TeaHee!

Christmas is coming!

2010-12-02T05:07:00.000-08:00

So I have been bullied by uber regular customer and friend John Messenger into updating the old blog...well once again, it's been a while!
The snow is falling...sometimes I wonder if fate has a hand in it all. A fortnight ago Jodie, Vic and I were having the usual,'I can't believe it's nearly Christmas' conversation. I don't think anyone wanted to think about it....And then...a huge dollop of snow arrived and everyone is Christmas crazy!
We've tried really hard to source wonderful, artisan products, ready to be stuffed into hampers and stockings this year. From Wild Boar Chorizo to Artisan Du Chocolat's incredible salted caramels...the shelves are full to busting (I was going to write bursting, but shelves don't burst- do they?)
The cheese counter is also filling up..The Vacherin Mont D'Or have arrived...this Christmas, I have decided I'm going to eat my own body weight in cheese. With such a fabulous selection from Neal's Yard, The Fine Cheese Company and Cherif Belaid, it would be rude not to!
Dan has made extra mincemeat this Christmas to keep up with demand. The recipe belongs to Mummy Barrow...honestly, it's the best I've ever tasted.
Over the summer we scooped anothet Great Taste Award; this time for our Cinnamon Butter. We slosh it over toasted brioche and roll it into Emma's now legedary Cinnamon buns.
Lastly...for those of you that are aware of my Priscilla Queen of the Desert obsession...I am now officicially a MOP- Hurrah! I had a lovely night with my sister, Jo, riding around London in a big pink disco bus dressed as Mary and Marilyn MacArthur Park (...'someone left the cake out in the rain') before watching the show for the sixth time with a fantabulous bunch of likeminded obsessives!

Spring is here!!

2010-04-29T05:32:00.000-07:00

The lambs are hopping and skipping in the fields and we have Tymsboro in the cheese counter...two sure signs that spring is in the air!
We have been making the most of the recent fabulous weather..Our new gorgeous garden is open! Ok, so regular customers will know that we have always had a little courtyard with rickety chairs and miss match tables (and the odd slug)..this year we decided the time has come to give the outside space the full Teahee treatment.
Our friend Judy Wright from The Plantsmiths in Crayke created a contemporary cottage design for us with clamp brick raised beds (built by the infamous Big Al). Judy took into consideration the fact that the garden is north(ish) facing and chose plants that will flourish in their slightly shady positions, many of the plants Judy has grown herself from seed. Long suffering Smitey (that's the husband) came up trumps building the new hefty oak tables and benches, one of which is two and a half metres long....perfect for large parties or making new chums in a caring, sharing moment(!) The lovely Steve Cariss from Coxwold has today extended the fence (and boxed in the nasty air con doo daas) which has helped make the garden more private and tranquil...Hurrah!
Also new....and we are slightly giddy about this...Freshly squished orange juice! Ok, so we know the concept isn't exactly new...but up until now we have served wonderful freshly ground coffee, fabulous leaf tea, beautiful refreshing soft drinks.....and tropicana orange (shudder). This bothered us...a lot. Our new super duper zummo machine was installed last week and we LOVE it, pure theatre to watch and it tastes pretty darn good!
A couple of 'hellos and goodbyes'....Hello to Emma who has joined our kitchen team...and brought with her a recipe for the finest cinnamon buns we have ever tasted! Hello to Angela who is our new 'Early Shirley', providing coffee and bacon buffers for bleary eyed 7am-ers...Goodbye to Jane, our old (no, not old...very young and beautiful) Early Shirley now enjoying an extra hour in bed and breakfast with Jeremy Kyle (eeek!). Also bye bye to Jo Campbell. After many years at Mount St John in Felixkirk growing the most amazing fruit, vegetables and flowers, Jo has been poached by Raymond Blanc to be the head vegetable gardener at Le Manoir in Oxfordshire...we are SO going to visit!

Happy Crimble!!!

