1. The start of our seventh year!
It seems only yesterday that we bought what was then the St Just Tea Rooms. In fact it was on 31 January 2003. That’s a lot of cream teas under the belt.
So much has happened since we got the keys and wondered what on earth we were doing. Each of us privately thought we were mad, stunned by what we had done, but always bright and cheerful with each other, hiding deep doubts and our complete ignorance!
We could never have got this far without the fantastic hard work and support of everyone who has worked at The Cook Book over the years , and, of course, the wonderful people who come through the door, so many of whom have become friends.
2. Family News
We have a new granddaughter! Maia was born in Vancouver Island on 1st January. We met her exactly a week later. It was lovely to be with Jake, Miranda, Olivia, Rowan and Maia for three weeks, during which we held the new-born baby, read stories to her brother and sister, played games, went for very slow walks and generally enjoyed being proper grandparents.
It was very hard to leave.
Grannywhoops & Maia
Canada in the January sun
While we were in Canada, we had an excited telephone call from Ellie in Brisbane. After an anxious few weeks, she had just heard that she has been granted a two year visa. As I write this Ellie and Kit are settling into their new home in the middle of Brisbane, complete with a swimming pool; and a nine foot python.
We could not have gone to Canada without the tremendous support, encouragement and hard work of Becca, for the winter refit was upon us…
3. Winter Refit
…and there was a lot to do.
Having encouraged us to open for the first time for what proved to be a really busy few days between Christmas and 9th January, Becca then enabled us to fly off to Canada by taking complete responsibility for the winter refit and redecoration. It was lovely to come back and see the downstairs repainted, a new sink and other improvements in the scullery, the carpets clean, the store room gleaming, the bar sanded and re-oiled, the book rooms upstairs painted, and much else. Becca re-opened on 26 January – and gave us the week-end after we flew home to recover. What a star.
There was so much work involved that these few words don’t do justice to what Becca achieved, ably assisted by Mark Prichard, Mike Williams, Roly Mannering and Jamie Graham. Thank you.
4. Strange Meeting
On the last Saturday before we left Canada, Jake was running a class in blacksmithing. He had four students and I completed the class. Two of the people on that course, Tom and Mary Louise Collins, had visited The Cook Book in 2008. Hearing they were from Vancouver Island, we told them about Jake and his family and suggested they might like to get in touch.
Imagine their surprise when, walking through the door of the forge on a cold and misty Saturday morning, the first person they saw was me! I wish had my camera out.
Jake at work in his forge
Tom & Mary Louise Collins
5. What’s New?
Hot baguettes loaded with home-made garlic butter!! They go down especially well with our thick home-made soups.
A cup of tea or coffee and one of Jenny’s muffins provides a lovely light snack.
We will be stocking the book-case in the bar with ‘sale’ books – all in good condition but they will have been upstairs on the shelves for some time. With limited space, we do try to rotate the stock of books so that there are always interesting books for our guests.
6. Banjo Cottage
If you are looking for a delightful cottage for your holiday, do think about Banjo Cottage. It has a double and two single beds in two bedrooms, a wonderful living room and a fabulous kitchen. The bathroom has a bath and separate shower. There is a sunny and secluded garden at the back. Well behaved dogs are welcome. Our home page has the link for booking Banjo – or do ring us at the café.
7. Snow
The Cook Book in a blizzard – still open!
Aggie meets snow
We managed to stay open through the recent amazing weather and guests managed to keep coming in. The snow was magnificent down here. It is so unusual that most of us were totally exhilarated. As it didn’t hang around we will remember fondly the silence, snow squeaking as we walked through it, the strangeness of our softened landscape, the beauty of hills, zawns, buildings glistening when the sun broke through.
We also had rain, lots of it, wind, and mud. But then, that’s normal for winter in West Cornwall. The snow was unforgettable.
Winter Sun
8. Recipe of the Month – Pea, Bean & Bacon Soup
One bag of fresh frozen peas
Half a bag of fresh frozen broad beans
One Onion
One leek
Two sticks of celery
Vegetable oil
Stock
4 slices of streaky bacon
Ground black pepper
Mixed herbs
Chop the bacon and sauté
Add chopped onion and celery and sauté briefly
Add stock and chopped leek. Cook until the vegetables are soft
Add frozen peas and beans
Bring back to the boil then simmer for a few minutes until peas & beans are heated through
Add a sprinkling of mixed herbs
Add ground black pepper to taste
Remove from heat
Whizzle with a stick blender or in a pre-heated blender
Delicious on a cold day and very filling, especially with a hot garlick buttered baguette!
