Franze & Evans

As popular in the arty world as she is, C needed to go to a fabulous newly-opened design shop on Redchurch street over the weekend. The perfect excuse for her to come to my neck of the woods, for us to spend too much money on unnecessary notebooks and mugs, and to have a long catch up over tea and cake. 

I used to walk past Franze & Evans every day on my commute; whether I was on the way there or on the way home, it always had the most welcoming atmosphere. People would be filling the pavement chairs come rain or shine, happily calming music would float out onto the street, and the smells from the kitchen, and the clinks of wine glasses, would tempt me far too near, far too often.

Meeting C on our first properly autumnal afternoon here in London, meant it was time for  cake. Lots of cake. I had to let C decide - the collection is like looking at my idea heaven, and it becomes torturous trying to choose. Towers of pretty cupcakes, loaf cakes elegantly hovering near by, sponges layered high, cookies bigger than my face lying in long rows. She returned with a selection of two, intending that we choose one and share it. It didn't take much convincing her to get both and share both. Good job I know what I'm doing when it comes to putting in a cake order.

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and walnuts. Perfect layers, just the right amount (i.e. a very English amount) of icing, and crumbled crunchy walnuts. That went down a treat. Washed down with a pot of Earl Grey.

And then we moved on to slice number two. The winner. Mainly because of salted caramel. Banana loaf with salted caramel mascarpone cream and banana chips. Because everything banana-y is better with banana chips. We fought over the icing and then had to leave before we ordered another cake to try. The best way to spend an autumn afternoon. Many more afternoons will be spent here with many more cakes and many more cups of tea.