Chocolate Alchemy, Loughborough

Tucked away in a quaint little alleyway in Loughborough is a very special little chocolate shop that serves very tasty coffee as well as a whole array of hand-made chocolates.
They also offer chocolate-making courses as well.
I had an Americano, which does not quite fit the bill for this blog, but thought I would give them a mention as the whole experience is one worth passing on.
The smell as you walk in the shop is enough to satisfy the chocolate fix on its own, before you start to taste anything. They offer a smooth sipping chocolate which comes in a small expresso-style cup, and it is the smoothest, sweetest, creamiest.....etc., etc.
I complimented my Americano with a hazelnut and praline tart, of which I did take a picture. It was too good to share. Apologies to my wife who had to miss out, although she was enjoying the sipping chocolate!

Fat Birds Cafe, Royal Leamington Spa

During a recent few days away with my wife, we dropped into Royal Leamington Spa for a little walk around, taking in the charity shops and coffee shops.
We could not resist looking in on this one, with a name like that.
A good choice it was too...
Very pleasant surroundings, very friendly service, and a cappuccino that ranks right up there with the best.

Coffee Fix, Gatley, near Cheadle

Prompted by a friend, and at cost of treating him to coffee and lunch (with another tagger-along!), I was introduced to a delightful little coffee shop in Gatley, near Cheadle.
And a very good prompt it was too. Small, but extremely welcoming, in the lovely village of Gatley, Coffee Fix was a pure pleasure to visit.
The menu was simple but accommodating, and the special for the day (lamb and pearl barley stew) proved to be the favoured choice for all three of us. And a good choice it was! Very tasty!
Coming to the coffee, there were a couple of special brands on offer (not something you see that often), consisting of Ethiopian and Indian options.
I started with a large cappuccino, in order to satisfy the requirements of this blog, but could not resist the urge to try and Indian coffee, as I have not had one before.
The cappuccino was presented with perfect froth (but no chocolate!) and was a good size (another bug-bear of mine, when they are too small). Then came the taste....This has to rate as one of the best cappuccinos I have ever tasted. Probably just in second place (see elsewhere on this blog), but right up there. Smooth as velvet, yet strong enough to be a proper cappuccino, with a hint of something special that just sets it apart from the run-of-the-mill. A very nice surprise, and one that will ensure I go back in the not too distant future.
Having tried the frothy one, I went for a second coffee fix in the form of the Indian special which, as two of us ordered it, came served in a jug (see picture). Sweet enough to almost not need sugar, it was rather different in taste to anything else I have tasted, coffee-wise, and was a rather interesting experience, in the best possible way. I considered my coffee experience widened, and enhanced.
Now I can't wait to go back, partly for the food, especially for the cappuccino, and also to see what special coffee offerings they have available to sample. Top little shop, and well, well worth a visit. Must allow time to look round the other shops too next time.
To visit their website, please CLICK HERE

Tags: Coffee Fix, Gatley, Cheadle, Stockport, coffee

Cafe L'Etage, Bury

Not the easiest to spot, this little gem of a cafe in bury, Lancashire (home of the famous black pudding stall!).
The name, L'etage, is a French expression, meaning "upstairs" (or possibly downstairs, depending on the context). In this case, it is most definitely "upstairs", as the cafe is accessed through a door on The Rock, which leads immediately to a staircase taking you to two levels of very tastefully decorated seating areas, in kind of slightly retro/homely style.
The menu offers a good range of options, suiting a variety of tastes, with a few little surprises. When I first visited the cafe, I was rather taken with the Crepes section, and have not managed to veer away from it since, as the crepes are so delicious. The latest visit revealed a new option of crepe, with a chicken, bacon and mushroom filling, in a creamy sauce. It had to be sampled, and was a right choice. 
The cafe serves freshly ground coffee, and does not disappoint in the slightest. I generally stick to a cappuccino (hence this blog's title), and am lost in cappuccino heaven at L'Etage.
Good froth, nice sprinkling of chocolate, and just the right strength of coffee below.
With regards to service, David runs a spotless, welcoming and quality establishment, the girls are always extremely polite and friendly, and the overall experience is one that leaves you wanting to return at every opportunity.
There are other cafes in Bury, and some that serve lovely coffee, but for a cosy, relaxed and pleasant lunchtime or afternoon tea visit, this one certainly would take some beating.

To find them on Facebook, click HERE

Frankie & Benny Cappuccino

Went for a sneaky tea at our local Frankie & Benny restaurant with my good lady recently and, despite running out of time, couldn't resist having a quick cappuccino fix.
The froth was legendary, as you can see from the photo....made me want to minimise myself and go running in it.
One of my little issues with cappuccinos on offer at many establishments is that they are almost no different to the lattes, just served in a different shaped cup, and with a sprinkle of chocolate on top. This could not be said of the F&B cappuccino.
As we all know, a cappuccino should be noticeably stronger than a latte, and this one certainly fitted the bill. Not bitter in the slightest, but rich enough, and strong enough to let you know you were being hit with a definite coffee fix. A great after-dinner coffee.
After being introduced to Calzone for the first time (Chicago Grinder!), and enjoying it very much, the almost perfect cappuccino rounded the meal off nicely.

