@OmSigDAVID,
I did have my old job if I wanted it - but I couldn't find a house nearby and I ended up moving into a village that would have added another fifteen minutes onto a commute that was already close to an hour. What with the petrol prices, etc...I just couldn't see doing it.
So I had found a great house and I was talking to this guy who owned this place about my predicament and he said that I should just buy his place as he was throwing in the towel and I said, 'No, but I'll work for you and help you spruce it up - you could exhibit my photos on your wall' and he said, 'No, but you could buy it and put whatever you want on the wall,' so I said,'I don't know anything about running a restaurant,' and he said, 'It's not rocket science,' so I talked to Justin and he said he'd cook and I'd be the smiley American out front and it'd be a sure fire hit. So I bought it.
Then Justin quit and came back and quit and came back and this point seems to have quit although he still talks about coming back, except that I've hired a wonderful cook named Katrina with whom I work really well and we just talk about stuff like - 'Is there an afterlife?' and why does the media portray Americans so negatively - and isn't it great that Obama won...
(I bet you're none to pleased with that - but - oh yes - I am)
Anyway -it's five minutes from my house and in the midst of a very friendly and supportive village where my family and I are well known from the last time we were here.
Menu:
Breakfast
Traditional English breakfast: choice of eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, and toast (4 items, 6 items, or 8 items)
Ham, eggs, and chips
Scrambled egg with smoked salmon
Bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon
Pancakes
French toast ( my special recipe with vanilla, cinnamon topped with fresh raspberries and choice of cream cheese or maple syrup)
Porridge (served with cream and flavored with nutmeg
Rest of the day....(I close when I feel like it - never before five though)
Soup of the day - today was either corn chowder or jambalaya
Trio of local sausages with mashed potatoes with onion gravy
Spaghetti bolognaise
Cottage pie served with seasonal locally grown vegetables
Hamburger or Chicken burger served with handcut chips and salad
Vegetarian lasagne served with side salad and crusty bread
Greek salad tossed with olives, feta and traditional greek dressing
Black bean and/or chicken fajitas
And then I throw in some American favorites like meat loaf or I might make a vegetable curry or something for specials
Sandwiches - turkey, ham, roast beef, roast chicken, tuna, bacon, brie and cranberry, cheddar and avacado served on white, wheat, wrap, ciabatta or bagel
or a traditional american club sandwich
Lighter bites:
Toasted tea cake, scones, warm french breakd served with butter or olive oil and selection of olives, hand cut chips served with melted cheese, etc.
Desserts - lemon cheese cake, chocolate cake (very moist - not at all dry - remember that at Tavern on the Green?) carrot cake, milk shakes (strawberry, chocolate or banana-these are killer milkshakes - believe me) and/or ice cream with hot fudge, whipped cream and sprinkles, brownies, chocolate chip peanut butter cookies, sour cream pound cake (this is my forte - I do all the baking).
Ambiance: really warm - Justin described it as having a minimalist, sort of Japanese tea room sort of look and feel. The walls are red, the woodwork is cream and the floor is beech wood. The walls are covered in photos matted in white with black frames. Dishes are white - cups are brown, red or white. I have this dessert cabinet that gives it kind of a retro look. I have a nice white chair that you can sit in and read the paper while you drink your coffee. I also have scrabble and backgammon available and sometimes people play. I've put some of my favorite newspapers and periodicals to read.
One woman who comes in quite a lot says she finds it peaceful and soothing.
I have two artists who are eager to display their work and ideally that's what I'd like to encourage it to be - a place where people who have no other outlet can display their creative efforts.
Hope you are well David - talk to you again sometime soon maybe-take care-
Rebecca
