Porthmeor Beach Cafe

So today it's all about the food. And the view. And the company. The Porthmeor Beach Café sits on the beach at Porthmeor - the surfer's beach at St. Ives. Porthmeor beach is beautiful. Wide straight out to sea; the island to the right, Clodgy to the left and a long stretch of golden sand with crashing waves and rocks for rock-pooling. So whatever the café on the beach did, people would go to it. But the Porthmeor Beach Cafe has consistently good food; interesting but not ridiculous menu choices; friendly helpful service - its just a gem.

Today 6 of us and a tiny baby met for breakfast. Coffee was  hot and aromatic; we all had a cooked breakfast of some description. If I had a criticism, it would be that the  egg was more like omelette than the light fluffy buttery scramble I prefer, but it tasted good nevertheless.
Raindrops spattered the window, 

and we were glad to be inside looking out at the wild surfy sea, but on other similar weather occasions, I've sat in one of the covered outside booths, cozy under pink and green blankets, and warm from the radiators on the walls. Not ideal with a tiny tot, but perfect for anyone else.
We didn't have cake, but I did take a picture, because they looked fab - especially the lemon meringue. Now that's a fluffy egg triumph!

Porthmeor Beach Café; Porthmeor Beach, St Ives 01736 793366

Cafe Catch Up 2

Last Sunday, the day was capricious, but promised sun at The Lizard so we headed South to find it.
The walk from The Lizard to Kynance Cove is well-known and well-trodden and well-deserved. The sea sparkles under the sun like diamonds are being thrown through fairy dust, and the water is so clear that you can see right down to the seabed. Its a fabulous, eye-poppingly beautiful stretch of coast line with National Trust car parks at either end, so can be tackled in either direction. I like to start at The Lizard because its up-hill, which means its downhill coming back. We walked, and stopped, and stared and just drank in the gorgeousness. The tide was in so we clambered over the pebbles to the café. It's a fine café at Kynance Cove. It could be rubbish because its a completely captive audience, but it isn't. We had good coffee and a simple but delicious ham and salad sandwich, sitting  in the sun, looking out at the sparkly sea. Apart from Derek, who had a gi-normous Cornish pasty, which he said was the best ever. Size does matter see!

Cafe Catch Up

So all that baloney about writing every week turned out not to be true. In my defence, I have finished writing my book and moved house so blogging slipped a bit on the priority list. I have however been to one or two cafes in the last few weeks, to boot: The Penzance tennis club café (twice); The Lost and Found, also in Penzance, at least twice; Hellsmouth Café at Hellsmouth (go figure); the National Trust café at Kynance Cove. Surely the place that God (if he exists) would live if he lived down hereabouts. There may be others.
Summary verdict: the Penzance Tennis Club café is a little jewel, very reasonable, nice home cooked food, tucked on the edge of the lovely Penlee Park, and open to anyone who wants lunch. You don't even have to play tennis - which frankly, is a relief.
Hellsmouth Café: the best mid-point to one of the best walks in the world. From Godrevy to Hellsmouth. Which I did yesterday with my lovely cousin, Anne, and her lovely husband Stephen. I know, too many 'lovelys' but it is all a bit lovely, so I refuse to apologize. And the carrot cake is very fine too.