Yesterday, Friday, 20 Feb, the rain didn’t deter us, and we went again to Waharoa to our favourite lunch place, the Kaimai Cheese Café. As always, great. Light, bright, cool, clean, tasty. We’ll certainly be going again. You are to be congratulated on creating such a place – always a pleasure to visit, and every mouthful of every meal enjoyable.

I had a look at the cards on your tables. I see “Préparez pour manger” translated as “Ready to eat”. In fact it means something completely different. It means “Prepare (it) for eating”, that is, you have to do some work on it yourself before you can eat it. It is not yet ready to eat. The correct phrase for “Ready to eat” is “Prêt à manger”.

But I have to ask, why put French on those cards anyway? Do you really get a stream of French visitors? If so, all the more reason for using correct French, because they, the French, tend to be a bit touchy about their language.

I suggest you get someone who really knows the language well to supply you with impeccable French.  Your current source appears to be below the standard required.  I’ll do it for you if you like.  No charge!

Or, better still, leave the French out. Your café is of a high enough standard not to require the snobby pretentiousness of using French. Have as much confidence in good old English as you can have in your briliiant café.