Wined, dined and rested.

Launceston happened to pop up on road signs just as our stomachs were telling us it was time for a little lunchtime something so we veered off the A30 about halfway between Bodmin and Okehampton to see what we could find. We were not expecting great things, not because we have anything against Launceston (which we did not know at all) but this was meant to be simply a “fuel stop” to prevent us passing out from lack of food between deepest Cornwall and home (because clearly that is an ever-present fear).

We thought perhaps we might find a pasty and a cup of coffee. However by one of those life-changing strokes of luck that we are prone to we happened to park in a small council car park near Southgate Place and as we walked towards the centre of this great metropolis we saw what looked like a large Victorian-ish building with a café on the ground floor.

It was getting late for lunch so we pounced; the first thing we noticed on the way in was the décor, which I can only describe as pseudo-industrial favela-influenced clean utilitarian. (That would be a catchy slogan, wonder why they don’t use it?…)

The next thing we noticed was the range of cakes and the signs advertising home-made soup and focaccia. This was promising, so we accepted the friendly waitress’s invitation to take a seat , ordered the sharing selection of mezze and looked around us. Wow, someone has had fun designing this!

It’s original, quirky and welcoming, and raises an appreciative smile. I loved the use of coffee sacks and cardboard, and the home-made tables using what look like old doors and scaffolding poles. And yet there are also one or two corners of this quite small venue that use carpet, upholstered chairs and exposed brickwork for those for whom repurposed doors are a step too far.

Somehow this delightful mishmash just works and you want to sit there and soak it all in. You feel the only thing missing is a soulful sax player or guitarist; you also feel that this place is run by people funky enough to think of this and they probably already do it.

Our sharing selection was delicious and interesting – the focaccia was outstanding.

I have since discovered that the name CoFo is short for Cornish Foccacia, but what they offer is so much more than just that. I noticed a sign up advertising a Diner’s Club, and golly look at that menu…..

Wow. I mean really – “popping wood pigeon” ?! And the fact that you bring your own bottle is a huge advantage when, like us, you always have a lovely selection of wines that you have brought back from France…

Our next project is to find somewhere nice to stay within either walking distance or taxi distance of CoFo so we can book in to one of their Diner’s Club events. I think we may have found a seriously interesting food venue.