Inside this month:
Putney People
T&T’s original Artist in Residence Harry Wij on her new artistic venture.
Stage Kool
We meet John Tobias, principal of Putney based performing arts school.
Load of cobblers
Recipe for delicious Autumn Peach Crisp
Coffee of the Month
Yes – they keep on roasting amazing coffee at Square Mile!
Charity Corner
T&T VIP Jill, running for breast cancer research
Scroll down to read or click on the cover to download a digital copy.
Greetings T&T VIPS!
I hope you’ve all enjoyed a wonderful summer. Apart from a couple of lackluster weeks, the summer was long and actually pretty sunny.
Amanda, Clara and I were very fortunate to get away for a couple of weeks again this year where between sun, sand and pool I managed to reflect on the last 5 years at T&T and the journey ahead of us.
There has been a lot to learn along the way about all facets of running a little neighbourhood café in Putney. It’s been a great ride so far, made possible in no small part to Patrick , Massimiliano and our wonderfully dedicated team.
But we wouldn’t have lasted very long without your generous support, constructive feedback and continued custom.
This newsletter has been a wonderful way to stay in touch and I personally have met so many talented, inspiring and hard working Londoners over the years. It’s been a real pleasure.
The next chapter of T&T will be unfolding over the next few months when we open our second site at a soon to be disclosed location.
I’m sure that this next part of the journey will be as eventful, enlightening and downright terrifying as the last but I want you to be assured that T&T Putney remains our baby and we will continue striving to ensure yours is still the best breakfast in Putney!
Thanks everyone for your support. More news to follow!
Local Talent - Harry Wij
Longtime T&T guests will remember Harmke Wijbenga (Harry) working studiously in the café creating whimsical illustrations for children’s books fuelled on T&T cappuccinos. Harry now has an Etsy shop where you can buy original paintings, drawings and greeting cards. We catch up over coffee...
How did it all start? How did I get into my art? I guess I'm in it whether I like it or not, or rather; it’s in me. It's part of my identity. My brother was the technical one (taking apart computers and putting them back together) and I was the artistic one. It sometimes works like that in families, as if there are certain vacancies to fulfill.Just like my love for children’s books, which I read until deep into the night (with a flashlight under the blanket so my mum wouldn't see it), my passion for creating pictures never really went away.
Throughout my life I kept circling back to it until I finally realised that this is what I'm supposed to do (Yes mum, you've been saying that all along, I’ve got it now). It was a gradual process to get into it properly. I studied to be an art teacher and even though my work has always been illustrative in character, there were still a huge amount to be learned. So ever since I moved from The Netherlands to London, over ten years ago, I used my spare time working on my own- and other people's projects, teaching myself whichever skill was needed for the job at hand. Now I'm running an Etsy shop, where I sell my original paintings, drawings and greeting cards, I adapt and create pictures to put on Redbubble, I take on commissions and I'm very exited to start teaching art classes to kids for OPENEaling in October. The picture book I illustrated will have a second, improved print and I'm also developing several concepts for middle grade books which I'll finish writing and illustrating at some point (I will! Honestly!). and that is only the tip of my creative-plan- iceberg.
You can have a look at my work and find links to the different platforms I use on my website.
Talking about my website, creating it was an adventure in itself . I always like to give whatever I do my own spin. This doesn't necessarily make it better and definitely not easier, but is does make it more exciting.
I wanted my site, like my pictures, to give an impression of a story. Because to me, even making a one off, random picture, no matter how complex or simple, is like creating a new little world where anything is possible, a story in itself.
The most challenging about being an artist for me is the solitude. I enjoy working by myself up to a point, after that I crave some hustle and bustle around me.
That’s where Tried & True came in. For a long time I used the cafe as my personal office and art studio, while drinking coffee with lots of milk, lots of sugar and lots of cake and on occasion treating myself to a lunch of pulled pork or scrambled eggs with salmon. Unfortunately, I moved a bit further away and don't have the opportunity to pop in as often as I used to. ForalotoftheworkIdoatthemomentI need the equipment that I have at home (maybe if Rob organised a five meter long desk for me, I could bring it along) and a lot of my time is spend with my son or making music with the band that I'm in but whenever possible I'm back to enjoy the atmosphere, good service and of course Patrick’s playlists In the background! HW
T&T's Putney People
Originally from Hull, T&T pancake lover John Tobias moved to London at 16 to study at the Arts and education school in Chiswick.
