Bookshop Cafe - The Sevenoaks Bookshop - Sevenoaks

I have to admit, this isn’t my first time at the Sevenoaks Bookshop, I love the idea of combining a bookshop and café, one which was taken up by Waterstones and Costa in 2012. However, here in this independent bookshop with homemade café simply named ‘Bookshop Café’ it works so much better. The feeling is very different in here, with the staff not under the strain of a big company name and a three-floor mega-bookstore they have time to chat with customers about books, their tea choice, the gorgeous tiffin on the shelf or anything else. The crockery cabinet to one side is laden with gorgeous home-made treats, towered over by shelves of cafetieres, teapots, milk jugs and take away cups. That’s all this café needs, plus three small table and chair sets, it’s perfect. The one corner of the world and the shop that feels calm and genuine, run by genuinely friendly people who are there because they want to be. It’s a blissful rest from the heat today and a lovely cup of tea in this lovely shop. Here at the front of the shop, the front window is full of books and leaflets about Sevenoaks and Kent, another sign of the homely feeling this shop gives out.

I really love the tea here (however, unfortunately I’m not sure what company it is, the symbol is a tea cup and saucer with steam curving from it) and the elegantly slim sugar packets from ‘Allpress Expresso’, makes you think about just  how much goes into running a café and ordering all the necessary bits in and making all the tasty things. I don’t think I think about what really goes into making a café often enough, just appreciate how lovely that effort makes the places I write about.

All in all a lovely shop, perfect for a cup of delicious tea and home-made cakes, surrounded by the smell of books and some truly great people. Delightful.

Twitter: @7OaksBookshop

Website: Sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk

Address: 147 High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1XJ

The Zed Music Cafe - Sevenoaks

Hidden down the far end of Sevenoaks high street, almost (but definitely not) too far to walk is The Zed Music Café. Bigger on the inside than it looks from outside (yes Doctor Who fans, that’s what I said) the café feels different from the moment you see the sign outside. ‘Zed Music Café’ sounds so interesting and fun not to mention the gorgeous 450 year old listed building itself, once the home of the Sevenoaks Tearoom (visited by the Beatles when they were filming in nearby in Knole Park). Once you step foot inside, the interior does not disappoint. Painted in a variety of colours, with a sound desk and stage at one end and a table groaning with gorgeous-looking cakes in the middle, I instantly feel happy here. The staff are friendly and polite and as I receive my huge slice of Victoria sponge and pot of tea I wonder if I’ll ever leave!

The room, which was obviously two rooms and one point has floor to ceiling beams splitting the serving area and the performance area. I love the way they have used the odd shaped space by putting tables with comfy chairs in some corners and using the space to its fullest. The slogan ‘By music lovers, for music lovers’ pasted on the wall sums up perfectly what this café is about (if the drum kit, piano, sound desk… and the name didn’t give it away!) sharing music. A cause I can really get behind. There are posters all over the café advertising lessons taught in the rooms up stairs and all sorts of gigs played in the café itself.

A true (almost) hidden gem and one of the best places to visit in Sevenoaks, the Zed Music Café is wonderful. If the countless gigs and opportunities for musicians aren’t enough, the lovely atmosphere and selection of great cakes and Tea Pigs tea are so great, you’ll want to stay here forever!

Twitter: @zedmusiccafe

Facebook: Facebook.com/zedmusiccafe

Website: www.zedmusiccafe.com

Address: 28-30 High Street, Svenoaks, Kent, TN13 1HX

Varie-tea

My last blog was about why we love tea and the first point was ‘Varie-tea’, we love tea because of all the different flavors it comes in, all the weird and wonderful tastes you can find and you don’t have to spend a fortune to try them, here are some recognizable supermarket brands that may just surprise you.

Twinings: (www.twinings.co.uk) The most recognizable name in herbal and fruit teas, Twinings sell so many different flavors its impossible not to be surprised by one or two and hardly surprising that they are the first on my list, they include some real gems, such as:

-The ‘Indulgence Green Tea collection: Gingerbread Indulgence (‘with real ginger pieces and natural golden syrup flavor’ a must have for the sweet-toothed tea lover!), Salted Caramel Indulgence (‘Sweet but somehow slightly salty’ and ‘rich and warming’, perfect for a winter night in) and Caramelized Apple Indulgence (‘with notes of golden toffee and a touch of spice from real cinnamon’ a tasty cup of sugary goodness.)

-Chamomile and Maple (‘a soothing amble into sweet indulgence’ calming, with a  sweet taste? Where do I sign up?!)

-Cucumber Extract, Nettle and Aloe Vera (‘the true taste of beauty’ also an entrant for the ‘lets-throw-random-things-together’ contest, though I’m sure its lovely.)

