CAFE No.178

Last weekend was jam packed but somehow I managed to have a lovely long brunch with some of my friends from Borough Belles. A couple of them had never ventured to New Cross before so taking them to Cafe No.178. It's been open a while now and is somewhere that has caught my eye.

I managed to reserve a table for us during the week. I don't usually reserve tables, but on this occasion there was going to be 5 of us, so it seemed sensible. Luke, at No178, was quick in replying and very helpful.

I'd like to tell you a bit about No.178 before I tell you of my experience when I went there. 

Cafe No.178 is part of, and run by the Toucan Employment, which is a charity based in the Lewisham, Southwark, Brent & Peckham areas. The charity’s aims is to help people with learning disabilities secure work and employment opportunities in London. Half of Cafe No.178 employees have learning disabilities. But with Toucan employment's hospitality program, they are taught to create menus, cook food, wait tables etc. and prep them for further employment possibilities.

“A social enterprise cafe-bar serving large helpings of fantastic 

food, local beers, top coffee and social good”

They are set up so that the proceeds made at the Cafe get put back into the charity in different forms. Firstly they have an veg plot based in Honor Oak, that some of the food that is grown there is used in the cafe. Soup also made in the cafe No.178 kitchen is sold on their soup stall, which is based outside the New Cross Post office & also employs adults with learning disabilities. 

The Trust also uses the funds for their community garden and other projects in the area. Including working with Grow Wild, an organisation that teaches nutrition around New Cross. They have a garden up on Telegraph Hill and run a class called “Chop and Chat”, which is a communal cooking session that they have on Mondays at No.178. 

So as you can tell this place is doing good things and is an important part of the community. Knowing this when I arrived I wanted to like Cafe No.178, as was already impressed at their aim and addition to the New Cross community.

I arrived at the cafe 10 mins late, the cafe was already busy and the girls behind the counter seemed run off their feet. After being shown the table, the Belles arrived and after a brief catch up we ordered some food. 

The cafe itself has a great relaxed atmosphere. I loved the decor and the fact that there are board games & books for customers to use. It gives you the impression they want you to stay and not rush. There is plenty of space between tables which is a refreshing change to ramming in as many tables as you can fit in, which you find in so many places these days. Which I have to say stresses me out. 

Not only is it a cafe in the day but also has things happening in the evenings and also has a license too. Quiz nights on Wednesdays, live music and dancing on other evenings and they're even hosting a valentine's night this Friday.

On the cafe side of things I was really impressed with the food I ate and the coffee was delicious. But don't go there in a rush, food arrives when it's ready, as do your drinks. Service may sometimes seem slow, but bear with them. The girls were incredibly thankful for our patience and apologised for the chaos that seemed to surround them.

I went for the Shakshuka – Eggs poached in a spiced Tomato sauce with Pitta and Feta £5.75. Luke informed be that 'Shakshuka' spelling varies as does the country of origin but definitely from the Middle East. Have to say it was delicious and incredibly comforting for a cold raining weekend. The light kick of the spices sorted out the mild hangover I had too ;)

Ellie and Amy couldn't resist and both opted for the pancakes and bacon. They both deemed it tasty and delicious. American Breakfast – pancakes, bacon & maple syrup £4.00

Muireann went for the veggie brekkie, being veggie n all.

Breakfast pizza, no less! I've never heard of it before, let alone seen it. It baked beans on there and everything!?! Veggie Breakfast Pizza –  Egg, Spinach, Mushrooms & Baked Beans, on a crisp Tortilla base £5.75 

Holly arrived a little later and went for a simple wrap. Not a lot to say here, it was a wrap. Did what it said on the tin, but not very exciting. Alll the same filled the hole. Wensleydale & Chutney (v) £3.50 

Overall I can conclude I will be back and hopefully will manage to check out some of the other events they have going on at No.178. It is a great place with a great vibe and a very welcome addition to the New Cross scene.

No.178

178 New Cross Road 

London SE14 5AA

02079986922

no178newcross@gmail.com

ORANGE POPPY SEED BUNDT CAKE

I made this Bundt last year and forgot to blog about it. So as I've been meaning to do a recipe post for some time I thought I'd tell you about it now.

As I've mentioned on previous posts I am part of the Borough Belles and am in charge of making sure there is something to eat at the meetings, whether it be Jamaican Patties or Oreo Brownies! I'm in charge of drumming up interest and excitement in the other Belles to bake for the odd meeting however sometimes people are unable to make it at the last minute, so it always good for me to have an emergency cake in the freezer to prevent lack of cake!

This cake is perfect for such an occasion. It keeps really well in the freezer and if you get it out the night before, it leaves plenty of time to whip up the icing just before serving.

Funny how my emergency freezer cake is also my emergency blog post too!?

ORANGE POPPY SEED BUNDT CAKE

Ingredients:

• Melted butter, to grease
• 125ml (1/2 cup) fresh orange juice
• 130g (1/2 cup) Greek-style natural yoghurt
• 60g (1/4 cup) poppy seeds
• 250g butter, at room temperature, chopped
• 270g (1 1/4 cups) caster sugar
• 2 tbs finely grated orange rind
• 4 eggs
• 340g (2 1/4 cups) plain flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 orange

For the Icing:

• 150g icing sugar
• Juice & Zest of 1 Orange

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Grease and flour your Bundt tin.

