Coffee shop dreams

A while back, Helen posted on Coffee Shop dreams. It's a lovely post about giving up what you're doing now for 'a simpler life like running a coffee shop'. Firstly, I need to publicly thank her for inspiring me on a brief about, well, coffee shops.

Secondly, I'd like to share my own coffee shop fantasy. Now I'm happy with what I'm doing, I know I'm very lucky, but sometimes.........

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to jack it all in and move to St. Ives, my favourite place in the world. I imagine learning to surf properly and running down the hill every morning towards the beach. I fantasize about wearing sandals all year round and being able to smell the sea every single day. But how would I pay for all this?

There are plenty of places to eat there, and some are amazing, but they either fall into the expensive and complicated camp (you know, pan fried this and that drizzled with a balsamic reduction) or into the fast food camp. Don't get me wrong, both are great, but I'd love to do something different.

I wonder what would happen if I opened up my own little place. It wouldn't have a theme as such, but it would be reasonably priced. Everyone would be welcome and it would serve simple, delicious food. The kind of stuff I cook every day. Really good meatballs, my wife's lasagna, my cassoulet that's lovingly evolved over ten years, my sisters chocolate cake,  my signature curry and fish pie, my brother in law's amazing roast potatoes and genius paella. Not to mention mushroom risotto and stuffed peppers. 

Lovely home cooked food that wasn't on the menu because it was fashionable, traditional or anything like that. Just honest, delicious food that we know people really love to eat because friends and family always ask for seconds (and maybe we'd offer that in our little place too).

A place that turns a decent profit, but really exists for the joy of cooking and watching people loving your food. That's what I would do if I ever took leave of my senses.

It will never happen, but at those times when it's 7am, and you're struggling to make a creative brief sing, it's a lovely little dream.

So while I'll still post the simple half hour recipes, I'm going to throw in some harder stuff I've picked up along the way. Until I've got my fantasy little place it will have to do.

Comments

[The Dead Artist]

Do it. Simply do it. I'd come. Promise.

[lauren]

yes, please do it. i would also come.
i could visit the tate in st.ives, bring a vegetarian dish with me that could last you a couple of days and join you for a nice cup of tea, love.

[Charles Frith]

A lovely post and one that nobody should diminish. I had a girlfriend once who ran 3 restaurants, I loved nothing more than going to the market 3 times a week to buy fresh produce. We were like a tag team. I got the fish, meat and poultry, she got the vegetables because I didn't know the names of all the herbs and so forth in Thailand. I'm never happier than around real people buying and selling in a market.

But it's very hard work particularly back at the rance. Long hours, a hundred interruptions a day if not more, from staff, customers and normal day to day things, But that doesn't mean it can be done and enjoyably so.

Anyway, you wouldn't be a proper Northerner if you set up shop in St IVes :)

[Jade]

NP, I love dreams like this, I think they help you keep going when things get tough. Like a little escape route that is in the back of your mind. I think you would be very successful if you were to embark on such an adventure. The whole slow food movement seems to be gathering momentum at the moment.

I tried my dream for a little while about 5 years ago and I loved it. I don't know if I will ever do it full time, but maybe one day.

I love your recipes, and my hubby loved his sausages last night (even if I couldn’t buy any bacon for the dish).

[Stan Lee]

Based on that post I'd recommend you think about becoming a food or travel writer.

[Helen]

Gorgeous.

I'm glad my post was useful too. I've recently caught up with an old friend and ex-colleague who has given up research to follow her 'simpler life' dream and is making a huge success of it.

[NP]

Thanks everyone, one day...

Jade, glad you liked it.

Stan, there's a thought..

[fredrik sarnblad]

Never say never NP, keep nurturing that dream! I dream about these things too from time to time. Actually, I do it quite often, to be honest.

It's not that I don't enjoy what I do, not at all, I enjoy it a lot. It's just that I think a (seemingly) simpler life – like running that coffee shop - makes it easier to be present in the moment; to live in the here and now. Too often, I find myself living in my head, 'disembodied' in a kind of literal way. And this prevents me from seeing and appreciating all the wonderful and fascinating things around me. Now that I can’t afford.

Anyway, if you ever have a change of heart, let me know. I can assure you I’ll be able to give your business a significant boost as a food-passionate customer.

[Deborah]

aaahh. Please do it. I would come lots. We could talk about advertising (or at least what little I know about it), being Northern, dreaming, Leeds and the definitive fish pie recipe.

You have spotted a need in St Ives, definitely. Before you dismiss this as more whistful-withou -validity type supportive nonsense, FYI my husband's hairdreser moved there two years ago and is now thriving. Surfing everyday and loving it. Planning his day around his tide watch.

Realised how camp that last description looks. My husband's hairdresser rather than your dreams.

Sounds cocky but I am going there on Saturday. I share your feelings. It is a lovely place.
BTW everyone I know in St Ives is a Northerner. You could be St Ives planner too.

[NP]

Thanks Deborah. Hope you have a good time.
St Ives planner, now there's a thought;-)

[DigitalAgency]

Dear NP,

Great post about the St Ives coffee shop dream.

I hope it becomes a reality.

If you do it, it kind of gives others 'permission' to do it too.

Years ago I used to be a writer at the Leith Agency, in Edinburgh, and when I was 40 actually did it, me and my Missus went to live in Padstow for a couple of years.

Paddling out the back at Boobies or Watergate, (when it wasn't over 3 feet of course ;-), sandals, baggies from March to October, walking the dogs on the beach every morn, hammering the bike along the Camel Trail, spending waaaay too much in Rick Stein's and the London Inn, the full script.

Without doubt the best heart-ruled move I ever made, but alas poor planning/earning on my part ensured we ran out of money and had to return to Scotland.

All I can say, like others here, and indeed in Dan Wieden's truthful, unforgettable and oh so right exultation/exaltation?:

'Do It!'

But only if the finances stack up, and only if the Missus is fully onboard.

Of course, it's all very well and sage for me to write this; I'm still in Scotland.

But the dream endures, and indeed thanks the internets and how we use it to ply our trade, we might just have found the channel to get us where we want to be. You're great blogger, and from what I read also a very passionate adman.

2 qualities that will help you get what you want.

Hope you make it back there.

(Hope I make it too.)

best wishes,

Mike.

ps. Small world alert; I used to be a writer at BDH, in the days of Al Dickman, Dave Bailey, Martin Anderson and gluing clients to boards with wallpaper adhesive.

[northern]

At least you had a go. Won't happen to me anytime soon.
Small industry isn't it? I like the way that forces you to be nice to people, and how you always get caught out in the end if you're not (and Leith is my second choice for emmigration).

[toto]

i dream of this too