A mum of two’s foodie dreams will come true when she opens a new cafe and farm shop in Gadebridge.
Dawn Potts, 39, of Hudnall Lane, Little Gaddesden, launches the venture, exotically named Bon Vida – Portuguese for good life – on Monday.
Made to order sandwiches, fruit and vegetables, and jams will be on offer, as well as the usual fare of cakes and pies baked by the owner herself. Customers will also be able to enjoy fudge from Wendover and pasties all the way from Cornwall.
Dawn trained as a commis chef and decided to go it alone after years working in the catering industry.
She said: “I don’t like the whole Gordon Ramsay atmosphere of working in a kitchen but I love cooking.
“I wanted to bring it back to the food and feeding people so I thought I could do this on my own.’
Her speciality brownies will be on the menu, after receiving rave reviews from friends and family including children Jasmine, 15 and Taylor, 17, that she started supplying local shops.
“I’ve been making them for years,” she said. “I started when my children were very young and most people I met that tasted them told me how lovely they were.
“After more friends and family tried them, it expanded, and people asked if they could order them!”
She’s hoping the cafe will become a hub for the community and is pleased to back in Hemel Hempstead where she was born and grew up.
She said: “I’d like to bring something to the community and build a strong local base. Lots of elderly people live round here might not be able to get down into town so often.
“So many people pop in every day and say: ‘I’m so glad you’re doing this, it is just what the area needs.”’
Bon Vida is in the Rossgate shopping parade and opens at 9am on Monday. Afternoon tea for £5 per person will be served from 2.30pm every day.