Bloom Cafe
Creative Tourist
Review by Anne Marie Pattenden: Bloom Cafe opened on Deansgate at the end of 2020, serving cakes and CBD-infused drinks. Now they’re launching their new brunch menu with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, making it an ideal place to refuel during those hectic shopping trips in the city centre.
It’s a light and airy space, decorated with houseplants, natural wood and comfortable chairs. A selection of easy listening K-pop tunes played at a discreet background volume adds to the contemporary, relaxed feel. The cheery staff welcome us to a comfortable plush sofa in the window, overlooking the busy street: a perfect spot for people-watching.
First of all, we try the signature CBD-infused coffee. For the unaware, CBD is a natural extract from cannabis or hemp plants, which is legal to use in the UK. Rather than getting you high, it has anti-inflammatory and calming properties. This elixir is available in either 10 or 20 mg shots to mix into any hot drink of your choice. We try a small shot in a flat white and a medium one in a black Americano.
An ideal place to refuel during those hectic shopping trips in the city centre
The flat white is very good – frothy with an earthy hint of the 10mg shot. To our surprise, we are able to taste the CBD more strongly in this. The Americano is mellow, smooth and drinkable. The 20mg CBD shot in it tastes mild and is almost undetectable, apart from a sheen on the top of the coffee. Both are very pleasant to drink, thanks to the use of South American mild arabica beans.
On to the food. The Blooming Good Breakfast lives up to its name. It comes with two runny-yolked eggs, two rashers of salty bacon, two herby sausages with a hint of appley sweetness, tasty garlic mushrooms, grilled tomato, a pot of beans and, of course, toasted sourdough bloomer. A hearty option.
My dining partner orders the generously proportioned Caprese sandwich, where a homemade pesto provides the basil element of a traditional Caprese salad, housed within a large bun. This is served with grilled corn on the cob, with a little bucket of french fries and a pot of mild chilli garlic mayo on the side for good measure. The Asian inspired pesto is a nice addition to the creamy, fresh mozzarella and plum tomato.
Not expecting the bucket of fries, we order a portion of salt & pepper chips. These turn out to be both an enormous portion and absolutely delicious thanks to the generous coating of five-spice and salt, not to mention the moreish addition of fried onions and peppers throughout. Quite honestly, we can’t stop eating them.
The Blooming Good Breakfast lives up to its name
However, this turns out to be our downfall when perusing the attractive shelf of sweet treats on our way out and find ourselves unable to eat another morsel. Although I do take home a sweet vegan honeycomb brownie for later, which tastes just as glorious as it looks. And thanks to the CBD shot I leave feeling alert, yet much calmer than when I arrived. If you’re looking for a civilised way to get through the Christmas shopping sprees ahead, pencil in a pitstop at Bloom.
