Cafe/Cake Shop name ideas!

[KenBarlow]

I've found a great location for a business I've wanted to start for years. For the past few weeks I've been putting ideas together to make it a reality, but I'm stuck on the name!

I think I'd like the name to focus more on the cake side, and sound classy or luxurious (the cakes will be, and suits the location) and less focussed on the cafe side as it'll be more about the baked items but a small lunch menu will be available.

Avoiding names to do with tea rooms or coffee, and not keen on having the word cafe in the title. Not asking for much am I?

One I came across that I liked is "The Cake Kitchen", it sounds more modern and more interesting than a cafe I feel. What do you think?

Possibly "Rachel's Cake Kitchen"? I don't mind sharing my name as I've name changed! I've added a logo idea that I found online, and I think this name would look good in a similar style?

I'd love something that sounds modern and high end.
Does anybody know any great names that I could learn from?

Any ideas or opinions would be great!

Bump!

Yes to the smoked salmon and cream cheese (my favourite filling!) and the goats cheese and chutney! The only thing I'd say is goats cheese seems to be a love it or hate it thing. I know of a few vegetarians who hate it so maybe another vegetarian filling? I like the idea of hot toasted bagels/sandwiches in winter and cold ones in summer. Maybe soup in winter and a ham or cheese ploughmans in summer? Also, would you use local ingredients? I.e, locally produced chutney etc. Was just thinking might be a selling point. Good luck with the business...wish I lived close to Yorkshire now!

good plan I think.
Eggs for one of the sandwich fillings perhaps ?- so just sliced or in a mayonnaise and you will have them to hand too.

Gingerbread Kitchen? :D

I think the plan is to have around 4 cold sandwich fillings served with salad and crisps

You need a vegan filling. Hummous and grated carrot (roughly grated) is good, maybe with harissa (if that's vegan) for people who want a bit more oomph. Fish (not shellfish) would be good - maybe teriyaki salmon flakes.

Goats cheese is vile!

Hummus and grated carrot is a great idea, and an option for vegans like you say!

Local ingredients will definitely be used where possible I know a lovely bakery to get bread from and I'll get really nice ham etc.

So maybe sandwiches will be ham and cheese, hummus and carrot, egg mayo and maybe one more.
May also make my own coleslaw to go with them!

Bagels: pizza (pepperoni optional), smoked salmon and cream cheese, goats cheese and chutney.

Soup and bread roll.

Does this seem like a well rounded menu?
Needs to be small but good!

Could I get away with not offering jacket potatoes do you think?

If you have a gluten free bread option, you should be covered. At the mo, you are all wheaty.

I am rather wheaty aren't I, gluten free bread will be kept in incase anyone needs it!

You could always do an afternoon tea sort of thing, fingers of cucumber and egg mayo sandwiches, and dainty cakes.
Oo scones! Cream teas!

Simple Salads?

Afternoon tea will be on offer a few months after we are up and running! I'm hoping to keep it simple at first and slowly build up so as not to throw myself too far in at the deep end

Can't decide whether to save scones for the afternoon tea or serve them daily, will have to steal my mums recipe for that one!

Do scones daily. Cream teas are a basic human right and should be available at all times. I am sure you can find a use for any clotted cream that needs using up.

I had this jam on a cream tea in Cornwall: www.cherrytreepreserves.co.uk/products/strawberry-rhubarb-vanilla-jam It was amazing! I bought a jar in the shop to take home (and nearly cried when I finished it). I will be asking Santa for some this year. You could sell posh jam and clotted cream in your shop to take away, as well as serving it on-site.

The Slice of Life
Bake, Ice and Slice
Victoria's Secret Sponge (maybe not)

That jam looks delicious! Great idea

I agree with an earlier poster about complicating it with too many product lines. Have you had training with regards to your legal responsibilities and best practice in terms of food safety hazards, controlling temperatures, food storage, food preparation etc?

Sorry to go all health and safety - but this will matter overall for inspections, not killing people etc of course and could impact on your menu decisions given the length of time you can keep certain foods and the amount of wastage you will have. So if you're starting out I'd keep it simple at first, and bear in mind shelflife - ie cakes and bread go off quickly left out on display, what needs to be kept chilled etc...

Also think hard about pricing to make sure you are fully costing in all your overheads, rates, utilities, staff costs etc

Anyway, I'm sure you've thought that all through but a lot of people who start cafes etc don't give enough thought to the returns they've got to make, once all costs are covered, to make any kind of profit. Its worth having a very clear budget and plan set out so you know and can monitor how long you have - as it takes time to build business.

Thank you for your post Garlic! Really sensible suggestions, some I've thought about and others that are on my list to look into!

I really want to just open a cake shop with no lunch menu if I'm honest, to keep it as simple as possible.

But I'm also concerned I'll miss out on customers who also want lunch when they come, admittedly I wouldn't really go out just for cake and coffee, I'd probably have lunch at the same time.

My plan was to have a small lunch menu with no cooking required. I have two worries, one that my menu will be too small and people will be dissatisfied or that it'll be too big and too much effort.

Struggling to figure out what is best to do at the moment! I'll be looking into it further but any thoughts or suggestions would be fantastic

Bump

Slightly distracted by how much I now want gingerbread.
I would just do something like panninis. Then you cover lunch, but can focus on cake. I'd come.

I love the sign. Presume there was a reason you couldn't use The Golden Bakery, which I loved I liked your other name choices though.
Sorry to post and run, DToddler is after the phone.

If you just want a cake shop with no lunch menu then I would honestly stick to the basics. You could end up with a lot of wastage from bread/bagels and fillings going off, as Garlic said.

Panini's last a bit longer don't they? (and I presume can be frozen? I know bread can be frozen but it's grim afterwards). I would only offer 3 choices - fish, veggie and meat:
Tuna melt (tuna, cheese, red onion)
Tomato, mozzarella and basil pesto
Ham & cheese
Serve with a side of posh crisps if eating in (and yes to homemade coleslaw too!)

I'd also offer sausage rolls and maybe a cheese and onion pasty?

When you get around to offering afternoon tea, make it "bookings only"

(By the way, I often meet friends for just cake and coffee, usually around 11am!)

Will reply asap!

I think the plan might be to offer quiche and a small selection of easy sandwiches to begin with. Both with home made coleslaw, salad and nice crisps. Nice and simple and easy to put together when ordered.

My dad has suggested buying in all my dinner options but I don't think it's an option for me. I don't know if it sounds silly, but the important part is that it's made by me. It wouldn't feel right to buy in!

I'd rather focus on the cakes etc, then if dinners go well I can always add extras once the business is up and running?

Definitely start off with a small menu and then expand when you are more confident and know your customers.

How about a frittata rather than quiche? A bit more 'modern' and suitable for those who don't eat wheat. And easier to make I reckon!

Angel cake 🍰