Keep the faith

Several coach parties aside, the next few weeks at Renishaw are relatively quiet with the exception of the launch of Lorraine Botterill's sculpture exhibition in the gardens. The exhibition launches on Sunday 1st July with Lorraine doing demonstrations and talks about her work. for further information contact the office on 01246 432310.

A quick update for those who were informed by Adrian about 'Jar Gate', a package arrived today addressed to The Manageress, Gallery Cafe etc. etc., seems I've had a promotion as Adrian gave it to me to open. Inside were my jars along with an anonymous note saying the contents had been so nice and in such large proportions they had decided to finish them at home. No names no apologies. How very bizarre! This little act has restored my faith in human nature once more and I am again at one with the world.

Cheesecake this weeks is Rhubarb & Ginger and it's selling fast. It is a classic combination, the chutney I made earlier this season has flown out. I've a little more Rhubarb in the garden to go at so might make another batch.

On Monday we celebrated Adrian's 50th birthday with a little trip into Sheffield to see the Olympic torch followed by a few beers and a meal with friends. We were a merry party of 14 and it was lovely to meet up with some customers out for the experience too. We rarely venture into the big city but always bump into customers which is really lovely particularly in the depths of winter.

 Finally, my planned red, white and blue front garden has finally flowered, yes I know the jubilee is now a distant memory but here it is anyway.

Come and say hello, it would be lovely to see you.
 Lou x

That was the week that was

What a week this has been, finally the very daunting task of feeding 85 members of the Historic Houses Association has been and gone and we were/are happy with the final result. We started with coffee in the main hall of the house (which, incidentally is looking lovely following a few changes by Alexandra), Louise spotted a 'chap' having problems with his name badge and in true Lou can fix it fashion bobbed over and offered to assist whilst simultaneously putting her hand down his jumper to guide the pin through it, never thinking to check out what the name tag said, he smiled sweetly and said he always had trouble with name tags, however it was only at the end of the day that she found out she had been very over-familiar with the Duke of Rutland.


Eighty-five people in two rooms was a first for us, carefully thought-out menu; Pâté de campagne, Salmon with caper crumble and Honeycomb cheesecake. No special dietary requirements we were advised. During the course of the meal we came across, and dealt with, a celiac, a vegetarian and a diabetic, thankfully there wasn't a vegan present!


We've reinvented our apple pie this week, it is now apple pie with a crumble top and is lovely (even if I do say so myself) 10 portions disappeared in less than 5 minutes when it was presented to a lovely group from Macclesfield on Thursday, so could be a new regular.

Have you seen these jars?

Yesterday saw Louise incandescent with rage when a couple in their 70's helped (allegedly) themselves to two of her mini kilner jars from a Ploughmans Lunch. It wasn't the taking of the jars that particularly ruffled her feathers, it was the fact that they denied having any jars on their ploughmans that caused her so much annoyance. "The youth of today, that's absolute hogwash, if this is the example that's being set, there's no hope for society, never mind the youth." Anyone who knows Louise can picture the scene. Trust me naming and shaming would have occurred if names had been known. Louise is currently to be seen walking round muttering the 6 of the 10 commandments she can remember!


Hope the weather doesn't put you off calling to see us.
Adrian

The New Kid on the Block

I thought I'd waffle on about dogs today, man's best friend and all that.  We love dogs and do try to be welcoming to all our four-legged visitors although we do ask they remain outside whilst we are serving lunches (12 noon till 2.30pm) with, of course, the exception of assistance dogs. Minky from the big house knows where the treats are kept (in my pocket) and she's not afraid to ask for one.

Lexie

Butler (left) and Mazey

Lexie (our youngest and most demanding) would, if she could speak, tell everyone her dad has got a cafe.  She loves it at Renishaw, she snuffles round under the tables outside looking for the smallest dropped crumb - doggy heaven.  She's known to us as the Lexie Ness Monster as she often will swim the length of the big lake at Renishaw, for some perverse reason known only to herself, she loves to swim through water lilies and will often swim round in circles in a patch of them. Very odd! Mazey has been on duty at the kennel seen from the cafe window for 14 seasons (just as many as Adrian), she's 14 today, old, senile and extremely smelly. Even Butler, our occasional house guest, loves it at Renishaw.

Last March we were lucky enough to be asked to work in the hall for a weekend when the staff were on holiday. It was great fun, a little 'Upstairs Downstairs' but thankfully we had the guidance of the Caretaker/Butler. The dogs love to lay in front of the range in the kitchen and are very reluctant to move. Pictured is Adrian cooking dinner for 6 without disturbing the residents (front to back: Humphrey, Hector who sadly died last month and Minky).

When Lady Sitwell acquired Sophie I didn't think little dogs could get much cuter, but it turns out I was wrong.  On Sunday I was introduced to what has to be the cutest little dog EVER. Alexandra appeared in the cafe with a wire-haired daschund sat in her handbag. Only 11 weeks old and at the time without a name, the new kid on the block even managed an "aah" and a smile from Adrian.  Of course when I asked for one, the answer was a resounding "NO". No amount of "please can I, please can I, please can I" would melt him.

Of course not everyone is a doggy fan so I apologise to those amongst you and thank you for your forebearance.

Hope to see you soon.
Lou x

A Quick Catch Up

Phew, time to sit down, relax and have a cup of tea. The long awaited (and much feared by myself) Jubilee weekend has been and gone and we survived.  As ever, the weather wasn't on the side of anyone who had an outside event organised but thankfully for us a very early start, much brain power and a bit of muscle saw us ready and able to seat 71 people in a room we usually use for 48. Talk about love thy neighbour. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the food was well received, with lots of lovely compliments.

On Saturday Night Jo Davison from The Sheffield Star was invited to the outdoor screening of the film The Queen.  She decided to take the opportunity to do a Dining Out Review of the cafe (which we didn't know until she paid). The photographer came yesterday and Jo will be doing an interview with Adrian before the review appears in The Sheffield Star, we believe a week on Saturday (16th June) lets hope she had a lovely evening.

Last week I visited a lovely customer of ours, it was the the only time last week I was really able to sit down and relax. We sat in his lovely garden and I was able to sample his much talked about feta cheese and mint scones.  Talk about heavenly! Dave's garden was designed by his Grandad between the wars, it is open to the public this Saturday and Sunday (12 Ansell Road, Ecclesall, Sheffield) and I happen to know he will be selling his beautiful scones and homemade cakes for charity. I enjoyed the scones so much I have made some this morning for the cafe (with Daves permission of course) I'm not sure the scones quite measure up to Dave's but they're a bit gorgeous. 

Life will return to relative normality for the next few weeks here at Renishaw. The roses are all in full bud ready to burst into flower and the garden is generally looking beautiful.  I had a little chat with Alexandra last week about some of the changes that have been made in the garden and I was really impressed by the way she is taking control of her garden and the thought processes that have gone into the changes. Its an exciting time for Renishaw but she doesn't seem at all daunted by it. Me, I'd be terrified.

See you soon.

Lou x