Out of Town: Naughty & Nice, Bakewell

Ok, I know, it's supposed to be The Great Sheffield Coffee Hunt, but I hope you'll forgive this slight indulgence because this place is worth a mention, and anybody who's anybody in Sheffield must visit Bakewell from time to time.  Plus the fact that I defaced their chalk-board in the bathroom to plug this blog and a promise of a positive review..... A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do...

We had been here once before, but had sort of forgotten that it was this particular venue, though on that occasion we definitely enjoyed our meal and coffee.  The reason for the visit today was a motorbike ride out into the Peaks with the promise of a nice brunch the other side for a friend of ours.

The weather was fair, but a bit too chilly for us to sit in the courtyard (after a windy ride out), so we went upstairs into the lounge.  As we arrived, there was a large party using all of the 'normal' height tables, so we just sat on the sofas to start with, the idea at this point being to grab a coffee and maybe move on for food.  Maybe we're getting old, but I just find it incredibly awkward to eat on sofas with low tables.  A vanilla latte for our friend, a caramel latte for me, and a double espresso for Nicky.  We're so predictable that way.  All went down very easily, and very enjoyable they were too.

I began browsing their food menu, and was extremely tempted by their pancakes (creature of habit), as I'd missed my favourite treat this weekend.  Other things caught my eye, too, with the time approaching 12pm; jacket potatoes (yey! Gluten free options), soup, and some very nice sounding sandwiches.  The large party departed, the tables were cleaned down, and I persuaded my companions to stay for lunch as well.  The perspexy chairs were really comfortable, and something we'll consider for our next house, I think...

They opted for their special ciabatta (brie, bacon and caramelised onion chutney), and advertising of gluten free options in their menu caught my eye.  I was informed that they had loads of gluten free bread, so I was sold.  A tuna melt with sweet chilli sauce on gluten free brown bread was swiftly ordered, and after a short time the waitress even came back to ask if I was coeliac because their salad dressing contained gluten.  This really impressed me, even as 'only' a gluten/wheat intolerant type, so I can heartily recommend Naughty & Nice for not only their consideration and vast menu choices, but also for actually knowing all of the ingredients that they use and understanding the needs of sufferers of coeliac disease.

We had another round of drinks, which again disappeared very quickly, and sat and chatted for quite some time.  Some more bikers arrived, the beauty of Bakewell I suppose, and that reinforced that we had found somewhere that was welcoming for all.

I only wish I had enough room for dessert, as the massive range of cake (including gluten free), meringue, chocolate and ice cream sundaes was extremely tempting.  Maybe next time for the Hot Chocolate Soup...  definitely our first stop next time we're in Bakewell...

A Quick stop @Barretts235

I wanted to visit Urban Pantry Deli in Crookes over the weekend to see what little treats they had on offer (Our Cow Molly Ice Cream and Teoni's cookies amongst the goodies we brought home), and whilst inside noticed flyers for @Barretts235.  Reasoning that its name suggested it was extremely close, I suggested that we nip up and have a little look.

We weren't set on having a cup of coffee at that point in time, but we were drawn in by the atmosphere and the general look of the place.  Its open, big windows, with lots of high seating looking out made Nicky rather happy.  They advertised free Wi-Fi, good food, good cakes and good coffee.  All things we rather enjoy.

We were greeted with a smile, and had a look over their reasonably priced menu.  There were plenty of specials on offer all over the place, and gluten free cake options too (though having already had that ginger crunch in the day we decided to be good...).  A latte for me, a double espresso for him, and the crema was served to his satisfaction.

We were clad in our bike gear, full armour and all, and never felt out of place.  This coffee shop was extremely relaxed and we felt like it was the sort of place we could spend an afternoon quite easily; just what we're looking for.  Their menu had loads of tasty options on it as well, which we are looking forward to trying.

Coffee wise, maybe not the best we have had in the city, but far from the worst.  They're also local supporters, with the cakes homemade by Sweet.  Definitely one worth a visit, and worth the little detour out of town.  If only we had more time (and room in our bellies) on this occasion!

