Vegan Café

Meet Carol
– cook & baker extraordinaire!

Hello!

My name is Carol and back at the beginning of 2005 I visited the old Steiner School here on Perry Court Farm with the view to take up employment with the school and for my children to attend.

I was given a tour of the school and was brought into the theatre foyer not knowing what the building was used for. I was led into the dark auditorium and when the lights were switched on, I fell in love instantly. There in front of me was this amazing, fantastic stage and large seating area. It sold the whole school to me. I have always loved the theatre and many years prior I owned a costume/theatre make up business. I felt I had arrived home. I’ve lived on the farm site since August 2005 and reluctantly have only just moved off site. The valley has been my home for longer than my own birth home growing up in Surrey.

Terry and Aly have done an amazing job bringing the theatre back to its former glory and breathing life back into it.

And now I find myself involved once again over at the old school site but having morphed into the café cook and baker.

I have baked all my life and when my children were young I would always create exciting carved 3D cakes for their birthdays, such as the Mr Men and Postman Pat.

I grew up in a large family and my dad was chief of everything, including cook and food provider. Back then everything was meat and 2 veg. No fancy meals or cooking, but over the years I have experimented with my cooking; adding more flavours, using herbs and spices and adapting recipes to accommodate my changing tastes.

I stopped eating meat at 28 years old and after years of using ‘fake’ meat substitutes, such as soya mince and Quorn products, I tend now to use vegetables, beans and pulses as the basis of my meals.

I enjoy baking and creating delicious sweet treats and it has been a learning curve for me to bake delicious vegan delights, as I’m so used to using eggs in my baking. I think I’m nailing it and hopefully you will too!

At the café I always offer soup and a hotpot. I constantly change the recipes so I’m not repeating the menu. The soup served has been different every single time and I enjoy serving unusual flavours and combinations, such as Beetroot and Rhubarb soup.

The only, so far, repeated menu has been my own chilli recipe that I have adapted and tweaked over the last 25 years, and a chunky Ratatouille. I like to challenge myself to try new things.

I’ve recently started to bake my own bread which is served with all the soups and hotpots. I wish to expand on my bread making repertoire and offer it for sale. I also intend to offer other homemade goodies such as homemade granola and pickled vegetables.

Do pop along to the café and introduce yourself and become part of a growing, thriving community down here in the valley at The Garlinge Theatre.

I look forward to meeting you.

Carol x