Local, local, local!!!

Our fledgling outside catering business, based in Totnes has been focused from the outset on using local Devon suppliers and being true to our tagline ‘Conscious Catering’. The Kitchen Table has been up and running now for more than half a year! Unbelievable! We’ve spent that time learning, meeting, eating, cooking, learning some more and really getting to grips with the business. I think Hannah, myself and KT (as we affectionately refer to our little business) are trully becoming bosom buddies! We have several repeat clients and a growing and diverse client base. It’s so pleasing to meet new people, plan their business and community meetings, public and private events, celebrations, weddings and family festivities with them and to come up with menu’s which sing the praises of our local growers and producers in tune with the seasons.

This last month has seen us hosting our very first (of many!) Kitchen Table conversation cafe’s hosted by Embercombe which was a rip-roaring success and we’re so excited to be planning the next one already for July – watch this space to find out who will be hosting the summer conversation!

It’s also seen us involved in organising a coffee festival in Totnes, to celebrate the towns independent cafe’s and send a clear message to any conglomerates, that we’re doing just fine thank you!! This festival is a joyous celebration of our diverse and ungentrified high street (as well as an opportunity to drink a lot of coffee!). Hannah rocked the airwaves today, talking on Totnes FM about the message behind the festival and she’s played a key role in organising the exciting barrista competition being held in the Civic Square Sunday 20th May.

In addition, this rainy spring has seen The Kitchen Table doing a trialCannellini, local purple sprouting broccoli and black olive salad run of supplying Sacks Too on the Plains with healthy, affordable and delicious lunch options.. each week we’ve made a scrumptious quiche, sumptious salad and sensational dip and veg sticks! They’ve been selling well and I’m excited that people have something healthy and creative for lunch – because though we all love a pasty, it’s nice to treat our bodies sometimes too.

So, I’m really enjoying this season of collaboration, mutual benefit and support. We’re in the process of putting a suppliers page together so you can see some of the wonderful people, projects and businesses that supply us to use their delicious produce in our cooking.

If you want a sample of our food, why not pop into Sacks Too Wed-Fri this Wild garlic, nettle and Sharpham brie quicheweek and try a wild garlic, nettle and Sharpham brie quiche, a cannellini bean, purple sprouting broccoli (grown just outside Totnes) and black olive salad or a mildly spiced carrot and red lentil dip with carrot sticks?

Also, next month we’ll be at The Dartington Food Fair, so come say hi?!

Celebrate great independent coffee in Totnes

Totnes Independent Coffee Festival

Totnes has a thriving locally owned high street which attracts tourists and local shoppers alike who come to appreciate the variety and unique quality that independent shops provide. Allowing Costa Coffee to set up shop here will only fuel the sad decline from vibrant independence to yet another generic British high street. Instead of accepting this as inevitable we wish to highlight the quality and variety of coffee providers we have here in Totnes. We have a wealth of small local businesses who benefit the local community, economy and people directly. By supporting these businesses instead of large national or multi-national stores we ensure that the wealth stays locally and works for our community.

The Totnes Independent Coffee Festival starts this Saturday. Check out the following cafes and restaurants for their unique coffee related promotions during the two weeks. You have a chance to win some fantastic prizes in our prize draw. To enter simply fill in the card provided with your coffee rating the customer service and coffee quality. You can also sign the petition against Costa Coffee coming into Totnes.

Join us on May 20th in the Civic Square for the first Totnes Barista competition with our panel of expert judge from Coffee West, Owens Coffee, and Base Coffee. We will be providing demonstrations on the art of coffee making, live music and of course, samples of delicious freshly ground coffee. The Barista competition is kindly sponsored by Owens Coffee of Modbury.

Participating venues -

MANSION CAFE
RUMOUR WINE BAR
LA FOURCHETTE BRASSERIE
DEVERES
ANNE OF CLEAVES
TANGERINE TREE
WOODS
GREEN CAFE
BRIOCHE
BARREL HOUSE
BISTRO 67
WILD FIG
LOAFERS
FAT LEMONS
OLSEN CAFE
OLD BAKERY AND COFFEE SHOP
MAISIES
CRANKS
STAVERTON BRIDGE NURSERY CAFE
THE WHITE HART INN
ROUND HOUSE CAFÉ
CHINA BLUE
RIVERFORD
ROYAL SEVEN STARS
WATERSIDE BISTRO
NEW WALK