Lunch at The (new) Forum

We'd decided to give Coffee Revolution, part of the Sheffield University Students' Union, a go as it has had excellent reviews for its coffee.  We walked out very quickly though, as there was a band warming up an hour before their gig start time, and it was pretty noisy.  Didn't see anything to eat other than sandwiches either - maybe we'll return one evening.

So we ventured down the road into the city centre in search of some food.  It's been a while since I last went to The Forum on Division Street.  When last we visited, it was more of a cafe/bar, though now I'll opt to call it a coffee shop/cafe/bar.  For me, 'cafe' has distinctly foody overtones, whilst the new look Forum is definitely pushing their coffee.

Since the demise of the nearby Starbucks, one assumes they are attempting to draw in the morning crowd, now that they open from 8am with a breakfast menu, and there is a new coffee bar area.  We decided to give it a try, fancying a different lunch for the day.

They're keen to push their new menus as well, including a "Fitness and Fasting" menu, with sub-200kcal options for those on the 5:2 diet.  I personally find this fad to be the same as all those other silly diets, and I couldn't fathom being able to deliver cancer treatment on only 500 calories a day, let alone engage in any activities that could be classed as "fitness", so we discarded that one.

Their main menu has a mixture of sandwiches, main meals, lighter bites and breakfast options for the appropriate time of day.  There's codes for gluten free (G) and vegetarian (V), but I have to ask why they really bother advertising doing anything gluten free when all that is on offer is a soup, chicken wings and salmon and sweet potato cakes.  Bit more variety, guys?

That said, the sweet potato cakes were very nice.  The atmosphere is much the same as it always has been; a bit of everything.  Families, early drinkers, people out for an afternoon meal.  Not too many just sitting to enjoy a cup of coffee.  Nicky's double espresso was missing half of itself, and he was charged for the full drink, which was swiftly sorted.  The crema on top was also lacking in colour and consistency, missing the smooth 'dark honey' shade that it should have, and as a result it tasted burnt.  My caramel latte was actually rather nice, though, and the milk was very smooth, so well done on that score.

As before then, we enjoyed the food, service was ok (why place my glass of tap water on the other side of the table?), but as a coffee shop?  Well, after lunch we went to Tamper for a good cup with a slice of their ginger crunch...

tamper:coffee, straight from New Zealand

I'm one of those annoying people who scours the Internet for information before trying a place. We're cycling around Flanders in July, and part of my preparation will include googling good coffee in the local towns and cities. So it's no surprise that I found Tamper online first of all, searching for coffee in Sheffield, though we seldom go into the centre itself these days. I found myself particularly drawn to their history and general ethos; Jonathan came from New Zealand and set up shop here to give us a taste of the quality independent coffee shops of his homeland. Sometimes I think my other half quite fancies the idea himself, though in place of Kiwi Brunch we'd opt for South African cuisine.

We first tried Tamper on a Saturday morning, hoping to get there before it was too busy. Having been back since late on a Monday afternoon, I'm not sure a quiet time exists for Tamper, testament to its popularity and quality. So I'll get the downside out of the way; it's not the kind of place I would sit and waste hours reading magazines or messing about on my iPad. But if I want the best coffee Sheffield has to offer, it's top of the list (disclaimer: the blog is young, with plenty more places to try, but if consensus is to be believed this is a safe statement to make).

That morning I went for French toast - my favourite breakfasts involve bacon and maple syrup, so this was a no brainer, and considering I'd spun away 580kcal that morning already I made an exception to my 'no gluten' rule. I asked for no banana, and sure enough it came with no banana! I tried some from Nicky's plate though, feeling like I was missing out because surely it must be nice if Tamper decide so, and my 27.5 year long banana-less world came to an end. Just in time for my new fitness regime.

We sat in the window watching the world go by, but truth me told most of the world popped in for a coffee to stay or to go. In for a penny and all, we then had a delicious chocolate brownie to share.

Coffee wise I went for their favoured flat white, which was lovely. I usually go for ridiculously sweet coffee, and I've come to realise that that's mostly to counter the poor quality bitterness so many places end up serving. So this was syrup free and highly recommended. Nicky went for a long black (two espresso shots, with water on the side to pour as required), and enjoyed it immensely.

