Jess is the sort of person who’ll ask you how your day’s going, and really means it. She truly cares about her customers, her friends, and it shows. Her warmth combined with her incredible baking, delicious coffee and the bustling homey vibe of the cafe leave you utterly content, yet wanting to come back time and time again. Here she tells us how she’s staying positive and adapting to these unprecedented circumstances.
Hey, I’m Jess. I own a small cafe in the centre of Newquay called the Jam Jar which is where I have dedicated my heart and soul for the past 7 years. I have to admit, on closing last week I was more than a little lost without it! Not just the routine of going to work at 7.30am and starting the day with a good espresso coffee, but all the amazing conversations I had every day with the customers, the Jam Jar girls, the delivery guys - even the daily catchups with the staff when I pop into Sainsbury’s! I’m always grateful for how much I love my work but it’s now become even more apparent.
After a few days of hard thinking (and a lot of tears) I decided to reach out to the local community and see if they wanted a slice of the Jam Jar action at home whilst on lockdown. Turns out cake and coffee really can help in any situation. So every Saturday I’m doing a local doorstep delivery of gluten free cakes and freshly ground coffee to customers both old and new. What’s really made the whole process so special is being the middle man to people buying treats for their mums, dads and grandparents in isolation, or someone buying a friend some cake and coffee who are living alone to show them they’re loved and not forgotten. I’m also thinking about maybe doing some online baking tutorials to go along side the recipes I share on my blog to keep up interactions with people as, alongside baking, it’s the best part of my job.
When I’m not in the kitchen boxing up cakes, talking my dog Mack for brisk beach walks right on our doorstep is what’s keeping me positive. Luckily our first week of lockdown has been bathed in some amazing Cornish sunshine. Also, when I’m not baking (or glued to houseparty chats) I’ve been reading in the garden to embrace slowing down a bit and soaking up the vitamin D.
I’ve also wanted to get back into yoga for so long so I’m using this opportunity to taking part in some home classes using the app Zoom to support local instructors. I had a lovely evening class with Ellie Murray Yoga last week during a beautiful sunset on my decking. I’m excitedly awaiting online classes from my friend Swanny of swandivepilates to help us all keep in check!
My husband Dan has also been hard at work kitting out our garage so we can still do our workouts from CrossFit Newquay to help balance out all our late night chocolate binges! I definitely think one of the most important things in unknown times like these is to try and stay as fit and healthy as possible both physically and for your mental wellbeing. Fingers crossed we’ll all be squeezed back into the jam jar, shoulder to shoulder, before too long!
Lots of love
Jess x
