Wake up with Wintercomfort brunch

Wintercomfort is a fantastic Cambridge organisation who support men and women who are homeless or vulnerably housed by offering them vital welfare service and opportunities for learning and development. To mark World Homeless Day this Friday 10th October and to raise funds for their vital services, Wintercomfort are encouraging the people of Cambridge to get together for brunch or breakfast. All the details including recipe ideas can be found on their website here.

I held a brunch event for friends this Saturday in advance of the big day. Somehow I squeezed 10 guests into my dining room. Between the cocktails and the Irish black pudding I think we managed to send them home satisfied. Special mention has to go to The Husband for outstanding pudding frying and washing up skills. Running around like a lunatic din't give me much time to take photos, but here are a couple of particularly rubbish ones to give you an idea:

My main thanks are reserved for my lovely guests who took a chance on brunch Chez Aoife, donated their hard earned cash and also contributed to the Toiletries Amnesty, a genius idea from Karen at idontlikepeas.co.uk. It's not too late! Get busy organising an event or come along to the breakfast organised at The Centre at St Pauls on Friday.

Cambridge Favourites: Afternoon Tease

I can't believe that Afternoon Tease has only been open twelve weeks, it's already one of my favourite spots in Cambridge. If you are ever looking for me at 10am on a Sunday morning (I'm not sure why you would be but just in case) it's quite likely you will find me at this cosy spot on King St enjoying a tasty brunch. First things first, the coffee is outstanding. They use beans from local favourite Hot Numbers as well as London based Caravan. I didn't even know what a cortado was until I started coming here. In fact I'm still a bit hazy on the difference between a cortado and an espresso macchiato. Whatever they are, I am addicted to them now, particularly in the fabulous vintage cups they serve them in at Afternoon Tease. I like coffee in a small cup. I'm not sure why, I just do.

The fabulous cortado at Afternoon Tease

I don't work in Cambridge so weekend brunch is about the only chance I get to pop in. The brunch menu changes every week, though thankfully the fantastic crumpets with homemade jam are usually a regular item. Who could resist offerings such as griddled cornbread with perfectly ripe avocado, scrambled eggs & chorizo on sourdough or corn fritters with bacon and avocado? Not me that's for sure.

Brunch heaven

I haven't even mentioned the wonderful cake yet. I don't seem to have any pictures of cake, I obviously don't even pause for a photo when it comes out. Jo's cake was the cornerstone of the success of my Christmas drinks party. Step 1: purchase entire chocolate Guinness cake from Afternoon Tease, step 2: decorate with plastic doodahs. Party happiness guaranteed.

Christmas chocolate Guinness Cake

For you strange folks who don't like coffee, they carry a delightful range of local Kandula tea. Even I occasionally forsake the cortados, mainly to get a go of these teapots (I have to find myself one of these cow teapots).

Tea. In a teapot with a cow on it.

I have given this friendly cafe a thorough try out over the last couple of months and I can wholeheartedly recommend it. Coffee, cake, lunch, brunch and evening shenanigans - they have it all covered. 

Afternoon Tease, 13 King St, Cambridge CB1 1LH

Tue - Fri: 08:00 - 18:00

Sat: 09:00 - 17:00

Sun: 10:00 - 16:00