Pipe and Glass

James and Kate Mackenzie won the accolade for The Pipe and Glass Inn, a 17th century pub in South Dalton, a village to the north of Hull.

The couple replace Mr Blumenthal in the number one spot. The television chef won the award last year for The Hinds Head in Bray, Berkshire, which is also the location of his world-famous restaurant The Fat Duck.

The Mackenzies bought The Pipe and Glass as a wreck in 2006. The couple, who had never owned a pub before, invested all the spare cash they had — £20,000 – in doing it up.

Mr Mackenzie told The Daily Telegraph that they started with a blackboard menu and just a handful of staff. The pub now has 12 chefs and a Michelin star.

The pub specialises in “refined yet hearty” food, according to Rebecca Burr, editor of the Michelin Eating Out in Pubs Guide.

We are proud to have been their coffee supplier since 2006. Well done Kate, James and the team.

The Hardwick

When you have worked with the best Michelin chefs in this country and abroad, the ultimate test is as chef-patron of your own establishment. That was the challenge Stephen Terry embraced with relish when, five years ago, he returned to Abergavenny, the scene of his second Michelin star triumph at the Walnut Tree some years earlier. This time, his target was the Horse and Jockey pub, which was tired and in dire need of a new lease of life. With the help and support of his family, it was renamed The Hardwick — after the local area — and opened within four short weeks of purchase.

In Stephen’s own phrase, The Hardwick is a country pub which very much leans towards being a restaurant. Already holder of a prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand for three consecutive years, in an exhilarating month, September saw him pick up the accolade of AA Restaurant of the year in Wales, barely a fortnight after the pub was completely transformed with the addition of eight 5-star bedrooms, an extra dining room for 70 –100 covers and an extended bar area.

“All things to all men” is the way Stephen likes to think of the Hardwick. There pervades an inclusive, relaxed and informal atmosphere here that appeals for a romantic meal for two, a family gathering, a special celebration or just to meet friends for a drink. Produce is treated with the respect it deserves and is served with the minimum of fuss and maximum of flavour, using seasonal produce that allows customers and staff alike to look forward to fresh ingredients as they rotate with the seasons.

One of the many pleasures of moving away from ‘the Smoke’ is that he now lives a lot closer to the source of the produce that features on his menus. Imagine visiting suppliers directly, selecting the produce with their help, then cooking it for them at The Hardwick, where they are credited on the menu. This holds true of the black welsh organic lamb from Sarah Dickens and Nick Miller’s family farm outside Abergavenny. It is true of Amanda Sraddling of ‘Veggies Galore’ and Philip Bevan of ‘Ty Mawr Organics’, his two organic vegetable suppliers; it is similarly true of numerous other suppliers who receive a credit on both menu and website.

Although the coffee comes from further afield, his respect for Café du Monde is undiminished. Acting on a recommendation just six months ago, Stephen appointed them to supply all his coffee needs and he has not ended up disappointed.

“Supplier relationships are the bedrock of our business” emphasises Stephen, “so we have been delighted to find a coffee merchant of the calibre of Café du Monde. Their coffee is of the highest order; deliveries happen like clockwork and staff are a real pleasure to deal with. They were recommended to me and I would reciprocate to others.

For restaurant/hotel details see www.thehardwick.co.uk

Cotswold House Hotel

At the heart of the Cotswolds lies the archetypal English village of Chipping Campden.  It is home to the most charming of hostelries, The Cotswold House Hotel and Spa, which is centrally located on the high street. Originally a Regency townhouse, the magnificent façade of dressed Cotswold stone houses one of the most luxurious boutique hotel experiences anywhere in the area. A dynamic young management team here has transformed a stay at the hotel into a magnificent, cosseted experience.

Here you will find the very best you could wish for in modern hospitality – tranquillity — sublime comfort, exceptional cuisine, a stunning new Temple Spa, two acres of extensive gardens and some of Britain’s most beautiful countryside on the doorstep.

Enter by the front door and the hotel opens up tardis-like before you, belying the graceful but compact façade. There are 30 individually designed bedrooms with a room to suit every guest from deluxe king size doubles to suites with gardens and hot tubs or baths with their own TV, big enough to share. Mood lighting, Frette linen, underfloor heating, room bars, cosy fireplaces and Temple branded toiletries complete a picture of sheer opulence.

