The site is remarkable as it is in an old china clay pit. With all the visitors there are several places to eat. We had a coffee and a cake when we arrived but later we all needed more sustenance after wandering around the Biodomes.
In the large food court a sign caught our eyes.
Help yourself to jam and cream!
Well we all three thought we were in heaven and next to no time, three scones were chosen and tea was ordered. We went for fruit scones as there was only one plain scone left and that was a bid of an odd shape. Tea was presented in mugs. The Passenger is not a great fan of mugs as she thinks tea should only be served in fine china cups and tea pots.
The Passenger and the Friend also like their tea the same strength. Strength is perhaps the wrong word to describe their tea, anaemic is a better word. Frugality is also a trait they share so we ended up with two mugs of hot water and a, as in one, tea bag. The driver had his usual everyday tea.
We helped ourselves to the jam and cream, luckily there was enough for the three of us!
The cream was clotted and the jam was strawberry.
The whole ethic of the Eden project is of sustainability and in this spirit the jam and the cream are both sourced locally. The scones are backed fresh each day in the kitchen of the restaurants. The scones were good, a bit heavy, fresh but not just out of the oven fresh. It would have been better if they had been popped into an oven just to reheat them.
The cafe area was interesting, it was laid out with long tables and benches made from RSJs and thick planks.
Milk was supplied in a large jug from which you helped yourself and serviettes were a kitchen roll on a pole, dotted around the tables.
When we were there it was not very busy and we had plenty of space but I would think if the Cafe was busy it could get very cramped.
We all enjoyed our cream tea, especially the Friend as she was finding a bit of a long time since the last feed. The Passenger managing to help herself to the correct amount of jam and cream without the embarrassment of having to go back for a refill.
Jam and Cream:- 5 Quality and portion size as we did the portion control it could hardly be anything else
Scones:- 4 Good and made on site.
Tea:- 4 A reasonable choice.
Service:- 4 Friendly counter Staff.