Second time round it was lunchtime, and my salami, mozzarella and pesto sandwich went down a treat with one of Jonathan's Iced Coffees - the most coffee tasting one I've had this side of the equator. It's even made with ice cream, which is something I've been searching for since my weeks in sunny Cape Town.
Nicky opted for a ham and cheese sandwich, both of which were served on 'rustic' boards, and enjoyed it with another long black. Worth saying as well that in his eyes, Tamper embodies 'all you need' in a coffee shop. Give it ten years and maybe that South African competition will appear...

Tamper only accept cash as payment, but with the nearby cash point it's not an issue. They use locally sourced products where available (Our Cow Molly milk and ice cream), which is always a bonus.

This place is definitely on our favourites list, and makes the trip into town worth it for a visit alone. They get everything right, including all the small things that so many places overlook. Here I'm including a simple greeting, even when busy, remembering details about orders, and ensuring all ingredients are actually on the menu so no surprises. Service is prompt and with a smile, ensuring customers' return.

A special mention for Caffe Nero, Ecclesall Road

I wouldn't get away with a blog about coffee without mentioning this place. :-)

I've spent plenty of hours here, too. The staff are always welcoming and will remember your order if you're a regular. People tend to shy away from chains, but I would argue that Nero is a step away from the others. Whilst Starbucks and Costa are run as franchises, Nero is all one company with one owner. This means that their standards should be consistent across the brand, though I dare say I've witnessed coffee of a lesser standard than that produced here at shops further afield.

Now let's get something straight, I'm not an espresso aficionado: that honour belongs to my bike mad better half. I appreciate the merits of a coffee with marshmallows and syrup, and all that other stuff that pollutes the pure product. So between the two of us we have all bases covered and it's obvious that the guys and gals here care about how their drinks are made.

Free wifi without any silly time limits is also a plus, and clearly makes this spot a favourite of the MacBook Air owning crowd, as there are plenty of plug sockets dotted around the joint. In fact, I'm using their Internet right now with a caramel frappe latte!

I'm told their regular espresso is nice too, and we never feel rushed sat around. Despite previously citing my love of comfy chairs (of which there are plenty), I find myself often sat on the high tables near the counter for some reason, checking out the latest flyers from local talent.

The only thing for me that lets this place down is their sad lack of gluten free lunch options. I try to stay away from bread for main meals at least (I frequently succumb to their maple pecan pastries or white chocolate raspberry muffins), and really the only thing open to me with that in mind is soup without the bread.

So, if I've had lunch, ill spend a day here happily. But ill probably like to have eaten something substantial first (except at Christmas where the turkey panini is irresistible)!

Ode to Manhattan

This blog was born from the loss of one of my favourite coffee haunts in Sheffield, Manhattan Coffee on Ecclesall Road.  It closed suddenly overnight, though looking back over the past few weeks I could see the warning signs were there.

We first started going to Manhattan a fair way over a year ago, and I remember on my first visit being pleased to find a place that actually served jacket potatoes, being the sort of person who likes to avoid bread.

Manhattan provided comfy chairs, wireless internet, good food and great coffee.  We would spend many hours just sitting there watching the world go by and usually planning our next move on our rare quiet days off.  The odd coffee after work, the even less frequent coffee during my lunch hour (if I took my motorbike), and the regular weekend lunch and coffee or three.

Every Sunday the bikers would arrive and park up outside, and my other half would be eyeing up their machines and their gear.  I'd have a caramel latte, he an americano, and the staff would always remember our order, right down to no onions on my salad, please.

Recently, Manhattan's gained a licence for selling alcohol during certain hours but it seems this wasn't enough to save it.  After discovering their rooibos tea, they sold out a bit later and never restocked.  The menus disappeared off the tables, and then one day we drove past the owner loading paintings into a van.  Thinking it was just time for a redecoration, we drove on, but later realised it was the end of our favourite coffee shop.

And so our hunt begins, for somewhere else we can spend our days and our money, relaxing in Sheffield, whether we be wearing bike leathers or cycling lycra.  Does another place exist for this radiotherapist and barista?