AFTER months of planning, the doors finally opened on Launceston’s Market House Arcade’s latest addition — the Earth Bistro & Deli.

The bistro opened its doors officially to customers on Friday, June 14, following a week of trial dishes provided each day including roast potatoes and freshly made pizza, and owner Anna Mitchell told the Post she was hoping to ‘smash it’ on her first day in business.

Asked where it all began, Anna said: “I had the idea about six months ago. I had previously worked with a lot of businesses in town on their social media and about two and a half years ago started working on promoting the Market House Arcade.

“I have now decided it is time to do something for myself and that’s where this little venture started.”

Anna said the aim for her is to create a minimum waste business that focuses on using local produce to create clean food.

She said: “I want there to be minimum waste. There is a recycled theme throughout, with much of the interior being made from pallets — there is very little that is new and we have tried to recycle things as much as we can, like repainting some old chairs instead of buying new ones etc.

“Where we can we will use minimal plastic, for example the strawberries come packaged in plastic and I send that back to the supplier so hopefully the message will get through that we don’t want it.”

Helping further reduce waste, Anna explained how the bistro and deli will work symbiotically: “With the food and items in the deli, the idea is to use as much local to Cornwall produce as we can — one of our main suppliers for example is Brockley Farm in Callington, which is just down the road, reducing food miles.

“The food on sale in the deli will be used in the bistro, for example if things are about to pass their display date we will use them that day in the bistro to avoid food waste.”

Anna said a big inspiration for her had been her mother: “I want to take it back to when I was younger, taking resources from the earth and using what you’ve got.

“My mum died four years ago and I want it to be very much about the story, this isn’t just a business for me. My mum was a fantastic cook, and her food was famous and it has encouraged me to become a better cook so I want to do this in her memory.”

Anna expressed her thanks to all who have supported her in setting up the Earth Bistro & Deli and to Paul and Jan Dyer for their help in preparing for opening day.