Venture out of your room for sustenance and you are similarly embarrassed for choice. With its sweeping bar and chic contemporary design, Hicks Brasserie is casual and relaxed, serving meals throughout the day and boasting the best Bellinis for miles around. Gourmet restaurant, Juliana’s, exudes elegance without pomposity, with its unique light sculpture, fascinating ice bar and roaring log fire. It perfectly showcases the art of Executive Chef, Damian Clisby, who has recently joined the management team having previously been Executive Chef at FJB Haven Hotel in Sandbanks and, prior to that, with the Rivington Grill and the two Michelin starred Pied à Terre.

His cuisine draws its inspiration from the finest ingredients of dedicated Cotswold producers – be it wholesome crusty breads, locally churned cheeses, home-reared meats, vegetables from the Vale of Evesham or jams and preserves from small-scale artisan producers. They have but one thing in common. They care deeply about what they do.

The same could be said for coffee supplier, Café du Monde, which provides Cotswold House will all its coffee needs. This includes its renowned cafetière service, with free loan stainless steel cafetières and portion packs of Kenya and Decaffeinated coffee. It also supplies Grand Cru beans for espresso service.

General Manager of The Cotswold House Hotel, Duncan Fraser, was instrumental in appointing Café du Monde two years ago:

“We are delighted with the coffee” he says “and regularly receive compliments on its quality. Their passionate approach to their product earns them a richly deserved place amongst our niche suppliers.”

For more information on the full range of Café du Monde coffee systems, call 01322 284804 or log on to www.cafedumonde.co.uk

For hotel details see www.cotswoldhouse.com

The Fox and Hounds Llancarfan near Barry

Macmillan Cancer Support is such a worthy cause and coffee system supplier, Café du Monde, has supported the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning for the past 5 years, raising over £50,000. This year’s fundraiser was held on 25th September and they distributed free coffee to their participating customers.  The customer raising the most money this year was the Fox and Hounds in Llancarfan near Barry in the idyllic Vale of Glamorgan.

This pub restaurant with rooms is the heartbeat of the village and was purchased by the villagers themselves in 1999, when it was threatened with closure. It is no wonder, then, that the community rallied round present owners, Sue and John Millard. Between them, they raised the magnificent sum of £1,110 for Macmillan. Planning the event began weeks before with prizes being donated for a grand raffle. On the day, there was a ‘bring and buy’ and home-made cakes were baked and bought – all in addition to the coffee morning itself. The event was even advertised in the local newspaper. Says Sue: “We are a very close knit community here and many residents have their own personal experiences of cancer. Because we all believed in the cause, it came as no surprise just how much we had raised. This is our best effort so far, bringing our five-year total to over £3,000. Thanks and congratulations to all our customers.”

In 2001, Sue and John bought the Fox and Hounds from the villagers in return for a commitment to continue to run it as a pub. Today, it is renowned in the locale for its food, with 8 en-suite bedrooms drawing tourists to South Wales and business people visiting nearby Cardiff. John, a classically trained chef, runs the kitchen personally with the help of his sous chef, Darren. Their cuisine is traditional home cooking, served in hearty portions. Their Cod in Beer Batter is widely regarded as the best in Wales.

The association with coffee supplier, Café du Monde, goes back to when they first opened. They use a free-on-loan cafetière system, serving Continental and Decaffeinated blends from elegant glass cafetières. They also offer espresso-based speciality coffees from a Mon Ami 50 bean-to-cup machine supplied by Café du Monde.

Of their coffee supplier, Sue says:

“We would not change Café du Monde for the world. Their coffee is just the best. They have been with us since the start and are so supportive. Office staff are more like friends than suppliers and competitors don’t even bother knocking!”

Jamming at the 606

This iconic doorway is the entry to one of Europe’s finest jazz clubs. It’s the 606 Club in Lots Road, a stone’s throw from fashionable Chelsea Harbour. No lesser authority than Jamie Cullum has described it as “London’s best music venue”. Curiously, there is no 606 Lots Road, the Club takes its name from 606 Kings Road, where the Club spent the first 11 years of its life. In the best tradition of jazz clubs, its success is measured by atmosphere and entertainment values rather than décor or furnishings. With its metal stairs, stark brick walls and bare wooden tables and chairs, one critic has likened it to a Chicagoan Speakeasy during prohibition.

All this presages fine entertainment and good food at affordable prices. Proprietor, Steve Rubie, took on the Club from the original founder over 30 years ago and the “6”, as it is known to its members, continues to attract the best in musical talent. Himself a respected musician, Steve has worked with the world’s finest musicians, many of whom have performed at the Club, including John Dankworth, Claire Teal and Mica Paris. In fact, as many as ten bands perform here weekly, making the 606 the biggest employer of British and UK-based jazz talent.

