Some rumblings have been emanating from the direction of Express Cafe at New Town Station Nursery of late. A change of cafe ownership will be occurring in a few weeks as the nursery owners take on the running of the cafe, following Steve and Rebecca's departure.
Home Hill will start doing weekend breakfasts soon. Why not make it a day, and travel down the Channel, pick up your local fresh fruit and vegetables, then head across to Home Hill and catch a bit of brekky. By the time you hit the city again, you'll be well rested and refreshed.
Home Hill also have a new bevvy coming out soon. Watch out for it. It sounds like a nice little fizzy drop. They're currently designing the label for it, and trying to decide which name they prefer for this new line.
Divinge at Cygnet will have their final trading day next Sunday. Dani and Peter will be sorely missed by those who have been on the receiving end of their fabulous food and service. And it was just as fabulous as ever today at lunch time! Thanks guys! I will miss you.
Word has it that the Oyster Cove Inn has finally sold. It will be interesting to see how it evolves under new ownership.
I heard of a certain pub which has recently replaced all their local fresh produce on the menu with canned, and mass-produced products, under orders from the mainland owner, in an attempt to save money. That makes sense from a business/bottom line perspective, but do we like that move? Not I! I have eaten there relatively recently but won't be returning.
Sunday, 18 May 2008
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20 comments:
Heard the Express goss yesterday! Absolutely shocking treatment by a landlord to a tenant who has built up a fabulous business. The reason Express works is Steve and Rebecca.
I'm going as often as possible until June, but then it will drop from the radar. Smith St is very good.
Rumblings? The express goss is a bloody thunderstorm. I only know Bec and Steve's side of it (and have done for ages), but I would like to know the other side, just for the hell of it. I will sorely miss it when they close in June (and considering at one stage it didnt look like they would make it there, I am glad they will). I now need to
1. Find somewhere else with GF bread.
2. Find somewhere that makes a dencent coffee, has a good astmosphere and is fine with me taking over a table to write the thesis from hell.
3. Find somewhere that does good poached eggs.
I am generally at express twice a week or so, so will REALLY miss it.
Talking of changes, what has happed to the East Ocean chinese place at Kingston? It's closed and there are planning per mission notices all round.
Kitty and TG - thanks girls!
Looks like Smith St will get a real workout after June!
Sir G - I don't know that Chinese place at all, I'm sorry, so can't assist there. Someone else might know?
I saw a drive thru chinese at Kingston last time I was there....I dont think Sir G means this do you???
It is true Sir Grumpy. My wife was disussing the takeover with it's new owner. The former East Ocean will soon become a Souvlaki restaurant. He seems to be developing the site with some interesting ideas. may be one to watch. Good thing to as I had the East Ocan food once and didn't go much on it.
Its curious that the Divinge site will continue on as a Cygnet masthead for Tasmanian Private Realty.
What makes it even more curious is that current Huon Mayor, Robert Armstrong will be the operating partner in this business.
I am sure that there is little concern that they may a possible conflict of interest here.
Add into the mix the town re-zoning issues that are currently being pored over at Council.
Hey I wonder if those guys at TAS PR knew-It would be a bit of a lucky coincidence wouldn't it?
Whats also interesting is that apparently the TPR site will have a cafe as well.
Yes, it was a drive through and sit in, Tassiegal. Thanks HRV. We tried East Ocean a few times but it didn't win us over. Service was awkward, you never knew whether to sit down and wait for it, ot order at the counter etc etc.
I know what you mean. I should have some more goss on the new operator later in the week. If it's good then count me in as a regular. I love a good yiros!
Absolutely shocked to hear what has been happening at Express Cafe. The owners seem to be as happy as ever despite what has "supposedly" been going on. When will it change hands.
Unhappy Regular
Thank you for the kind words Kitty, Tassiegal and unhappy regular(I wonder who you are). Having lived both sides of the story I am interested to see how the other side of the story pans out. This is another case of people from outside of the industry thinking that the cafe game is loaded with money and anyone can do it!
Good operators make it look easy as they have years of experience and enjoy what they do. Knowing when it is time to prune a fruit tree or feed the azaleas does not mean you can run a cafe. Supposedly Express cafe only has customers because they visit the nursery, not because they care. Good luck horticulturalists, next time I am having trouble with aphids in my latte I will come in.
Aphids in latte - HEHEHE! That would make it a green mint lattee which while potentially tasting good might be a bit crunchy!
Is Steve the same Steve as from Criterion St?
Forde - simple answer - yes!
The right to reply says:
Too many of you Barista types think that just because you can make a cofee(Its not curing Cancer beleive me!) that you can rough shod over the rest of us. What gives you the right to feel that you are the sole reason why people come here? Are you so deluded & self important? Its a coffee for crissakes!
I goes for the camellia sinensis meself, not being a coffee type.
Show I'm not a grumpy old barista
Anon - it may be just a coffee, but to alot of people its a place where you can chat, relax and enjoy the company of friends in a lovely relaxing atmosphere. That atmosphere comes from the staff, the decor, and the food as well as the location. This comment doesnt just apply to Express, it applies to any good cafe. How many cafes tucked away in corners do a roaring trade despite the location because of the other factors mentioned above?
I thought it was the same guy.
People never learn do they, look at the downward path Criterion St took after Steve sold there (to someone who assumed they could easily run the cafe to the same standard).
Now it will be no doubt repeated here, followed by a call by the new operators for people to 'support small business' after their trade drops off.
The funny thing is that Criterion Street was bought by someone with plenty of hospotality experience.
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