Our Little Eateries

Whenever a store becomes vacant and another moves in, we always complain that yet another coffee shop or café will be appearing, even though we already have too many as it is. However, secretly, we love exploring the handwritten menus and sampling the homemade treats. And here are my favourites.

The Peppermill, Chorleywood

If anyone asked, “so, tell me Helena, what is your favourite restaurant?” (especially if it was in the posh voice that you just read it in) I would answer The Peppermill without a beat.

We still contemplate how we ever found this little restaurant, but we’re sure glad we did! From proper Italian pizzas, cooked in an authentic oven, to lunchtime ciabattas (and brownies with peanut butter ice cream - I know!), The Peppermill offers it all. Its family-orientated atmosphere and cosy décor make it instantly appealing and anyone who has ever served us has done so with warmth. I’ve loved it so much that it’s hosted two of my previous birthdays, and a family Christmas meal:

If you've ever had a goats cheese & caramelised onion tart, you've never had one like this.

Malteser cheesecake. Need I say more?

http://www.peppermillrestaurant.co.uk

Stratton Bakery

A small-scale chain, with a store open just paces from The Peppermill (lunch here, a walk and shop, then on to the restaurant?), this time-trapped bakery offers an ingenious lunch idea: design your own sandwich. Have you ever trudged into a supermarket, only to find the odd bedraggled sandwich left; too much mayo or veggies wilted enough to plead death with the nearest bin? Here, you select your bread (side note: the best bread you will ever eat is at a bakery - you haven’t tasted granary as fluffy as a pancake until you try here) and the filling, and all presented on china you would find in your Grandma’s cabinet. Plus, their cakes and cookies are fresh and the opposite of scrimping in size:

Don't knock it 'til you try it: egg and tomato, on granary.

A soft-centred white chocolate cookie the size of my head (but with chocolate chips instead of spots)

http://www.kohocoffee.co.uk

Koho Coffee

This was one of those shops I categorised above: new, hipster, got to be mediocre. Well, the cakes certainly aren’t! I have yet to delve into the menu, but everything sounds tempting enough to order at least five courses. But, if you do go, get a wedge of cake – it was so good, I had to slow myself down from inhaling it:

Apple cake: cinnamon-flecked sponge, dotted with raisins and baked apple slices on top, iced with a deliciously thick cream.

http://www.kohocoffee.co.uk

My house

Home to one of the best chefs (e.g. my mum) and her apprentice (…me). If you ever come over for a proper meal, you will be guaranteed a main and dessert all on the house! And, the pud was probably made by my fair hands too.

Honeycomb & vanilla cheesecake. Yes, there are Crunchies in and on it, and yes it was even more delicious than you're imagining.

A birthday cake of chocolate dreams: marbled vanilla and chocolate sponge, with  gooey chocolate ganache pouring everywhere - even better warm!

Can you tell I have a sweet tooth?