There is no stage as such; acts perform eyeball to eyeball in close communion with their audience. Food is served at table, cheek by jowl with your neighbour. If this leads you to lower your expectations of the cuisine, then the surprise is that much greater when you realise the food is of a remarkably high standard.

In charge of the kitchen these past 14 years is Jean-Pierre, known to all and sundry as “JP”. His menu offers a choice of seven mains, accompanied by an eclectic wine list. You would really have to party hard to break a £50 note — and that’s not just for a meal, it represents a full night’s entertainment. Where else in affluent Chelsea could you find such value?

Most diners conclude their meal with a coffee and, dissatisfied with his supplier, Steve turned to Café du Monde, who installed a free on loan cafetière service. Now, the quality of the coffee is without question and served in an elegant way that does full justice to a fine meal.

Says Steve: “In frustration, I turned to the manager of my other establishment, Lot’s Larder, just round the corner and he recommended Café du Monde. We haven’t looked back since and that was two years ago. Not only is the coffee top rate, it’s affordable and just as in the jazz world, it’s a bonus to be able to deal with nice people!”

For Club details see www.606club.co.uk

The Dial House

Be prepared to be spoiled! The Dial House Hotel in Bourton-on-the-Water is the most picturesque building in the prettiest village in the Cotswolds. Built in 1698 by local architect, Andrew Paxford, from mellow Cotswold stone, it even predates the iconic bridges over the nearby river Windrush. Originally called ‘The Vinehouse’, it was renamed in the early 19th century after the large sundial above the front door.

In turn, a house, doctor’s surgery and, for the past 30 years, a hotel it is the sort of building you can easily fall in love with. Present owners, Elaine and Martyn Booth did just that 18 months ago, following their return from Australia seeking new challenges. In that short time, their vision has turned The Dial House into one of the finest luxury experiences in the Cotswolds.

The hotel exudes country house charm – mullioned windows, inglenook fireplaces, low Cotswold stone arches, beamed ceilings and poor boxes. The new owners regard themselves very much as custodians of a precious jewel and privileged to be adding to the building’s rich history. They are gradually developing the interior with sumptuous rich fabrics in keeping with the character and splendour of this venerable old building.

Head chef, Jamie Forman, previously a rising Michelin starred chef, has also worked alongside Raymond Blanc before taking the highly respected Cotswold House Hotel to 3 rosettes when he was Head Chef there. He and his brigade of chefs serve lunch and dinner seven days a week. He delights in serving local produce whenever possible, such as Lighthorne lamb and Gloucester Old Spot pork, but is never afraid to seek produce from further afield when quality dictates, as evidenced by the regularity with which hand-dived Gairloch scallops appear on the menu. His team’s efforts have been richly rewarded with two AA rosettes — the maximum for a first assessment — with the promise of a third at the next visit if standards are maintained.

Elaine and Martyn first met their coffee supplier, Café du Monde, at a Condé Nast Johansens’ function and they have since gone on to supply coffee and equipment throughout the hotel. That includes stainless steel thermal cafetières serving Kenya coffee in the dining room and lounge; a La Spaziale espresso machine with Fairtrade coffee beans to cater for the takeaway trade in the hotel’s new gift shop and deli and the elegant Service en Chambre Petite bedroom beverage service in all bedrooms.

“The personal service we get from Café du Monde is impeccable” says Elaine. “For sure, they know their beverages, but more than that, they have an in-depth understanding of what we are trying to achieve and help us at every stage along the way.”

Luton Hoo Hotel

Luton Hoo, a majestic and impos­ing grade I lis­ted build­ing, has been sens­it­ively and immacu­lately trans­formed into a lux­uri­ous five-star hotel by new own­ers, Elite Hotels, fol­low­ing a £60 mil­lion invest­ment. Although less than a mile from the M1 motor­way in Bed­ford­shire, this Robert Adam man­sion house enjoys a beau­ti­ful rural set­ting in 1,065 acres of park­land and gar­dens cre­ated by fam­ous land­scape gardener, Cap­ab­il­ity Brown. The grandeur of the house with its giant tapestries, elab­or­ate fire­places and glint­ing crys­tal chan­deliers is reflec­ted in the way it has been used as a back­drop to some very fam­ous films, per­haps most not­ably, “Four Wed­dings and a Funeral”.

The res­tor­a­tion work has res­ul­ted in an impress­ive com­plex of hotel, con­fer­ence centre, golf course and spa with 35 spa­cious rooms and suites in the Man­sion House and a fur­ther 109 bed­rooms in the Park­land, Adams and Flower Garden wings. The improve­ments con­tinue with War­ren Weir, a purpose-built 84 room con­fer­ence centre avail­able for exclus­ive use, set to open in spring 2009.