Tags: Rochdale, Frankie & Benny, Calzone, Cappuccino

Coffee House, Horse Carrs, Rochdale

A new coffee shop opened recently in Horse Carrs, Shawclough Road, Rochdale, OL12 6LG.
Based in a lovely old house, the counter is in the hallway, at the foot of a grand staircase, and the seating areas occupy two of the rooms leading off the hallway, which are very tastefully decorated in period-style colours, with log-burning stoves (great for wintery days).
The menu is simple, but the quality excellent, and certain of the ingredients, and the cakes (!) are provided by Slattery's of Whitefield, so the quality is without question.
I went for the curried vegetable soup, which was exactly as imagined. Just the right consistency and not too spicy, just enough to tickle the taste buds at lunchtime on a sunny autumn day. The coronation chicken sandwich was very nicely presented and tasted terrific.
I had to try the cappuccino, as this is the subject of this blog, and I was not disappointed. Very nice looking froth, with a good texture, covering a very tasty coffee with a good strength.
Sat in the window, looking out at the trees, leaves nicely turning to their Autumn hues, it was all in all, a good lunchtime! 

Tags: Rochdale coffee, cappuccino, Horse Carrs, Open Door Church, Slattery, 

Pizza Express - What a great coffee!

I have recently been frequenting a local Pizza Express as part of a promotion for a business which I have become involved with to make a bit of extra income.
The pizzas are amazing, the raspberry sorbet delightful, and the cappuccino awesome.
The taste is one of the nicest coffees I have ever tasted, the froth is perfect with a generous amount of chocolate sprinkled on top, and even the saucer is pretty cool!
There is only one complaint, and this was echoed by my three guests who also partook of the same drink, that it is too small! A slightly larger cup would have made it the perfect cappuccino.

Tags: coffee beans, ground coffee, extra income, home business, perfect cappuccino

Beans coffee shop in Oundle, Northamptonshire

During a recent stay with friends in Northamptonshire, we were treated to a little trip to Oundle, a very lovely small town which plays host to a boarding school.
We so enjoyed the town, with it's beautiful old buildings, and great selection of small shops. 
Having been to nearby Olney a couple of days before, and enjoyed an Americano coffee in the Beans coffee shop there, it seemed right to sample the cappuccino in the Beans coffee shop in Oundle.
It was a good choice. Great taste, nice and hot, just enough froth, and perfect texture, as you can see from the photos.
It has to be one of the most picturesque locations for a coffee shop, and to sit in the window enjoying the sun, while partaking of my favourite drink, was a very pleasant experience. I would definitely repeat it if I pass that way again (on a sunny day!).

Bella Vista - Wedding reception coffee

On Saturday, I was shooting the wedding photographs for Toni & Stephen at the Bella Vista Italian Restaurant in Milnrow, Rochdale.
I have been there a few times to photograph weddings, and normally partake of a coffee whilst there.
This time, however, I happened to notice that every guest at the wedding, when coffee was served at the end of the wedding breakfast, received a rather splendid frothy coffee. No mean feat, considering there were around 80 guests. The waitresses ran a cracking little production line of trayfuls of cups, each with a coffee shot in, being topped up from a large jug of freshly foamed milk, then whisked out to serve to the tables. Very impressive!
The coffee was smooth, tasty, with a typically Italian-style blend.
As a wedding venue, the Bella Vista is one of the best around, with lovely places to take photos, and stunning views across the Pennines and surrounding hills. For me, as a wedding photographer, it is a local venue (5 minutes drive from my house), and one of my favourites for photo locations. To reinforce this, it is also where my son held his wedding reception a couple of years ago.
The food is always excellent, service very thorough and efficient and, bearing in mind the purpose of this post, it is probably worth calling in just for a cappuccino!
To have a look at some of my photogrpaphy work, please have a look at my photography blog, Facebook page, or website. 
Thanks for reading!

 

Tags: Manchester Oldham, Milnrow rochdale wedding photographer

Tasty Illy coffee at Macaroon in Bamford, Rochdale

Passing by the row of shops going into Bamford this morning I happened to notice a little coffee shop selling Illy coffee. Not being able to resist one of the tastiest coffee blends I know, I was duly tempted, and succumbed to the coffee urge.
The Illy cups are a little on the small side, compared to another cafe I know which has chosen to retain its own, larger cups, which are (in my opinion) much better suited to enjoying a reasonable sized cuppa.
However, coming back to the cappuccino in question, I have to say that it was an almost perfect cup of coffee with good strength, smooth foam and a generous sprinkling of chocolate powder on the top.
It still amazes me that some coffee shops still ask if you want chocolate on your cappuccino.....it wouldn't be a proper cappuccino without chocolate powder on top, would it?
All credit to Alison for a lovely little coffee shop, with a nice menu, and some lovely looking cakes (maybe some other time...).

