I first visited Caffeine & Co way back on it’s first day. It was clear within minutes that this venue was so desperately needed locally, that despite not being 100% functional, they were inundated with new customers – young and old.
So, a couple of months later, what’s changed? Is it still going strong? And fully functional, how is the food? Mr GFB and I headed back for a visit on Saturday, blessed by a returning touch of summer.
What’s apparent when you get there is that they are still busy. It’s a Saturday lunch time and the tables both outside and inside are full, families, dogs, couples – waves of people pop in for a takeaway coffee, or to sit down and enjoy a sandwich. People are enjoying the late sunshine, and the smell of coffee and cake whets the appetite.
Bringing our own appetites to bear, while Mr GFB grabbed a table, I ordered. Mr GFB needed a kick of caffeine, so an americano coffee was on the cards with roasted mushrooms on toast, while I opted for a pot of earl grey and an egg and bacon muffin.
Everything here is of such good quality. It’s apparent in the bagels on the counter, and the coffee in your cup – not surprising when you realise that the venue is run in partnership with the Uprising Bakehouse, so the bread and indeed cakes, and bagels are baked with a love for the produce as well as the end result.
Mr GFB’s roasted mushrooms on toast were simple, but delicious. Toasted bread, thick sliced mushrooms, basil, butter and cheese shavings went to create a hearty brunch.
My own muffin worried me a touch when it arrived. Square egg worries me. Understandably I think in a world where oddly shaped egg usually involves the Mc-something.
My worries were ridiculous. The eggs are beaten, mixed with a touch of cream and thyme and baked. I don’t know how, but they still remain creamy, soft and delicious. Add in crisp bacon and a tenderly cooked tomato and you’ve got a great brunch treat that I was genuinely disappointed to finish. I didn’t want it to end. Yet it did.
But we couldn’t leave without cake. And I had spotted a dark rich looking gingerbread atop the counter.
Needless to say, it was even better than I expected – the deep, spicy gingerbread, treacle rich, is something I’m either going to have to obtain the recipe for, or more likely, just camp out in the kitchen and eat it on a regular basis.
Either way, I consider myself a very lucky lady. This coffee shop is on my doorstep and is very community focused. This is exactly what Stretford needs.
Welcome to Longford Park.