-Liquorish Allsorts Earl Grey Whole leaf (‘a sweet, yet floral, refreshing taste’ for when chopped up leaves aren’t good enough and you don’t want to put actual sweets in your tea.)

Teapigs: (www.teapigs.co.uk) Founded in 2006 and now found in most new cafes, Teapigsis like Twinings younger brother who has grown up without anyone noticing, some of the interesting flavors they offer are:

                -Chili Chi (Chi with a ‘hot twist’, sounds interesting, if you can take it!)

                -Chocolate Flake (‘Assam with real chocolate chunks’, anything with chocolate is ok with me.)

                -Popcorn (Green Tea with toasted rice’ sounds odd in an ‘I really have to try this’ way.)

                -Rooibos Crème Caramel (‘infused with real caramel’ sounds sweet!)

-Chocolate and Mint (‘a super retro pairing’ for lovers of mint chocolate chip ice-cream…melted.)

                -Rhubarb and Ginger (‘rhubarb lovers, this is for you’ enough said.)

PG Tips: (www.pgtips.co.uk) So called because it was originally marketed as ‘Pre-Gest-Tee’, meaning if you drank it before a meal it would help you digest. They have long been known for their breakfast tea but did you know they also produce these beauties?:

-The Premium Range: The Strong one, The Fresh One, The Mellow One and The Rich One (in no particular order and all pretty self-explanatory, so you can have your breakfast tea just the way you like it!)

-Smooth Red Bush Vanilla (‘a beautifully smooth taste and a gentle aroma’, not strong but smooth and easy.)

-Aromatic Spices and mint (‘a complex exotic infusion of fragrant mint, warming cinnamon, subtle orange and aromatic spices’ and another contender for the ‘lets-throw-random-things-together’ contest…)

-Vibrant Mandarin Orange Green Tea (along with a host of Green Teas Tetley supply. This particular one is a ‘fun and interesting flavor’ that ‘will have you savoring every last sip.’)

Tetley: (www.tetley.co.uk) Another tea company who have a famous breakfast tea and has branched out into these lovelies:

-The Blend Collection: Extra Strong, Blend of both (with refreshing Green Tea) and Kenyan Gold (‘only the best leaves’ from ‘the finest tea estates around Mount Kenya and The Great Rift Valley region’ Ooo fancy!)

-Green Teas: With Raspberry and Pomegranate (leaves you ‘feeling a bit super and fruity’, when was the last time you felt a bit fruity?) With Peach and Apricot (mmm ‘a delicious taste of summer’!) With Mango and Passion Fruit (gives you ‘that tropical feeling’. You can feel fruity or tropical, its up to you.) With Apple and Blackcurrant (to ‘get the taste buds tingling’, I say!)

-SUPER Green Teas: Berry Burst, Tropical, Lemon and Honey and Lime. I bet they all make you feel fruity AND tropical!

Whatever brand you like and whatever flavor you are looking for, don’t worry, its out there somewhere, if its not, why not contact your favorite tea-makers and suggest it to them? Either way, it definitely pays to check the websites because there is a chance your favorite brand is making the perfect tea for you and you don’t even know it was there!

Why Do We Love Tea?

Winston Churchill said “tea is more important than ammunition” and with 52% of Brits loving tea more than any other hot drink, why do we love tea so much?

Varie-tea: There are so many different types of tea for any tastes, sweet, plain, strong or weak, if you want it, there is a tea somewhere that has it. Ginger bread or caramel apple? Twinings can help you there. Chilli or popcorn? Tea Pigs has some teas you’ll love.

Cruel-tea Free: With Fair Trade teas everywhere it is even easier to give back when you buy a cuppa. That plus the great taste makes drinking tea great.

Tea-riffic: Tea is good for you! Without milk, tea has zero calories and half the caffeine of coffee. Plus because it’s mostly water its hydrating and healthy.

Swee-tea: A lot of fruit teas are sweet and taste great by themselves and by adding just a spoonful of sugar to a plain tea you will get a boost and a lovely sweet taste.

Creativi-tea: There is so much you can do with tea, as shown by this Buzzfeed article on recipes you can make using tea: http://www.buzzfeed.com/danncastle77/18-amazing-treats-for-tealovers-ka8b#.axNjEXD8 and this one on the uses for a used tea bag: http://www.buzzfeed.com/samimain/7-random-uses-for-used-tea-bags-5pfv

So whatever type of tea you love they are all quali-tea which is why our cups are always left emp-tea.

I Know What I Like - The Dryathalon

I know what I like, I like breakfast tea, milk and one sugar maybe a peppermint when I need a pick up ad recently I have tentatively branched out to Vanilla Chai tea because a friend introduced me to it but that is it, I certainly don’t drink alcohol. However, when I heard about the Cancer Research ‘Dryathalon’ a sponsored event that means you have to give up alcohol for the entire month of January, I knew I had to get in on it and give to this worthy cause but I don’t drink so what could I do?