Tags: Howard Wilkinson photography rochdale Manchester Oldham wedding photography

Feel Good Cafe now serving Illy Coffee

A little update to the post about the Feel Good Cafe in Rochdale. Click on the link to go to their Facebook page.
They are now serving Illy coffee. 
Not that I would complain about their previous coffee, but the Illy blend is rather nice.
Here's a quick pic of an Illy cappuccino.

Tags: Illy coffee, cafe in rochdale, Feel Good Cafe, cappuccino, frothy coffee.

Feel Good Cafe, Rochdale

Only open for four weeks, we were introduced to this new little cafe in Rochdale today. Opened in conjunction with Rochdale Town Centre Management, it is a great addition to the town.
It is not the most conspicuous place to find, being above the 25 Ten Boutique on the corner of Yorkshire Street and Cheetham Street, but is worth the search. Decor is fresh, bright and airy, and the first-floor windows along one full side give an open view over Yorkshire Street.
Prices are extremely reasonable, the loyalty card gives a free drink after 6 stamps, and the food is very nice.
For those to whom this matters, the hygiene is to an extremely high standard.
There are also some small alcoves within the cafe that are going to be used to allow local crafts/artists to display their work, which will further add to the charm of the place.
Overall, much to be recommended, go and check them out.
On the main subject, the cappuccino is right up there, good froth, reasonable strength, and they obviously use a nice brand of coffee as the taste is just right.

Coffee in Sweden

I was in Sweden last week, unfortunately for a family funeral. However, we did find some time to go exploring and sampling the local towns, sights and......coffee shops.
It took a while to find a decent coffee over there, but eventually we came across a lovely little coffee shop in a city called Lund.
At last, a decent cappuccino in Sweden.

The location was ace for people-watching too.

Organic House Cafe, Hebden Bridge

Last weekend saw me and my good lady passing a few hours in Hebden Bridge, a great little place for charity shops, craft shops and, of course, coffee shops.
Having been there on New Year's Day and finding only one cafe open in the place (an excellent business  decision, it was packed), which led us to find a new gem of a place, we returned this weekend to savour the delights of the Organic House Cafe.
I chose the Rarebit with two toppings, roasted vegetables and bacon. An excellent choice...The slab of toasted wholemeal bread with an excellent rarebit mix on top, together with the roasted carrots, sweet potatoes and other veg, plus a slice or two of bacon, was just the job for a light bite.
With regards to the cappuccino, I have to admit that I have never been served a cappuccino that looked like this one. Just look at the pictures below.

Barista Cafe Bar, Bury

We had the pleasure of having lunch with friends yesterday at the exceptional Barista Cafe Bar in Bury, Lancs.
Apart from the fact that the two people we shared lunch with are two very special people, and very dear friends, the big pleasure was the quality of the food, service, and overall experience of the interestingly placed cafe bar in the middle of the pedestrianised area of The Rock, Bury.
The cafe is based in a glass building in the middle of an open area, so it is perfect for those into people-watching, which just adds to the charm of the place.
The menu is mainly sandwiches and ciabattas and salads, with a very interesting array of fillings (not the usual plain and simple ones).
My steak and caramelised red onion ciabatta with chunky chips was very tasty, and well presented with a side salad. The others' meals were equally well presented and very much enjoyed.
The cappuccino arrived and made an excellent immediate impression, just look at the foam below. Taste and strength were just right and, as is usual when a coffee is so good, just left me wanting another...

Peace, Love and Cake - Royton

Not only do they have one of the best names for a coffee shop, they serve one of the best cappuccinos too.
Good size, great taste, just the right strength (for me!) and good spattering of chocolate powder.
I would mention their club sandwich too, at risk of repeating myself, and couldn't even think of mentioning their waffles and ice cream...

Keep it Local - Coffee Options in Rochdale

It's great when your local town centre has a selection of great little coffee shops to drop in on, although it does make the decision harder when there are a few to choose from, as I don't like to show any favouritism.
I therefore try to mix it up, partly for variety, and partly to support as many of the local businesses as I can.
Right in the centre of the Town Square Shopping Centre is a friendly little cafe called Coffee Options. It is right in the heart of the shopping centre and next to the market, so gets a good circulation of passing trade.
They serve a nice selection of cakes, snacks and even ice cream (no longer governed by season, apparently, just a favourite with the children at any time of year). A young boy was just collecting a tub of blue ice cream in front of me in the queue.
They also serve a very nice cappuccino. Perfect strength, nice size (the large one), good amount and consistency of froth and, most of all, taste very much to my liking.
This is a cafe I will definitely be calling in at on a regular basis.