Ginger and White

On Saturday we had a lovely, leisurely meander across the heath to Ginger and White in Hampstead. Hampstead is not short of cafes but a disturbing proportion of these are French-style patisserie chains, the kind where the people serving have dodgy fake French accents. Ginger and White is an all together more authentic experience. A Brit/Aussie collaboration, it aims to be a British place serving excellent coffee and good, locally sourced food.

The cafe itself is tiny but well laid out with a cosy sofa cubby hole, a row of seats along the window and a large wooden table that was spread with newspapers and couples searching for privacy at opposite corners. Old chapel chairs, rustic water jugs and earthy crockery gave the place a natural, slightly retro feel.

The long black was smooth with a good crema although I have to say that even for Hampstead it was expensive. I have no desire to consume a ridiculous pint-sized concoction but the long black was about half a small cappuccino cup and Ian’s latte was a miniature tumbler at £2.30 a go. Still, we were swayed by the cakes which were utterly divine: a light but deeply chocolatey chocolate cake and a clementine and almond cake that was soft and sweetly tangy.

The food menu looked good too but after the Lantana experience I can’t help wondering if Ginger and White is big enough for its grand culinary ambitions. Coffee and cake is enough for me so we sat for a while, watching the tiny witches and wizards of Hampstead go by. It was Halloween afterall and a huge pumpkin adorned the communal table, smiling through its orange teeth.

Ginger and White 
4a-5a Perrins Court, Hampstead, London, NW3 1QS