Our Cafe Story

by Gill de Oliveira for Storytelling Week 2020

By Gill from The Olive Tree Cafe

Gill & Weller de Oliveira run The Olive Tree Cafe at Logie Steading. This story weaves together the threads of Gill & Weller's histories to give a clearer understanding of how the Olive Tree Cafe came to be how it is today...

 

Our Cafe Story

A Scot and a Brazilian Meet in Florence

When we were asked to write a story about how we arrived at where we are today, it was honestly so difficult to know where to start. Part of me feels like the last ten years of owning the café have flown by and then I think of everything that has happened and it’s easy to believe that a decade has passed. The café is certainly all encompassing in its many wonderful ways.

Weller and I met in 2003 whilst we were both living and working in Florence. We had both moved there after university, Weller from Brazil and myself from the west of Scotland. I inherited a passion for good home cooking from my mum and attended a culinary school in Florence and then worked in a restaurant in the city centre. That Italian drive to create dishes that are so simple but full of flavour is still to this day what I love.

Brazil & Coffee; Coffee & Brazil

Weller’s passion is his absolute love for great coffee, an abundance of which he enjoyed in Italy. His grandfather in Brazil had owned a small coffee plantation in a rural village called Itapura and Weller spent many years as a young boy helping him and baking with his grandmother (Weller is the second boy in the photograph, holding the big spade). Our coffee beans in the café are 100% Brazilian, as there is of course no better kind! Florence is certainly a place that still remains close to our hearts due to our love of the culture, lifestyle and cuisine.

Weller at his Grandfather's Coffee Plantation in Brazil for Storytelling Week

Food, Coffee & Family in Scotland

After we met each other, we moved back to Scotland for work opportunities and for Weller to learn English. Once married we initially bought an old farm steading that we renovated to sell on, certainly a healthy introduction to Scottish life living in a two-berth caravan for two years in the north of Scotland! It taught us that hard work and perseverance always pays off and we knew then that we wanted to work together.

Owning and running a business involving our love of food and coffee was what we were so excited to achieve in 2010 when the café came on the market. After five years in its initial location (the current art gallery) we moved across the courtyard, literally wheeling the fridge across the cobbles to the bigger premises where we are today. Our ethos is to remain true to what we love, homemade food using the best quality ingredients we can find. We enjoy making and baking everything from scratch and feel that the customers can taste the difference.

Now with three wonderful children we have spent the years like any other family, juggling work and family time. Running the café that’s open seven days a week has been a challenge and a sleep deprived decade of menu planning, rotas, accounts etc! It has been worth it due to having the most wonderful staff and being surrounded by the most supportive Logie Steading community. Here’s to another great year of creating lots and lots of food, drinking gallons of coffee and welcoming our many loyal customers with a smile!

cafe courtyard for storytelling week
Weller at his Grandfather's Coffee Plantation in Brazil for Storytelling Week
8 February 2020
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Our Cafe Story

Terms & Conditions for fishing on Logie Estate

  1. Fishing on the river is restricted to 2 rods per beat and is to be by fly only. All fishing is from the right bank. By arrangement with the neighbouring estate there is no left bank fishing on the Relugas Middle and Top beats.
  2. The fishing is split into two 2 rod beats, Logie and Relugas, with Relugas sub divided into Middle and Top.  Beats can be taken together or separately. Logie is fished Monday to Saturday, Relugas Middle on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Relugas Top on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Beats change at midnight.
  3. Fishermen must contact Logie Estate office on 01309 611300 a day or so before arrival to organise being shown onto the river. A map of pools, beats and access routes will be provided.
  4. Bio-security is important to the future of the river and anglers are asked to observe protection measures. The Findhorn District Fishery Board Conservation Code will be strictly observed. To summarise: All fish caught up to 14th May inclusive must be released. From 15th May, all salmon over 9 lbs / 4 kg / 28 inches / 72 cm are to be returned.  Below that measurement at least 70% of salmon and 50% of grilse caught should be released and a maximum of 1 salmon and / or 2 grilse per rod per week may be retained. In September all fish are to be returned. No gaffs or tailers are allowed.
  5. The Findhorn District Fishery Board Bio-security measures will be strictly observed and all fishermen in the party must sign the Bio-security Declaration. (Also available at http://www.fnlft.org.uk/downloads/)
  6. The Estate recommends that barbless hooks are used, fishermen are in possession of a disgorger and that knotless nets are used. All possible care should be taken when returning fish to the river, they should be handled as little, and gently, as possible and should not be removed from the water.
  7. The catch should be reported at the end of each day of fishing to Logie Estate Office on 01309 611300. If the office is closed, please leave a message on the answering machine with the date, weight and pool. Please also report a nil catch day.
  8. Dogs are allowed on the river but must be kept strictly under control at all times. The Estate reserves the right to ask tenants to remove dogs if they are considered to be out of control.
  9. Rod, line and fly size are dependent on prevailing weather and water conditions and personal choice. In general, maximum rod length needed is 13ft with a size 8 or 9 line, usually floating. Fly sizes range from 6 – 8 in the spring down to 12 or less in summer low water.
  10. Safety must be considered at all times. All beats have a variety of pools with some suitable for most heights of water. Little wading is necessary and river paths are good however the fishing is within the Findhorn gorge, access to some of the pools is quite steep and a degree of rock scrambling is often necessary when playing and landing fish. Please be aware that a reasonable level of fitness and mobility is required. A buoyancy aid for each rod is provided and should be collected from Logie Estate Office on arrival, and returned to the Estate Office (or to the outbuilding opposite if office is closed) on departure. Logie Estate strongly recommends that buoyancy aids are worn when fishing and not doing so is entirely at fishermen’s own risk. Please pay attention at all times, avoid slips and falls, wear appropriate footwear, look out for overhead electricity lines, watch the weather and pay attention to livestock. Take extra care if fishing alone.
  11. Anglers need to supply or hire their own equipment (except buoyancy aids, which are provided).
  12. Ghillieing/tuition is available by on a first come, first served basis. This must be booked in advance with the Estate Office and is subject to availability. A half day ghillieing/tuition is approx. 3 hours, full day approx. 6 hours. Please contact the estate office or check our website for current rates. Rates do not include discretionary tips.
  13. Rod, Reel & Line hire is available by on a first come, first served basis. This must be booked in advance with the Estate Office and is subject to availability. Please contact the estate office or check our website for current rates. A rod, reel and line set is for one person and is subject to a fully refundable damage deposit of £100.
  14. Aside from fishermen, others, including rafters and kayakers, enjoy this stretch of river and mutual respect and consideration is expected.
  15. Bookings are confirmed when initial payment is received. Subsequent changes in dates or number or rods are entirely subject to the Estate’s discretion and to availability. Change of dates, if accepted, incur an administration fee. In the event of a cancellation the tenant must advise Logie Estate immediately, whereupon Logie will endeavour to re-let. If a new tenant can be found the deposit will be returned less any expenses incurred for advertising, office costs, etc., and less any shortfalls in discounted list price. Until such time as a vacancy has been re-let the hirer is responsible for making any further payment by the due dates. Failure to do so may mean that the hirer forfeits any refund if the dates are re-let. If it is not possible to re-let, all payments are still payable by the due date(s). It is unlikely that a refund can be made for a late cancellation. Logie Estate recommends that fishermen take out relevant cancellation insurance.
  16. Subletting fishing is only allowed with Logie Estate’s permission.
  17. Logie Estate reserves the right to immediately withdraw fishing without compensation from anyone who breaks these or associated conditions, or flouts normal standards of behaviour or fishing etiquette.