19 hours Ago
Café Air was once a small kiosk at the back of wooden flooring firm Essex Woodlife but has now expanded into the shop's former space, replaced the business and held a grand relaunch. After opening this week, the business is offering customers a range of Asian starters and a lunch menu freshly cooked - from green curry and satay to Vietnamese spring rolls. Manager, Sengrassamy Carter, who runs the café with partner and former Essex Woodlife owner Daniel Homer, believes they offer something truly unique on the High Street.
Originally from Laos, Sengrassamy said: “We have started differently by introducing Asian starters, people can have lunch here or they can take it away with them. “You can have coffee, tea, toast, poached eggs and avocado and he have a popular Thai lunch option which is like green curry, with satay or you can have Vietnamese noodle soup. “There are different chef specials as well ranging from Pad Thai to salmon grills with Phanaeng sauce.
” The café also serves classic banana cakes and Victoria sponges, iced teas, cold brews and a range of Asian coconut drinks and smoothies. Sengrassamy added: “It is different here, our staff are very friendly, and we are family run, my partner is her and my daughter works here as well. “Everyone is very friendly, and our decorations are really nice, it is very floral and cosy.
“We also run Thai nights on Fridays and Saturdays, and you can bring your own alcohol on those nights. “We have so many different menus and even though we are a small shop, we have a big difference. “In a couple of months, we are looking to get a takeaway going from here as well.
” The business originally started as a kiosk offering coffee for customers at Essex Woodlife, and is still furnished with tables from the business. Sengrassamy said: “I said why are we doing this when we can do something different, that is where the Thai and Laos food came in and I used to run other places serving thai food in Leigh.”.
