Brunch at Basil

The best place for a long-awaited catch-up with a good friend is in a comfy wooden chair in a cafe, with a delicious cake on the table and a hot coffee in your hands.

I caught up with my dear friend B last week, and our meeting completely fulfilled this criteria. After a little deliberation as to our location, she took me to one of her favourite new places; Basil, in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. I am always keen to try new places, and although we were a little tempted by the brand new Bill's which had opened opposite, we managed to find a table for two in Basil and settled down for some fresh, local produce.

Basil prides itself as a wholefoods cafe, and as soon as we stepped in we could tell that we were in for a treat. Freshly baked cakes adorned the counter; slices of brownies, great marscapone mountains dotted with blueberries and crunch peanut butter bars were piled high with pride. Further along there were bowls overflowing with salads, brightly coloured and full of flavour. Fresh frittatas and quiches were next, their huge slices filled with vegetables. Delicious sounding coffees and specials were scrawled on the blackboards. I didn't know where to start.

B plumped for a tasty frittata and a blueberry and marscapone cake with a large latte. Unfortunately I'd been silly enough to have already eaten a light breakfast, and it was a little too early for lunch - so I managed to get the last slice of apple and cinnamon cake and opted for a tasty hazelnut latte.

Basil was full and bustling. It's only a small cafe, so we were lucky to get a table (thank you to the kind member of staff who called us back in as we thought we would have to leave!) The staff were friendly and helpful and our food arrived quickly - everything was delicious and tasty and...well, let's just say it didn't last very long! The place seemed popular and we sat there for just over an hour sharing stories and marveling at the food before ordering our bill and vowing to return again soon!

I'll most certainly be going back to Basil - if only to have the chance to try one of their gorgeous looking salads.

Jo 

xxx