Log fires, chutney and Happy Anniversary!

Winter is here...and we love it!
There's nothing lovelier than coming into the cafe at 8-30am and lighting the log burner; the small of the woodsmoke and freshly ground coffee and the  comforting crackle of the logs burning is a great accompaniment to the daily chore of early morning scone and meringue making, and that's before the real prep for lunch starts!
The first Secret Supper Club was a resounding success and so we've planned the next for Friday November 23rd. We will be creating a feast of Indian food and the menu will be posted here for you as soon as we've created it...! Again, the price will be £25 per head for three courses and a free cold drink and/or hot drink, plus you get to bring your own wine and there's no corkage fee. There will be a choice of three dishes for mains and pudding and a selection of starters to which you may help yourselves.
Our three apprentices are now well into their stride and doing really well. Toby is astounding us with all that he's learning during his one day a week at college; he has now begun to help with food prep and has even worked a couple of shifts as commis chef! Becca is getting to grips with the front of house requirements and has regular targets to meet and the lovely Amy - our precious manager is taking on even more responsibility - which is freeing Lisa and me up to have an entire admin day- we can plan menus, training schedules and even spend some time planning our book...more about that another time, but it is happening slowly but surely - we have begun to write our story (interspersed with recipes, of course). We have our title but can't decide which way round it should read:

The Afghan Princess and the Fishmonger's Daughter
or
The Fishmonger's Daughter and the Afghan Princess

what do you think....?

This 'photo is of Lisa and a ghostly Ollie during lunch service - sometimes Ollie is only half with us...

and this is Lisa - post coffee!

Meanwhile we are cashing in on seasonal, reasonably priced veg for our supplier - John Skewes, and so Orange, Apricot, Carrot and Vanilla Chutney is on the stove at the moment. If it works - it will be on sale at Peppercorn form the end of the week. Pop in and buy some - it'll make fabulous Christmas gifts along with our bags of Peppercorn Kisses!!
Finally - today is the two year anniversary of Peppercorn Kitchen Cafe - happy birthday to us- and many happy returns!