I know I shouldn't keep going on about the weather but this is the third year in a row that we have had a wonderful hot Spring followed by a lack lustre Summer. Ever optimistic I am reaching out for a balmy, sunny August. And with it, lots of interesting salads.
Do you know about our red Oakleaf lettuce which we serve in Garden Cafe and sell in the Store? Hearty and full of flavour, the leaves bring a punch of colour to our salads and customers have remarked on how well the lettuce keeps unlike a lot of the bags of washed mixtures you can buy. The Roquefort, Walnut and Pear Salad and the Sundried Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad we have on the menu at the moment are a great hit with you all. But watch out for those calories when it comes to the dressing you use. Lulled by the feeling that we are being super healthy we often forget how fattening that olive oil can be. Suzanne's Fruity Dressing solve all that because they don't contain oil and are a refreshing change. Choose from Raspberry and Rosemary, Strawberry and Mint or Blackberry, Cardamom and Chilli..you'll love them!
To update you on our Saturday Supper Evenings: we are fully booked on 6TH. AUGUST, but have places on 20TH. AUGUST and 3RD. SEPTEMBER. Thank you all for your glowing reports on Trip Advisor which put us at around 3rd. or 4th. place in the Nottinghamshire Restaurant Listings.
We have been picking fresh strawberries from Wymeswold to create delicious cream teas for you and hope that the crop will last for a couple more weeks. The fruit has been absolutely fantastic this year and the earlier sunshine has brought out the sweetness in the berries. Served with a cuppa in our vintage china in the Cafe you can dream yourself into a different era! We love the delicacy of the bone china and the intricate designs some of which are handpainted. In the Store at the moment we are selling Trios (a cup, saucer and plate) which we have collected. They make brilliant presents for friends and are definitely not available on the High Street! Why not treat yourself to one and have your own Vintage Tea at home? Displayed alongside them are Carol Webb's vintage silk squares. Remember Jacqmar and Richard Allen? Or are you not owning up to that one!
Our new range of Gift Bags have brought a bright and cheerful impact to our Gift area. Flowers, spots, stripes, butterflies. Large, medium and dinky small, these bags are strongly made and will endure well after the initial present giving. We will be getting in more Room Diffusers, soaps and Candles this month so look out for them. The packaging and the scents are a delight. Also on our big table we have a mini sale of end of line items so come and see what we've got.
Following our appeal to you to bring in your unwanted handbags, we have sent two big bin liners to Scunthorpe for dispatch to Eastern Europe. Can those of you who haven't responded yet please scour the back of your wardrobe. I was convinced I hadn't much to give but found that there were five handbags in my cupboard that hadn't seen the light of day for at least three years. So be brave and purge yourself!
See you soon.
Jan
Jan