For exquis­ite fine din­ing there can be few more spec­tac­u­lar set­tings than the award-winning Wernher res­taur­ant, named after one of Luton Hoo’s most dis­tin­guished former own­ers, dia­mond mag­nate, Sir Julius Wernher. The exotic marble pan­el­work and richly col­oured fab­rics are remin­is­cent of the Palace of Ver­sailles. Housed in the his­toric former stables, the Adam’s Bras­serie offers a more informal style of din­ing. Its décor is bright and con­tem­por­ary; its walls lined with stills from the many films shot on loc­a­tion here.

Each of the bed­rooms has a Ser­vice en Chambre Petite. This neat way for guests to serve bever­ages in their room com­prises teas, cof­fees, hot chocol­ate and ancil­lar­ies all housed in a styl­ish mahogany box together with pol­ished stain­less steel cafetiere, mini kettle and two por­cel­ain mugs.  The hotel has dis­creetly incor­por­ated it into the built-in ward­robes. Café du Monde has recently joined forces with Newby Teas to become the main sup­plier of teas and herbal infu­sions to hotels and res­taur­ants through­out Eng­land and Wales. Luton Hoo chooses from a range of black, green and fruit teabags for guests’ bed­rooms and uses Newby leaf teas through­out the hotel.

“The qual­ity of the Ser­vice en Chambre present­a­tion appealed to us imme­di­ately” said Deputy Gen­eral Man­ager, Mat­thew Long. “It fits well with the décor in our rooms and handles bed­room bever­age ser­vice in a com­pact and eleg­ant way. The products are first rate and the ser­vice response from Café du Monde is outstanding”.

Lake Country House

Hot off the press! Lake Country House of Llangammarch Wells in Powys has been named Hotel of the Year, Wales 2008/9 at the AA Centenary Awards 2008 held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel earlier this month. The award was presented to hotel owners, Mr. & Mrs. J-P. Mifsud, by celebrity chef, James Martin. The AA describes the hospitality and service at the hotel as “of a consistently high standard with a fantastic proactive approach to staff training”.

It is not difficult to see why this striking country house has been so deservedly rewarded with such a prestigious accolade. It stands serenely amid 50 acres of parkland featuring rhododendron-lined trails and riverside paths with the local attractions of golf, game fishing, horse riding and walking in the beautiful Elan valley and Brecon Beacons National Park. With its indoor pool and spa, it makes an ideal destination for romantic and luxurious breaks.

For 27 years, the hotel has been in the hands of Jean-Pierre and Jan Mifsud, who together also own another award-winning hotel, the Northcote Manor in North Devon. Now a luxury “Red Star” hotel, originally built as a hunting and fishing lodge, today it boasts its own spa, a par 3 golf course and putting green, croquet lawn and tennis court. Some of the best fishing in Wales may be experienced on 7 miles of the Arfon Irfon and a 3 acre lake in the grounds.

Dining in the restaurant is an experience to savour, with the emphasis on fresh local ingredients, prepared under the creative vigilance of head chef, Sean Cullingford. Sean has been at the Lake House for almost 10 years, having learned his trade in top food establishments in Wales, England and Switzerland. His recent awards include being accepted into The Master Chefs of Great Britain and receiving Condé Nast Johansens’ award of ‘Most Excellent Restaurant 2005’.

Exceptional culinary standards are complemented by fine coffees from Café du Monde, suppliers to the hotel for the past two years. They installed their cafetière system, which includes stainless steel cafetières, provided on a free loan basis. A range of speciality coffees is prepared courtesy of the Company’s Mon Ami 75 bean-to-cup machine using Grand Cru coffee beans.

“In all our years at Lake Country House and Northcote Manor, we have never met another coffee supplier with such outstanding credentials as Café du Monde”, says Jean-Pierre. “It goes without saying that we chose the coffee to match the quality of the rest of our food menu. Added to that, their service levels are without peer. We strive to provide the best in all we do and, so far as coffee is concerned at least, we need look no further.”

Tre-Ysgawen Hall

If you are looking for a place to opt out of the rat race for a while, then Tre-Ysgawen Hall, a Country House Hotel and Spa at Capel Coch, close to Llangefni on the Isle of Anglesey, ticks all the boxes. Built originally in 1882 as a grand country retreat this magnificent stone house, often described as ‘the hidden gem of Anglesey’ is set in 11 acres of secluded landscaped gardens, meadow and woodland just a short drive inland from the breathtaking east coast of the island. It ranks as one of the finest Country House Hotels in Wales and is now owned by a Trust, with a large proportion of its profits going to support children’s charities.