2009-12-26T06:37:00.000-08:00

Christmas Opening Hours..
Boxing Day - 28th December Closed, sorry!
Tue 29th December -Thursday 31st December 8.30am-4.30pm
New Years Day Closed (at the panto...you're welcome to come along!)
Saturday 2nd December 7am-5pm
xx

2009-11-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

So, I have left it far too long again...maybe I'll make it my New Year's Resolution to blog more often...or delegate the task to the lovely Vic!
Another Great Taste Award has found its way into our hall of fame, our biscotti won gold in the national contest, which attracts over 5 thousand entries each year. The Great Taste Awards are viewed in the industry as the foodie oscars...we're lucky enough to hold six...wooo hooo!
Back to the lovely Vic...Victoria Harley works part time for us, but in her secret other life she is a fabulous photographer...she took almost all the pics on our web site and the photos that adorn the walls in the cafe. Vic's photography can now be seen on the channel 4 food website, together with some TeaHee recipes from our busy kitchen...have a peek...enter Tea Hee into the recipe search and PING!!!! It's majic, this internet lark!
On Monday, we'll be launching a couple of new winter warmers in the drinks department...I'd love to tell you what they are, but all the names we keep coming up with.....sound.........well........dodgy..Suggestions on a postcard please....
Cherif has brought the first of the Vacherin Mont D'or...hurrah!!!Throughout the year we keep the cheese counter as British as possible, but come November we relax the borders, quite simply it has to be the world's greatest cheese...yes... really.

2009-04-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Phew! What an Easter! No signs of a credit crunch in Easingwold- thank goodness!! Today most of the kids went back to school...and the yummy mummies were back at TeaHee, sans ankle biters!

It has been wonderful, after a long winter to have the garden open, although Rachel may not agree (16 extra covers) judging from the steam coming out of her ears!!

Tomorrow we have the York Press coming to photograph our lovely cakes for an article entitled 'Tea and Sympathy', some may say 'Tea and a fair level of abuse' might be more fitting!!

Just before Easter we scooped Minster FM's award for the best bacon buttie in Yorkshire. Ali B broadcast live to the masses, explaining what made our butties better than anyone elses..Great meat from S&J Butchers, proper butter, lovely local bread and Rachie in the kitchen giving each one her undivided attention....and a little kiss befor it leaves her department!

On a personal basis, I popped down to London to catch a preview showing of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert...WOW! The only problem is I have been singing MacArthur Park to the customers for nearly three weeks now...oh, the pain!!!!

2009-03-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

2009-03-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

The view from our Parisian apartment!!

2009-03-12T11:23:00.000-07:00

I am getting a serious amount of grief for not updating my blog! Sorry...sorry....sorry!! Those of you who know my well will laugh heartily when I say I find it difficult to talk about myself....
I have just arrived home from gay Pareeee, which is, as they say, really beautiful in the springtime. Of course, I have eaten far too many cakes, pastries and Macrons, but the trek up the one hundred and eight steps to our apartment (and the 280 up the Sac re Co er) has hopefully prevented the pounds from piling on!
A place that is definitely worth a mention, although I wasn't bright enough to remember the name, opposite the Rose Bakery on Rue Des Martyrs, which unfortunately was closed on one occasion we visited...and nearly closed the second time we called (nothing left!) a simply wonderful patisserie with macrons in flavours traditional (Pistachio, Violet, Rose) and the not so traditional (Basil, Chilli)...yum!
Our apartment, in the 17th Arrondissement was typically Parisian, surrounded by boulevards full of fabulous shops. La Fromagerie, THE greatest cheesemonger was on our doorstep (Rue de Courcelles) along with busy boulangeries and chacuteries that could turn the most ardent vegetarian into a carnivore.
So, tomorrow it will be back to the grindstone. Rachel, hopefully will not have burned too many teacakes (or should that be Emma!). Dan will be driven to distraction by lunchtime as I place my requests for French patisserie....

2008-11-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

Delighted to announce that we have two ( yes, count them!) new awards to add to our collection!!

Yorkshire Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership, 'Best Tearoom 2008' & ITV Flavours of Hambleton, 'Top Tearoom 2008'. Both awards are looking shiny and new in the cafe...the girls (and Dan) are getting a taste for champagne, and there's been a lot of general merriment, (nothing new there then!)

2008-11-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to TeaHee in the 21st century!!!!
I'm hoping to use this blog as a bit of a recipe forum, and space for a bit of general chit chat about team TeaHee, events and new products that we've all fallen in love with at the cafe...
This week....
Wednesday 12 th November
Crayke Castle holds the best shopping fair this side of Chrimbo...of course we'll be there with lots of sweet treats and stocking fillers... Other stalls include Susie Watson's fabulous pottery (move over Emma Bridgewater!!), our friends the Plantsmiths, jewellery, beauty goodies..need I go on?? Mince pies and mulled wine at the ready...
On Thursday 13 th November we'll have everything crossed in preparation for the Moors and Coast Tourism Awards Dinner, we're nominated for the Tearoom of the Year Award...Posh Frock? Check...Congratulatory smile for the winner in case its not us??Check...

Welcome to TeaHee! Blog

2008-11-01T07:21:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the new TeaHee! Blog. Come back soon for more posts and updates!