vegan cambridge – New in Cambridge

Louise Palmer-Masterton is a powerhouse! She has founded and is running two highly successful businesses in the city and she’s fizzing with energy and ideas. I met Louise in Stem + Glory, her new vegan cafe in King Street.

Image credit: Stem + Glory

Louise tells me that she enjoys food and cooking and has herself been vegan for many years. Camyoga, the yoga business that she started in 2003, took off straight away and over fourteen years has grown into a multi studio enterprise offering not only yoga classes but workshops and teacher training courses too. Having opened a small cafe, really just for the yoga clients, Louise began to develop ideas for a larger vegan cafe and when a site became available at Mitchams Corner in 2016, she successfully crowdfunded the project to open a cafe and yoga studio there. The cafe was open to the public from the start, offering fast, fresh and healthy plant-based food to eat in or take out through the day and vegan fine dining in the evenings.

When the opportunity came to open a city centre vegan cafe at the old Afternoon Tease premises in King Street earlier this year, Louise didn’t waste any time. She again crowdfunded successfully to refurbish and refit both sites. Mitchams Corner is now a table service restaurant at lunch and dinner. The new King Street cafe, staffed by the existing Afternoon Tease team, is the place for fast healthy eating and it’s been buzzing since it opened its doors in November.

Stem and Glory counter — Image credit: Stem + Glory

If you’re eating in, you can pile your plate from a selection of hot dishes and salads for £9. If you’re on the go, you can do the same but put it in a box (small, medium or large) to take away. Wraps are always available along with cakes, coffee, tea, soft drinks and shakes. There’s a small breakfast menu at the moment but that will be expanding soon and a brunch menu is on the way.

Stem and Glory cauli and rocket salad — Image credit: Stem + Glory

My daughter and I grabbed a table on a busy Saturday and we were eating the colourful food with our eyes before it got anywhere near our mouths! Pumpkin tagine was aromatic while the earthy warmth of a beetroot and horseradish pie with mushroom was perfectly complemented by a fluffy mashed potato topping. Spicy bulghur wheat salad came speckled with herbs and mixed seeds, carrot and fennel salad was fresh and crunchy while the cauliflower and rocket salad was drizzled with a silky tahini dressing. There’ll be a different style of menu each week so there’s always something new and delicious on offer.

Louise’s success with Camyoga and Stem + Glory has been recognised with two awards this year – the Cambridge Business Excellence Awards Small Business of the Year and Best Newcomer at the Cambridge Food and Drink Awards. And I can’t wait to see what Louise does next ….. she has big plans for Stem + Glory in 2018 so watch this space!

http://www.stemandglory.uk

13 King Street, Cambridge CB1 1LH

I love King Street. Where else in Cambridge can you have a wet shave, buy a ukulele and replenish your art supplies, all without walking more than a few paces? And now a new cafe, The Locker, has just opened.

Locker Cafe frontage

Co-owned by Cambridge residents John and Adam Hodges, it is a real family affair. Dad, John, had a long held ambition to open a cafe in the city and when son, Adam, returned from a spell living abroad, they decided to go for it. Having acquired their premises in June, they worked hard on a total refurb and opened at the end of August.

They’ve done a great job. The cafe is light, airy and spacious with seating on the ground and first floors and a small balcony for sunny days. Art on the walls, curated by Adam’s mother, is for sale and sculpture is also exhibited. The team has future plans for live music and private hire of the cafe for events.

Locker Cafe balcony

I visited mid-morning and enjoyed a pot of green tea with an excellent white chocolate and raspberry blondie. Service was cheerful and charming. A small breakfast menu includes organic muesli, yoghurt, berries and sourdough toast. Cakes and other baked goods are served through the day while lunchtime offerings include sausage rolls, sandwiches, panini and bruschette. The menu includes vegan and gluten free options.

The tea selection is by T2, an Australian brand which Adam came to know during his time abroad. The hot chocolate is also an Australian brand but the coffee comes from nearer home as it’s supplied by local coffee legends Hot Numbers, who have created Davy’s blend especially for the cafe.

And finally, I have to mention the four legged member of the family, Adam’s much loved border collie dog, Davy Jones, who inspired not only the name of this new venture but also that signature coffee blend.

Opening hours are Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm, Saturday 9.30am – 5.30pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Instagram @thelockercafe, Facebook The Locker Cafe

54 King Street, Cambridge CB1 1LN