In recent years, the hotel has undergone an ambitious and sympathetic refurbishment and extension programme and can now offer de luxe, superior, Four Poster bedrooms and 2 Four Poster Suites with whirlpool spa baths.  2002 saw the opening of a luxurious new Spa comprising a 16m level-deck Swimming Pool, Sauna, Steam Room, air-conditioned 30 station Gymnasium and Beauty/Therapy Suite with 6 Treatment rooms.

Tre-Ysgawen Hall is recognised by travel organisations throughout the world and the most respected Hotel Guides in the land for the quality of its hospitality and cuisine.  It is a ‘Welsh Rarebit’ and Johansen’s hotel and only the second hotel in Wales to achieve the Hospitality Assured accreditation.

The hotel was a recent winner of the prestigious Cheshire Life Food and Wine award for North Wales. Head Chef, Stephen Duffy, creates stimulating and constantly changing menus describing his creations as modern European with Asian influences. 90% of the ingredients are sourced on Anglesey, some indeed travelling from no further than the kitchen garden. More casual dining is available in the Clock Tower Café Wine Bar, serving a Brasserie style menu plus patisseries and beverages.

The same care that is lavished on the cuisine is clearly evident in the choice of coffee service. It is now almost two years since Operations Manager Richard Hughes selected Café du Monde to install its unique “Service en Chambre” in-room beverage service in all 29 rooms. This is an elegant leather-bound box containing a cafetière, two mugs and all the ingredients for guests to make tea and coffee in the privacy of their own room. For lounge and restaurant service he uses the Company’s free on loan cafetière system with elegant stainless steel cafetières serving Café du Monde’s Kenyan, Decaffeinated and Continental coffees.

“We were first attracted to Café du Monde by Service en Chambre, which in our experience is quite unique in the market.” says Richard. “The system perfectly complements the style and décor of our guest rooms. We quickly learnt that the standard of their support service was a match for their high quality products. I would commend them unreservedly.”

The Alexandra

Famed for its dramatic scenery, Lyme Regis is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the pearl of the Jurassic coast. It still conjures up memories of Meryl Streep’s Oscar-nominated performance in the film version of John Fowles’ book ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’. But today, a quarter of a century on, there is now another reason to remember this beautiful Dorset seaside town, for The Alexandra Hotel and Restaurant, which looks out over Cobb harbour, is rapidly gaining a deserved reputation for the warmth of its hospitality and the quality of its cuisine.

Originally built in 1735 for the Dowager Countess Poulett and later the home of the Duc du Stacpoole, the Alexandra became a hotel in 1901 and for over a hundred years has continued to uphold its tradition as a timeless haven of English peace and charm. Today, the hotel could not be in better hands, for proprietor, Kathryn Richards, was born into the hotel business, has first hand experience of the global hospitality industry and is the second generation of her family to own the hotel.

The Alex, as it is affectionately known, is set in its own picturesque gardens offering magnificent views over the famous Cobb harbour towards the historic fossil-strewn coastline of Lyme Bay. Grades of bedrooms are named after erstwhile owners of the property – ‘Poulett’ and ‘Stackpoole’, of course — but also ‘Gould’, after John Gould the famous Victorian ornithologist (whose father was once gardener here) and ‘Peek’, who in his time turned the stable block into a beautiful chapel. There are two restaurants, the AA rosette Alexandra restaurant – a formal setting with white linen, crystal glasses, candles, silver tableware – and the less formal Conservatory restaurant for morning coffee, light lunches, afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinks.

The cuisine falls under the auspices of Executive Chef, Ian Grant, whose experience at London’s Park Lane Sheraton and the 4-star, 2-AA rosette Bedford Lodge in Newmarket is evident in an award-winning wine cellar and inspirational food, which he describes as a fusion of the traditional and the contemporary. Where possible, Ian sources ingredients locally and is so proud of his suppliers, they are credited in great detail on the hotel’s website.

For the past two years, the Alex has been using Café du Monde’s free loan cafetière service with portioned packs of Fairtrade coffee, served from elegant stainless steel cafetières. Also installed is a traditional La Spaziale Vivaldi espresso machine supplied by Café du Monde and again using Faitrade coffee beans.

“I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable coffee supplier” says Kathryn. “In the time we have dealt together, they have never once let us down and the quality of the coffee is unsurpassed – and that’s the view of our customers as well.”