The Fat Croissant

My friends Natalie and Tim (little Paige too) own a lovely spot across from Sutton Park.

Located in the heart of Morningside, on the corner of Windermere and Sutton Road, you will discover “The Fat Croissant”.

Pop in before or after an early morning at the beach which is “on the way”.

Based at the Alliance Francaise, enjoy scrumptious breakfasts and light lunches in the garden area or inside the newly decorated venue with its cosy atmosphere.

The menu offers a variety of dishes, including freshly baked croissants, toasted sandwiches or health rolls, crisp salads, wholesome homemade meals and a great cup of coffee.

Although they are only open for breakfast and lunch, the Alliance Francaise arranges a list of concerts, mainly jazz, movie nights/open air cinema in the garden, art exhibitions and other events.

The Fat Croissant also caters for large bookings, takeaways, office lunches, corporate lunches and conferencing.

They provide outside catering and snacks and various functions such as birthday parties.

I really enjoy the coffee and watching Tim put great effort into each cup..

They say: “At The Fat Croissant, we are passionate about our coffee as is our supplier Colombo Fine Beverages Co, and serve a great cappuccino that is ready to drink the moment it reaches your table.

We “micro-texture” the milk portion of our cappuccino in order to enhance the natural starches and proteins in milk, making it a lot sweeter.

Our coffee’s flavour profile tends towards notes of Dutch-process cocoa and spicy accents, while its finish is full of sweet fruitiness courtesy of the carefully selected blend of three origins, Brazilian, Colombian and Ethiopian.

We provide you with one of the freshest and character-full cups of coffee possible!”

For sure I say!

Relax at the table during the week to have a break from your office. Sip on flavoursome coffees and work away on your laptop; or just sit idly in their garden. You might be able to get wireless connectivity (please ask) or at least a power point.

Read more here or telephone 031 822 8181.

I am off to go and make myself a steaming hot cup of aroma filled coffee.

4 thoughts on “The Fat Croissant”

I can smell the fresh aroma of coffee coming over the net….

Reminds me – need a cup soon. Keen to blog some pics from the spice shop today. What I did not mention, is that Tim gets his coffee from Colombo. As far as I know; it is the oldest coffee seller in Durban if not most of South Africa. Their history from their site: ” The Colombo story began many years ago when a young James Brown Richardson, who was employed by Thornton Tea and Coffee, was called to service during the First World War. An Australian veteran of the Siege of Ladysmith, he decided to move to South Africa some years before as he had grown fond of this charming land during a visit. After catching Malaria in East Africa during WW1, he was invalided out. When James (fondly known as “Jas B”) returned, he found that his employers had gone under and that he would have to carve his own path in order to continue in the industry that he loved. In 1917, Jas B opened his own shop in Johannesburg, South Africa and began to provide Tea and Coffee to the mines in and around the Transvaal (now known as Gauteng). But in 1922, when Jas B could not deliver to strikers during the Rand rebellion, he was forced to pack up his shop and move to Durban due to the threats of the strikers involved.

It was in 1923 that Jas B together with his son, Norman Richardson (who was only 17 at the time) founded The Colombo Tea Agency in a basement of the old Barnes & McFie Arcade in Durban. The Colombo Tea Agency was based on the Richardson family’s knowledge and “nothing but utmost value” approach to Tea and Coffee. The Colombo Tea Agency, specialists in Tea, Coffee and Cocoa, would continue to make their mark on the people of Durban through harsh times and dark realities, to the silver lining and even brighter future.

Fast forward to the early seventies – the Richardson family business was well supported in their decision to turn down offers in buying their West Street property (the original micro-coffee roastery and shop) as a part of a development project in 1972. In refusing to give way to big business, Norman Richardson, then MD of the company, quickly became a people’s hero receiving a flood of appreciative letters from all over the country.

Colombo Tea & Coffee Co. has undergone many changes, but time has taken kindly to the Colombo legacy and the preservation of our ideals. Our Mission since 1917 has been “To never compromise on the value of fine Tea and Coffee and Cocoa, and to spread our love of these fine beverages to all that we come into contact with”. We now have the opportunity to communicate this message with the entire International community, showing our knowledge and skills, passed down to us through generations of passionate research and development. Our young team is comprised of passionate roasters, blenders and baristas dedicated to the artisan science of flavour, especially the complex characteristics found in tea and coffee. Lead by Victor Richardson (fourth generation director of Colombo) and Kyle Fraser (the young blood and breath of life into Colombo) commitment to the local audience and web of local ‘business partners’ we are destined to spread our unique message to an eager market!”