closes down forcing the proprietor into the workhouse. I had walked past this place the day before and noted how nice it looked and taking notice of the menu in the window and the various delights on offer on their breakfast selection. Yesterday at around one o'clock Mandi and I pitched up at this place which was strangely empty given that it was at the height of the lunchtime rush, and Mandi asked for a slice of cake and a coffee. As I looked at the hanging blackboards to make my choice the woman curtly informed me that she had stopped doing breakfast. She got defensive when I pointed out two things; it was two hours before closing time, and she advertised an all day breakfast. Despite it quite clearly saying three o'clock on the door she said she shuts at half two, to which I pointed out that there was still an hour before closing and plenty of time to knock up a full English breakfast. This is not how you run a cafe, not that I am an expert on running a cafe but I would assume from a business point of view that the idea is to sell food during the hours of opening. If she didn't want to cook breakfasts after one o'clock then there should be a sign declaring that hot food stops at one o'clock and only tea and snacks are available thereafter, a more sensible suggestion might be to close at one o'clock and have the day to yourself not cooking. Either way, the fact of the matter was simply that she couldn't be arsed which is what I told her. Did she not realise that she had just upset one of the city's foremost breakfast critics? I'm guessing not and why should she?
We ended up taking breakfast (or brunch by this time) at Jam Cafe where I had a wonderful 'classic' breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, and home made beans set on two large pieces of doorstep toast washed down with a glass of fresh orange juice. It was a delight to eat and I would recommend it to everyone, you pay a bit more for it than you would in a regular cafe but it is all cooked fresh and in Hockley, still worth every penny.
Sadly it appears that a favourable breakfast review from myself isn't enough as we discovered that a cafe in town has closed down. I will admit that we only went in once and looking back it seems that although I enjoyed the breakfast I was perhaps a bit critical of the place overall, but even so it is always sad to lose a proper cafe when there's the danger of it being replaced by something 'artisan' that caters for the rolled up trousers brigade, or even worse a nail bar or charity shop. I hope that I am not responsible in my nitpicking for the closure of Denise's Gingham Kitchen, but if I am then there is a lesson to be learned. I pay for my food and don't tell them I'm writing about it and as with all of my writing, I give a totally honest opinion.
The Sunday Alternative #54 is available from here.
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August housekeeping
We are now in the eighth month of the year and at a standstill as far as work is concerned. In unrelated news, it is my birthday on the 27th of this month so a nice present would be a donation using the PayPal button. This would be spent on creating podcasts, documentaries, short films, comedy sketches and various other entertainments that I will make available to enjoy online for free.
The above t-shirt and bag is also available to buy, all the money goes to the same creative fund. They are on my shop page.
I'll play you a kazoo song request, find out how here.
Letter of complaint written for you for £2, here.
steveEoliver@gmail.com
