You'll be well versed by now regarding my dislike of big chain restaurants, pubs and coffee shops. Whilst pubs are dying out here in Britain, coffee shops are thriving, big chains like Starbucks, Costa and Caffè Nero are on every corner, business is booming and profits are going up!
These big chains can afford to secure deals on properties, they pay top whack and have the power to destroy small businesses, a strategy of complete homogenisation and stultification, and we the public are happy to buy into the whole vacuous experience.
I have been doing a lot of eating out lately and on the whole I've been really disappointed (see post: Beefeater, Big Chains And The Big Con) however, one café I can always rely on is Josie's wine, coffee and deli café.
Immediately upon entering Josie's you can feel the energy, Josie's has a strong community feel and creative lean, the stylish, diminutive interior is a far cry from the homogenised settings of chain coffee shops.
This atmospheric café delivers on all levels, the owners have taken on the mantle of speciality coffee purveyors and all of the staff are friendly and knowledgeable baristas. The owners have rather cleverly realised that there are parallels between coffee and wine, for the more discerning customer who appreciates Monmouth coffee, it makes good sense for the owners to surround the space with wine racks filled with speciality wines, there is a definite correlation between nice wine and good quality coffee.
What I love about Josie's is nothing is over complicated, ingredients are fresh and of very high quality, delicious rolls and sandwiches crammed with fillings, inspired salads, comforting homemade soups and of course, scrumptious home baked cakes.
Josie's offers the personal touch, customers are treated as individuals and even if I haven't been there for several weeks the staff always recognise me. The devil is always in the detail, I only drink soya milk and rarely do I find a café or restaurant which supplys it, in Josie's I can have a soya latte, sheer bliss.
For this wonderful food and convivial environment I paid less than I would for a coffee in a cardboard cup with a muffin wrapped in cellophane at one of the big chains! Small businesses should be supported when they are as fantastic as this.
'Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us, life is so endlessly delicious.'
- Ruth Reichi
Love Donna xxxxxxx
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