In case you’re wondering, khachapuri is a traditional Georgian dish of cheese filled bread and khinkali is a meat filled georgian dumpling and the good people of Henley will get to taste these delights as well as many other baked goods, cheeses and world foods, as Geo Cafe has opened it’s doors in Friday Street.

Originally from Georgia, now living in Caversham, what started for Keti & Zezva as a Georgian Street Food stall back in 2014 trading at local markets and festivals, including Henley, their food grew in popularity through it’s pop-ups and residencies in and around Reading which resulted in them opening Geo Cafe in Prospect Street, Caversham in 2018.

Keti says that they have always loved Henley and for many years would enjoy and explore the town visiting local cafes and shops whilst their daughter, Alexandra, attended ballet classes. Now having moved to Henley, Alexandra will running the shop in Friday Street.

She goes on to say that the charming bakery behind the shop was a winning point for them when viewing places last October. When things start to return to relative normality they see themselves running Georgian food workshops and cosy intimate feasts as well as baking khatchapuris (pictured below), running Georgian wine tastings and talking about all things Kartvelian (Georgian).

Image: khachapuri (pronounced ha·juh·puor·ree)

The family are looking forward to introducing different cultures, mainly Georgian which has recently become a hot topic for gastronomy as well as anthropology. There will be daily baked Really Good Bread (RGBread) which is all made in their micro bakery above their shop in Caversham which specialises in sourdough using traditional methods and heritage grains from all over the world, as well as running supper clubs with other local chefs covering different types of cuisines.

They are also a platform for small producers to showcase their produce they can be home bakers, cheese and charcuterie producers as well as jam or chutney makers and keep an eye out for their speciality Georgian spice mixes.

Anders their Head Baker, who is half Norwegian, also brings a Scandi influence to many of the pastries and breads, including Finnish-inspired Maustettupullas, spiced buns which are based on the classic “Pitkopulla”, with added extra spices and finished with a glaze and crunchy sugar crystals and Kanelsnurrer, Norwegian cinnamon and cardomom knots.

Kanelsnurrer

Geo Cafe in Friday Street

Maustettupullas

We always use local ethical produce where it was possible, here in Henley we will be bringing that niche with us and be expanding our RGbread range further. We already have our lovely first granary bread which we call the Henley Loaf and locals love it already in Henley and in Caversham. Also we will be adding another 10 miles delivery radius for the local produce delivery from our Henley store. 

We opened softly few weeks back and even without announcement we were lucky to have all the support we had. We had a great feedback and some of them are fascinated about Georgian cuisine that we can’t wait to embark on. For now we are concentrating on providing top quality local produce to Henley and surrounding area and delivering them to the doorstep. We have included some of the Georgian things on our stock and we also take bookings for oven ready khatchapuris on Sundays. 

Keti Maglakelidze

They are hoping to open Wed-Sun 9.00am til 4.00pm but ask to bear with them whilst they get on their feet. Opening times may alter, keep an eye on their social channels for any updates. 

For more information visit  geo-cafe.co.uk/

Café currently acting as a bakery, greengrocer and village store rolled into one. We deliver and we do takeaway, whipping up a range of healthy and ethically sourced treats inspired by Georgia and beyond.

Address: 7, Friday Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon

Instagram: @geocafeuk

Facebook: /geocafeUK