Combine the orange juice, yoghurt and poppy seeds in a small bowl.

Use an electric beater to beat the butter, caster sugar and orange rind in a large bowl until pale and creamy. 

Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition until just combined.

Sift the flour and baking powder over the egg mixture. 

Add the yoghurt mixture and use a large metal spoon to fold until just combined. 

Spoon mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. 
Bake in oven for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. 

Leave to cool for 5 minutes before turning out. 

To make the icing simply beat all the ingredients together until smooth. Then drizzle over the top. Using a proper zester will allow you to get those longer zest stripes that look great on top. Leave for 20minutes to set before serving.

This cake freezes very well (un-iced) and can keep for up to 3-4 days in an air tight container.

BOROUGH MARKET SECRETS FROM THE BOROUGH BELLES

Many of you may know that I am indeed part of the WI. The Borough Belles Women's Institute to precise and in recent months was made joint president. Not only does the Borough Belles give me so much fun and also contact with other like minded women, but it also makes me privy to inside information...

Each year the WI votes on a resolution, this year it is the "High Street SOS"  which you may have already seen in the press with faces such Mary Portus heading the campaign. Our very own President, Lara Clements, also became a face for this campaign by being interviewed on Channel 5 News. Read more about the campaign HERE. We were so proud of her and she'd only been given a few hours notice from WI HQ! Following the interview she headed straight to our August meeting with a talk from David Matchett, the market development manager at the famous Borough Market!

One point that was brought up during Lara's interview and also when discussing the local high street shops and markets, is the fact that it is more expensive than shopping in the big supermarkets! We put this point to David, during the Q&A, after his talk.

David agreed that Borough Market stall holders do not sell the cheapest of produce, but that it is of high quality and each stall holder could tell you where it came from and what day it was picked. Also making the point that it is only in recent years that you can buy chicken everyday due mass production and that when buying meat it would be savoured and only bought one day a week. Society has changed and people now expect & are looking for quantity rather than quality, which is what Borough Market stall holders are selling.

That said, David did inform us of how once a week a few stalls do 'food bargins' & '£1 bowls'. He has very kindly sent the Borough Belles insider info that the girls have allowed me to share with you here on Never Eat Wobbly Jelly!

For ease of location please use this link to locate the traders named below

http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/market-map

Elsey and Bent have 1kg bowls of heritage tomatoes for £1! 
Get the chutney pan on. Gary will see you right here!!

Teds Veg also has a self serve £1 selection with other fruit and veg.

Sillfield Farm Shop  has wedges (up to 250gm)  of creamy lancanshire for £2 each and also big wild boar steaks at 2 for £6 each. Ask for Peter for any porcine advise.

Une Normande a Londres, will have their 5 fromage for £10 deals back  next week, these are selections of cow,  goat, and sheep,  hard, soft, washed rind and blue, and one of the best deals on the market. Uli  will guide you on his selection of cheese and charcuterie

Also if you need to stock up the spice cupboard Mags at Spice Mountain has got a 6pack of basics for £10; Mags also gives discounts for refilling if you bring your own storage jar.

Other £1 Fruit and Veg bowls are on offer from Jock Stark Thursday to Saturday; usually an interesting selection and good quality; and from Paul Crane on Friday and Saturday. Paul Crane is great for buying in bulk, ignore the prices on the flash and buy by the case; he wont refuse any interesting offer.

Game will be coming into full swing and as the harvest approaches the time of plenty should be easier on the pockets.

Do you have any ideas for how we can support our local high streets?

Is there any local business that you think we could feature on the blog and why? 

If you do post me a comment on the NEWJ blog or feel feel to drop the Borough Belles WI a line either via their FACEBOOK PAGE or by email: boroughbelleswi@gmail.com

Borough Belles Best Baker Award

So I'm not sure if you realise but as well as photography, baking, doing this blog, being part of Hither Green's FUSS, I am also part of the Committee for the Borough Belles WI.
A fabulous London Based WI group that meets up once a month to chat, learn something and eat cake!

After going to just one meeting I jumped to join the actual committee the following month at their AGM. As part of the committee I was given the wonderful job of running the monthly cake rota and ensuring that there was cake readily available at each meeting - preferably homemade!

I soon realised that the cake rota needed 'jjjoozed' up and so began THE BEST BAKER award! 

The homemade cakes were loved at each meeting and are usually eaten with enthusiasim and chat full of questions about recipes, tips and new ideas. 

"Why not make a record of the cakes, bakes and homemade makes from each meeting, correlate the cakes with their recipes and have a vote at the end!?"

All the time and effort that goes into each time a member or guest decides to make something should be recognised and recorded! We decided that at the end of it all it would be wonderful to put together a Borough Belle Recipe Zine with all the recipes with comments, tried and tested!

So far we have had some fabulous things made since the BBB Award began. From Turkish Spinach Cake to Brazilian Carrot Cake and Spicy Samosa to Jamaican Patties! 

The reactions we've been getting is fabulous and we were worried that people would keep making the same recipes, but no! It's amazing at the array of recipes people find or know and the ones that have been a families close guarded secret are even more exciting!! 

Anyone is free to enter, we just ask you let us know the recipe used. So the remaining question is... what are you going to make? ;)

For more info click the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/events/132146310262521/

http://boroughbelleswi.wordpress.com/