The new cafe in Okehampton town - all very Cath Kidson !
Wednesday 1st February 2012. There's not much to commend Okehampton on a freezing cold day in February, with
the wind so bitterly cold in our eyes that for the first time in my whole life, the ugly navy balaclavas in the window
of Oke Leisure at the bottom of the Victorian arcade have a certain bargain appeal. But hey - it's Wednesday,
half day closing, so the chance to cover my face in an unattractive but warm woollen mask is lost.
On our way back
to the car we walk past Toast, the new cafe/shop in Market Street. My pal Pat had recently put in a good word
about the place, so without further ado we fall through the door like eskimos arriving home into their warm igloos.
It's a 50/50 kitchenalia shop/cafe with tables to sit at plus large leather sofas for sprawlers. Colourful, warm and
inviting. We didn't really need to eat, but the carrot cake at the well stocked glass counter looked tasty and sizeable.
Lots on the menu to tempt. 'Deli platters', ciabatta with spicy chorizo, sun dried tomato, chilli and mozzarella,
toasted white, brown, teacakes, muffins (£2) Soup of the day chicken and vegetable with haguette and butter (£4.25)
All manner of coffees, cappucino, american, mocha, latte, espresso, shots of hazelnut, syrup, caramel.
Fruit smoothies, fresh orange juice (£2.25) + (£2.75) A range of teas including gunpowder, lemongrass and ginger.
A chill cabinet stocked with local drinks, Luscombe juices and Otter ales... all good stuff.
Would they mind us taking a coffee each and sharing the cake ? "No, not a bit" said the young
smiley waitress. She doesn't mind that I choose the slice (biggest) either. TOP MARKS to you girlie.
Here in the warm we find a few yummy mummies with toddlers, a pensioner chap nursing a newspaper
crossword, and a large adult family gathering at mezzanine level, arguing the toss about where to find
the best shopping vouchers and how much they would save if they all clubbed together on possible purchasing
sorties. I kid you not ! I was quite tempted to ask if I could become a member of their shopping conglomerate !
Our waitress brings over our coffee and the one piece of cake with 2 plates, 2 napkins, forks and spoons.
Thank you I say. "No problem" is her kind return. Coffees 10/10, Cake 10/10, Service top marks !
Now I know that one piece of cake and one cup of coffee hardly merit the tem 'food review' but it's easy to see that
this outfit which opened shortly before Christmas is set to become one the most popular of bolt holes by Summertime.
It used to be Nero's Nightclub where my own girls spent some of their teenage nights. And it's a large space to fill,
but the decision to make half shop and half cafe is spot on. The shop is full of trendy Cath Kidson type treats and the
cafe is spacious and relaxing. Next time we go to Okehampton, we'll plan a trip at lunchtime to sample more
goodies on offer and this time I will go for lunch. Hopefully the weather will be warmer than Vladivostok by then.
Telephone 01837 54494 Winter opening Tuesday to Saturday 9 to 4.30. Visit the cafe website for more.
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