Sunday was wet and windy. The temptation, after another busy week, was to light the fire and mooch around at home. Thankfully we reasoned that a blustery dog walk by the sea, somewhere new, would justify the reward of a lovely lunch.
We have had on our list of ‘places to visit’, the Barefoot Kitchen at Gunwalloe for some time now, but have never made it down there. Due mainly to laziness; 40 miles west can seem a long way when we have an abundance of amazing beaches, coves, beautiful coastline and eateries all much closer to home. Well we made the trip and it was well worth the drive!
The Barefoot Kitchen is an interesting mix of shop & cafe which has long appealed to us. The shop sells ‘lifestyle’ accessories suited to the Cornish market, outdoorsy, beachy & all very stylish. The cafe is a wonderfully simple setting with a small but perfectly formed lunch menu, from which we chose the chorizo & bean stew, served with flatbread. A hearty and warming bowlful of deliciousness; perfect for thawing us up after a walk along the coast path and down onto the beach. Of course we felt it would have been rude not to sample the wonderful looking chocolate brownies with our coffee, so we did. Origin coffee served in Freud cafetieres is a nice touch of quality.
The stove was lit and the atmosphere and simple decor of the cafe, perfect for the rugged coastal position, inspired both Natalie and me. It reminded us both of our shared taste for a simple, honest aesthetic, formed from natural materials, well crafted and purposeful. Which perhaps has become a little blurred in recent times, hardly surprising given the array of differing tastes and styles that we are dealing with on a professional level, day to day. I can’t help thinking of the expression: “can’t see the the wood from the trees”!
The essential ingredients for creating the Barefoot look? We are talking pared down, industrial maritime; not sea-sidey beach hut. Think stripped out 1920′s sail loft. Bleached wooden flooring (eg. Kahrs Ash White Matt Lacquered); a monochrome paint scheme, cast iron woodburning stove, some vintage industrial lighting (try Skinflint Design for original reclaimed pieces).
I hope you get a chance to visit this fantastic place and come away feeling as inspired as we did. Having done some research on Gunwalloe, I should just share with you this interesting fact: “The parish name is taken from the Breton saint Winwaloe, whose mother is reputed to have grown a third breast when she had triplets.” Now you know!
