Liz Cottam to open Cora bakehouse and dining room in Boston Spa

A contemporary bakehouse and dining room from Liz Cottam, chef-patron behind Home and the Owl in Leeds, will open in Boston Spa in May.

Cora will offer bakery and pâtisserie-based breakfasts, lunch and afternoon tea alongside a selection of cakes, pastries and wines. The menu includes dishes such as Bloody Mary sourdough with rare-breed bacon and tarragon tomato jam; foie gras and plum Danish swirls; mushroom and black garlic parfait on marbled, truffle ciabatta with Pedro Ximénez sherry butter; black sesame and tangerine eclairs; and pear drop pies.

The first few weeks after opening will be for collection only. Cora will bake a small selection of products to take away each week, alongside two weekly changing tasting menu boxes for brunch and lunch.

During the summer months, picnic hamper pre-orders will also be available, to include blankets, food, Champagne and a map to a picnic spot by the river.

Cottam said: “We’re offering elegant yet fun and playful pastry and bread creations that are very different from what you typically find in your traditional tearoom or old-fashioned French pâtisserie.

“I love making a real event out of eating, so I decided to create a place where the ceremony of afternoon tea could be embraced and rolled out to other dining times of the day too. I’ve included a wide variety of expected and unexpected ingredients and flavours in the menu to update the pâtisserie format. To turn up the sense of occasion even more, every dish is paired with an optional carefully selected wine or cocktail.”

She added: “One of the most exciting things about this project is that I’ve tracked down and pulled together a full female senior team. My general manager, head pastry chef and head baker, alongside me make up an incredibly creative and formidable partnership. The development process has been so inspiring and enjoyable, I’m very much looking forward to showcasing what these amazing women can do.”

IMAGE: Ben Bentley