Newbiggin cafe owner bakes her way to record book

Aug 21 2008 by Kim Carmichael, The Journal

A CAFE owner is scone mad – with a mind blowing 42 varieties on offer to customers. Jackie Nevin has racked up the mammoth selection in just 16 months since opening Nibbles Cafe on Newbiggin’s seafront.

And scone fans are flocking to the store to sample varieties including chilli, Turkish delight and ginger and pineapple.

Jackie, 54, said: “My customers tell me I should be in the Guinness Book of Records.

“I haven’t contacted them yet – I think I’ll concoct a few more before I do that. Maybe 57 varieties.

“Personally, I enjoy a nice cheese scone so I decided to try adding to that and I did a cheese, ham, leek and garlic. I made a batch of six and put them on the counter for customers to try to get their reaction.

“My regulars said they were spot on, so I progressed from there, with lots of variations on a cheese scone. Then I thought it shouldn’t be all savoury, so I set my mind to coming up with some sweet choices – like rhubarb & custard, plum, black cherry & white chocolate, coffee & walnut. My latest is Turkish Delight.”

Jackie and husband Colin, 57, from North Seaton, opened the cafe in the 1930s-designed former Italian ice cream parlour 16 months ago and now have eight part-time staff.

Jackie, a grandmother-of-seven, said: “Colin and I always said we would love to run a little business together. We realised if we were going to do something, now was the time.

“I learnt how to cook in the old-fashioned way, by my mother’s side. I come from a family of nine and my mother and I used to stand baking every Sunday morning, making scones and cakes for the tea.

“She showed me how to do everything – which was how it was then.

“The cafe is hard work but we both enjoy it. We have a good crowd of regular customers. The scones are very popular – I probably have some customers who have tasted every one on the menu.”

A Guinness World Records spokesman said there was no category for baking the biggest choice of scones, but he would be happy to discuss it with Jackie.