So I pledged to the Dryathalon yesterday, not to give up alcohol but to grudgingly give up my familiar and comfortable breakfast tea and try a new tea every day for a month. I promise to try a different tea every day AND to document it on my twitter and Just Giving page so you can follow my progress. I started yesterday, January 19^th, and since I’m starting late I will go on until February 19^th, not just the end of January. I began with Twinings Lady Grey tea and was off to a shaky start but I will keep it up if you help me, sponsor my pain in just a few easy clicks at

Justgiving.com/TimeForTeaBlog1

and follow my updates on Twitter at @TimeForTeaBlog1.

Wish me luck!

The Perfect Cafe

Smack in between my house and work is a lovely independent café that sells, in my opinion, the best hot chocolate ever, not too sweet, the right amount of froth and with extra chocolate sprinkled on top. Its one of the best cafes I have had the good fortune to visit. The staff are so friendly that I find myself in there chatting to them and buying my favourite hot chocolate regularly. This is the place I recommend to people looking for a light lunch or hot drink with friends and I’ve taken several friends there myself.  Its lovely to find a place that you can share like that but what does a place have to have to be recommend-able?

The question of what makes a café worth recommending will, of course, have different answers for everyone depending on who you are and what you enjoy. Some like a quiet place to escape for some silence and a corner to read a book in. Others prefer somewhere with music where the pace is slightly faster, somewhere they can take their friends. However, some people need a family friendly atmosphere where rowdy children (and possibly pets) won’t annoy the staff!

I think, for cafes (as opposed to pubs or restaurants), I fall firmly into the first category; I love a café I can sit and write in, especially if I’m writing for this blog! As someone who visits a range of cafes regularly I have seen cafes from all the categories and I enjoy them all immensely but as a writer and blogger, the best ones for me are quieter, with a table in the corner where I can see the whole room and write in piece. There are things that recommend-able cafes, no matter what type, have to have so I asked some readers, friends and fellow travellers on the tea journey and here are a few things we came up with:

1) Friendly Staff

Friendly staff are very important, they represent the café to the customer and make up a large part of the first impressions of a place, if the staff are rude or moody then you feel less comfortable being around them and therefore at the café at all. Some café staff are wonderful, going above and beyond to make customers happy and comfortable and help them with anything from finding the loos to changing the menu to suit dietary needs. Those are the ones who will chat you as they serve you, remember you when you come back and maybe even remember your order, these are the staff we love.

2) Variety

A good variety is always good, in food, teas, coffees, cakes and everything else. Most of the time you’ll find one or two things you love and always order those but that has to work for you AND everyone else so a full and varied menu is the way to… more customers.

3) Who’s Catered For

Depending on who you’re taking with you, a business meeting, work mates, a date, friends, family, (pets?) and with dietary requirements (natural or chosen)being so different for everyone. It is hard to please everyone. Being a really fussy vegetarian I know it’s easy to say no to a nice looking place just because you can’t find anything you like.

4) Comfort

The place has to be comfortable, metal chairs with slatted seats and weird curvy frames may be retro and ‘cool’ but they are not nice to sit on for an afternoons relaxing with friends and lunch with family can be uncomfortable enough! A sofa or a comfy arm chair, even a big comfy cushion is better than a bit of wood or metal.

So whatever makes your perfect café, your perfect cup of tea or coffee and your perfect lunch, enjoy them and enjoy the journey!

Mars Bar Cake in Four Easy Steps

Another thing that I’d really love to start doing this year is blogging things other than reviews, my thoughts on brands of tea, my monthly favorites, new cake recipes I love etc etc. So without further ado, the first in my new blog blogs!

Mars Bar Cake in Four Easy Steps

I love to bake and make sweets(especially with chocolate!) almost as much as I love to go out and drink tea so I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite recipes for a quick, no-bake snack! This recipe is the easiest one I know and if you do it right the results are delicious my mars bar cake is famous amongst my friends and yours will be too! The trick is to STAY WITH YOUR MIXTURE! This recipe is also great for kids to make and eat!

You Will Need:

75g rice crispies

75g butter

3 full size Mars Bars

1 large bar of chocolate (I use dairy milk)

And Then You Just…

1) Melt the butter in a saucepan.

2) Cut the mars bars in to 3 or 4 pieces each and add slowly, stirring as you go to melt them in. STAY WITH YOUR MIXTURE! Keep stirring!

When it has completely melted…

3) Take it off the heat and mix in the rice crispies… (carefully, this is messy!) and press the mix into a container, flattening the top.

Finally…

4) Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water and pour it on top.

Put it in the fridge for an hour and voila, Mars Bar Cake in four easy steps!

I really hope you like this recipe, it is a little moreish so I’m sorry if it disappears too quickly but you know, its so easy, you can always make another one!