Out & About Spring 2018

The Tea Cosy Hurstbourne Tarrant T: (01264) 736644

Wednesday to Sunday, 9.30am-5pm www.theteacosyhurstbourne.com I f gigantic – and we mean gargantuan – cakes are your thing, then The Tea Cosy tearoom in Hurstbourne Tarrant can satisfy your appetite. Especially when the cakes come in flavours like chocolate orange, Ferrero Rocher and Walnut Whip. Big Friday Cakes obviously happen on a Friday, and customers make a beeline for the tea rooms, bedecked with bunting, colourful furniture and squashy sofas. Said Jenni: “I started the Tea Cosy because I had young children and wanted a meeting place in the village. At the time there was no pub and I wanted a welcoming place.” The menu is light lunches and afternoon teas – you won’t see chicken nuggets on the children’s menu, but healthier dishes like boiled eggs and soldiers. Adults can indulge in this childhood favourite as well as choosing from a range of sandwiches on good bread, paninis (most popular – brie and bacon), cheese on toast, salads and soup. Said Jenni: ”We do loose leaf teas, teacakes, scones and more and afternoon teas, which vary in price per person, depending on the size of the party. “What we like at The Tea Cosy is we have a lot of generations coming in, from grandparents to mums and dads with their children.”

The Nomad Bakery Prospect Street, Caversham www.nomadbakery.co.uk H ome-made sourdough bread toasted and slathered in butter and home-made jam, a seasonal soup that’s gluten-free and vegan but can have added protein, sandwiches like manchego and chorizo and children’s art trays with veg sticks, hummus and healthy snacking – all these have ensured The Nomad Bakery in Caversham has been buzzing since it opened in November. Run by Laura Gonzalez, who is of Argentinian origin, one of her specialities is Argentine pastries. “It has been my dream for a long time,” said Laura who gave up her job at Vodafone to open the bakery/café. “After roaming around Reading kitchens for almost three years, we had the opportunity of setting up our base in the heart of Caversham and without doubt we dived in. We just wanted to have a place where everyone feels at home and could have real bread (flour, water and salt without any unnecessary additions), yummy treats and homemade eats worry-free because we make our recipes as allergy-friendly as possible.

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