Bel Green Cafe

For the second instalment from our efforts at eating our way through Devon for my regional special piece we have Bel Green Cafe. The lovely Bel Green is situated on Magdalen Road, a leafy quiet street just on the edge of the main centre of Exeter.
This is not a hungover builders cafe pit stop. Okay, so you can go there hungover, (we might have bin, just a bit, ok, a lot. I blame Rachel) but try not to be as it will spoil the doughy sourdough and the freshest, richest sausages i have had in such a long time. Who knew pork could be described as rich? Well they were! But it is not for the days when you are feeling the after affects of too many tequilas. Definitely more suited for brunch with the family or the boyfriend or for a chilled coffee and a book session alone. The poached eggs were cooked to perfection and so were we after sitting in the baking autumn sunshine that flooded through the big windows into this little cafe. I could have spent all morning there drinking tea. It also serves as a vintage shop filled with kitschy household goodies like rolling pins and aprons which suit the cafe's rustic, slightly new england feel. The breakfast menu alone left us spoiled for choice and i believe they serve pizzas in the evenings too.

Best for: fresh, local hearty brunches in a calm setting with post brekkie browsing
Best day: saturday mornings before a walk into town
Bel Green Cafe Twitter
Bel Green Cafe

Holly x

The Royal William Bakery Plymouth

Some photographs from one of our first bakery visits for the blog! We spent about 3 hours in here in total when we visited Plymouthg- thats 3 courses of carby goodness. The minute we stepped off the train at Plymouth it was absolutely chucking it down with cold stormy sea weather and as we battled along the sea front on the marina the most enticing smell of freshly baked dough literally drew us in.
We then sampled fresh baked bread with home made jam- you can slice and toast the bread yourself, then help yourself to heaps of butter from big sharing bowls that are placed on the long wooden tables that you share with other customers (not for the germ-a-phobes or eating-with-strangers-a-phobes!) Afterwards we had pastries and fresh, strong coffee then, after checking it was still raining outside, helped ourselves to freshly made squares of thick, warm doughy pizza with the richest goats cheese (we spied them making them during breakfast in the big open plan kitchen) and a warming bowl of chilli with the most divine ciabattas on the side for dipping.
Everything was completely fresh and help yourselves, and all very trust worthy as you just keep track of what you have helped yourself to and then pay at the end. It was the most homely eating out experience i have ever had and i couldn't think of a better way to spend a stormy sunday afternoon by the seaside.

Best for: fresh, fresh, freshly baked
Best day: stormy cold sundays

Royal William Bakery Plymouth

Holly x

Where Breakfast, Brunch and Bakeries was born

Where else would one come up with such a great idea for a baked goods blog other than whilst sitting in an actual bakery? We were quite literally eating the inspiration the day myself and Rachel decided we should start a blog to share reviews and recipes of bakeries and brunch adventures, as well as our own efforts at baking at home.

We came about the Royal William Bakery whilst in Plymouth on the last leg of a journalism trip that Rachel had agreed to join me on, essentially to be my photography assistant, but, realistically, my eating all the free food in Devon assistant. I had to hunt out the real gems of Exeter and Plymouth for a regional special feature to showcase what the locals love best about their towns. Not surprisingly, nearly all the recommendations i received from locals were food and alcohol based. So we knew we had an indulgent weekend ahead of us. After one of the most delightful brunches on the saturday followed by 2 different and enjoyable bakery trips we decided it was time to keep track of it all.
And why not? Not enough people review breakfast and brunch places- i have spent many hours trawling through trip advisor reviews for cool places to try on a weekend but they're never about the actual food or the venue- always about the long queues or rude staff, cupcakes are papped more than Brangelina yet theres never a recipe to go with or comments on what all that bright pink buttercream icing topped with butterflies, sprinkles, glitter and sparklers REALLY tasted like (its what on the inside that counts remember, and those instagram filters can be oh so flattering).

We could venture into lunches, dinners and bars, but steak doesn't photograph as good as pancakes and lets face it, alliterations are cool. However if we're feeling in the mood for brunch a la USA then expect the odd 11am burger and mac and cheese- or basically anything we can eat with a side of bacon. If we get fed up of the early morning breakfast trips maybe cupcakes and cocktails will be born. However for now enjoy and please feel free to share any of your own recommendations or recipes that we can visit/make and photograph!