| Archive for The Potting Shed A forum to discuss Crafts, Cooking, Gardening, Countryside, Livestock and Pets |
| Kathy |
NewsThe reason for my "busyness!"As most of you know I've been working at the local vegetarian cafe where Greenlady was manager until recently. She has been given the opportunity to run her own cafe at a local therapy centre that has a good client base and a kitchen already in place. We know the people who run the centre and they are thrilled she is taking it on, they have neither the time nor expertise to develop this side of the business. She can run this in conjunction with her herbal practice. Official take over is at the centre's open day on the 29th of November so we are sorting out a cafe menu amongst other things. There will be gluten free, wheat free and vegan options. We already cook like this at home so have lots of recipes already in place. We have already had an enquiry from a group of vegans who would like a Christmas dinner some time in December so this is something else we are looking at. I know vegetarianism isn't everyone's cup of tea but of the people who attend the centre for therapy are quite excited about this venture and the food will be "hearty" enough to suit most tastes. 
Can I ask the meat eaters on the forum, if you were taking veggie friends out for a meal what kind of vegetarian meal would satisfy your taste buds? |
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| Aqui |
sounds exciting kathy!
Approachinhg it from the other side... when i cook for carnivore friends/family they like things like pasta, curries, quiche, soup, pies, some veggie burgers, frittata. I think generally things where you don't really notice the absence of meat. Less popular things are lentil/nut roast (although we love them), meals such as potato, veg and the "meat" alternative. |
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| Libby |
This sounds fun and exciting, well done. You are all so industrious.
Being a meat eater, I personally am game to try most things, I love lentils, pasta, quorn. I'm not keen on Tofu, polenta. K went to a 21st party the other night and it was in a veggie restaurant and she said the menu was very scary! As it had very little anybody understood? I will find out what was on it to give you a clue. |
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| Libby |
They went here http://www.demuths.co.uk/ and if you click on the menu links you can see what they do, they also have a Crimbo menu, apparently they had alot of gluten and wheatfree options. What K and her friends said (most being meat eaters) they where not inspired cos they didn't understand what was being offered. But that the food turned out to be quite nice altho the service was abismal!
Hope this helps 
For everyone else they have some recipies on this website you may like to try! |
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| Lizzie |
That all sounds very exciting Kathy - well done all of you
I had the most delicious vegetable tart tatin the other day - roast onion/courgette/aubergine in the tart and a warm salad with new potatoes and sunblush tomatoes - it was the loveliest thing I've eaten for a long time. |
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| nanny-now and forever |
congratulations kathy
you will soon be a top class restauranteur and have branches all over like "Cranks" i often eat vegetarian out of choice if we go out vegetable lasagne mushroom stroganoff veggie soups are good as long as they have lumps mr nanny likes veggie chili much to my surprise as long as there is a variety, most carnivores will choose vegetarian for a change i think.... |
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| Cabbagepatch |
Oooh, well done Kathy, sounds really exciting
Much as I love tucking into a nice bit of meat there are times when something veggie hits the spot very well. You can't beat a really well cooked jacket potato with leeks and herby cheese or a big bowl of tasty soup and garlic bread! Not very exciting but sometimes the simple things are the best. Good luck with the new venture
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| lloyd |
Tortilla wraps stufed full with grilled peppers onions etc, with creme fraiche and cajun seasoning, grated cheese grilled over the top? | ||
| nanny-now and forever |
sounds nice but i will admit that to me a tortilla tastes a bit like eating a bathmat..... |
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| Kathy |
Funnily enough Lloyd we were talking about doing some sort of wrap, that sounds delicious!
Libby, I had a look at that site and had to ask what a lot of the items were too, fancy names aren't they! I'd never hear of a bonda or a mezze and I think sometimes people are put off by fancy names. It still annoys me that coffee made with milk is now called "latte" in most places. 
This will be a cafe with perhaps a monthly restaurant night. The cafe will have proper thick soup (with lumps) and home made rolls (we'll make all our own bread). The usual toasties but with options beside cheese, such as humous, bean pate, pesto and the like. There'll be a daily "special and chilli will be a regular as it's one of Greenlady's favourites, any more suggestions most welcome.
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| agapanthus |
OOOOOooooooooohhhhhhh how exciting for you all!!!! Personally I eat anything (apart from tripe {{YUK}}), so not really the person to ask....but I do like cheese and it does give veggies a wonderful flavour. Karl reckons the nut cutlet type food is gross....but he likes the textured veggie stuff that makes him think that he's eating meat
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| nanny-now and forever |
a mezze is like antipasti, a plate full of nibbly type things all together...sometimes it is as much as eating the main course although it is supposed to be an appetizer i groan in dispair when we go to have coffee some places as there are so many choices .....i want a cup of coffee, i don't need a full meal......just give me a decent cup of good coffee.... can you tell this is a bit of a bug bear with me
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| Kathy |
Good coffee is a must, I agree Nanny, just plain ordinary coffee! | ||
| lloyd |
I cooked us a mezze the other night, and wondered about doing a post on it but couldn't be bothered. It was a large selection of hot cooked food, together with some chilled foods both raw and cooked, plus some olives, garlic bread cubes, rice, cous cous, etc etc.
I couldn't decide whether it was antipasti, mezze, entrees, hors - doevres, or what to call it, so gave up in the end. It was just a plate of food!!
Onion garlic and potato gratin tonight. Quick to prepare but then five hours in the slow cooker................ |
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| cookie |
Today I made a butternut squash and cranberry roast, yummy.!
Todays soup was spiced lentil and spinach, cheap to make, and very tasty. |
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| Kathy |
Recipe Please! 
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| Lizzie |
Seconded !
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| Libby |
thirded
I like lentils and I like spicy
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| cookie |
Oh dear, I made up the recipe as I went along!
First of all, I peeled a butternut squash, chopped into small dice, then roasted it in the oven with a dribble of olive oil. While its roasting, saute the white of a leek, chopped small, some garlic to your taste, then add some chopped chilli. Drain the squash, add to the leek mixture, add some cooked brown rice, some tinned chickpeas, and some dried cranberries. Mix well, I used egg to bind the mix,but you could use sosmix,(soya based mix from health shop). Turn into a lined loaf tin, and bakefor about half an hour at Gas no 6. Slice when cool, and serve with cranberry sauce. I made some for the Art Centre, and sold out. Happy cooking! |
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| Aqui |
ooh - that's sounds good. very festive. | ||
| Kathy |
Update here!
Due to circumstances beyond Greenlady's control she has decided to "relocate." She has built the business up so the therapy centre will now take it over themselves. I won't go into detail, she got a wee bit ripped off but, is leaving on a good note having learnt some valuable lessons! I'll update when there's "news."
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| Libby |
blimey  isn't that always the way. At least she moves forward knowing she can do it and as you said 'having learnt alot'! Wishing her lots of luck
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| Lizzie |
It's all go with your lot isn't Kathy? Wishing Greenlady the very best of luck in whatever she decides to do... | ||
| Becki |
Good Luck
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| Kathy |
Thanks folks.
Libby, that's exactly what Greenlady said, she knows that she can do it now and her confidence has increased tremendously.
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