From an early interest in ballet aged 9, John has built a successful career in musical theatre across the West end, television and the world. He has danced in Cats, Crazy for You, and Guys and Dolls and acted in BBC children’s shows The Tweenies and Fimbles. A career highlight was performing in Verdi’s Il Trovatore at the Sydney Opera House.
John decided that he wanted to pass on his love of performing and opened 2 very successful schools in the north of England, with over 60 children attending each week. Putney Stage Kool opened a year ago and it is going from strength to strength.
The school is based in the brand new 300 seat drama studio at Ark Putney Academy. They offer term time Saturday classes and 5 day holiday workshops for 5 to 15 year olds. Each 12 week term the children study a popular musical. John explains “We take 5 of the best songs and, along with a specially adapted script, work towards a performance at the end of term for family and friends. This term we are taking on the fantastic Queen Musical WE WILL ROCK YOU”
Stage Kool differs from other children’s stage schools that often focus on the few talented individuals at the expense of the majority. “We however, pride ourselves on nurturing the under confident students so everyone gets a chance to shine”.
John continues “Our ethos is Confidence Coordination and Fun. I have had parents telling me how much of a confidence boost the classes have given their children. That they are more willing to put their hand up in class; they feel more self assured at school and are able to talk with confidence with adults and make new friends. Above all else they have huge amounts of fun while learning vital life skills” Stage Kool manages to keep the school accessible and affordable without additional expenses like t- shirts, show tickets and videos. You just pay for the lessons. However, a major point of difference to other stage schools and workshops is that they only employ industry professionals who have performed in the West End of have appeared on TV. No longer dancing full time, John enjoys walking off all those T&T pancakes and flat whites with his Jack Russell, Monty across the beautiful parks of Putney, Wimbledon and Richmond on his days off. A huge film and theatre fan John enjoys taking in a movie at Barnes Olympic Studios.
Want to lean more?
Stage Kool welcomes new children at any time and there is a no risk trial session for new potential students.
Parents can sign up by calling John on 07540 838282 or you can check out www.stagekool.com
Recipe – Autumn Peach Crisp
Traditionally, autumn is the best time of the year – for eating!. The hard work in the fields and the orchards has been done and the harvest is in. The abundance of nature’s bounty is something to be enjoyed while preparing for the cold and renewal of the winter months. What better way to enjoy crisp nights in with this delicious and simply peach crisp recipe. Crisps are traditionally north American and distinct from cobblers (made with drop biscuits) and crumbles (crisps minus the oats).
Ingredients:
8 large ripe peaches (about 6 cups), peeled, pits removed and sliced 1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the Topping: 1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour 1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes
Method:
Preheat oven to 180C.
1. In a large bowl combine the peaches, sugar, flour, lemon juice and vanilla. 2. In another bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Place the peach mixture in the bottom of a large casserole dish and sprinkle the crumble on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and light golden brown.
Serve hot with a big dollop of ice cream!
Filter Coffee of the Month – Quejina Guatemala
Tasting Notes: REDCURRANT/ HONEYSUCKLE/ JUICY
This is Square Mile’s first Guatemalan of the season and we welcome its fruity redcurrant and sweet honeysuckle flavours.The Quejina farm (pronounced, keh-jee-nu) surrounded by a beautiful landscape of forests, has been operated by the Ramírez family for generations. The mountainous region of Huehuetenango close to the border with Mexico, is the source of many of our favourite Guatemalan coffees. The unique taste profile created by their soil, weather and geography shines in the cup with great acidity and a well-structured texture. Nicolás has further developed his coffee by processing this lot as a natural, adding a subtle layer of fruit to the flavour. His ambition for the future is to work with his team to further optimize their quality, as well as planting experimental varieties on new plots of land.
Running for a Great Cause
T&T VIP Jill Larmer recently ran 10k in the Richmond Runfest in aid of BreastCancerNow.
“It was a beautiful morning in Kew Gardens, and I am pleased to say that we all finished in good health, having raised a few pounds for this worthwhile charity... Shortly afterwards, it was a very fast taxi back to TnT Putney to refuel with a healthy breakfast!” Jill laughs. Jill has set quite a high goal for this worthwhile charity “the disease is hitting just too many women, much too early in life and I wanted to do what I could to help”. T&T has made a contribution to this very worthwhile charity through Jill’s just giving page. If you’d like to show your support to the cause please visit. http://www.justgiving.com/Jill-Larmer4friends