A word to the wise – polish off a New York cheesecake and polish up your literary skills at the same time, writes Peter Gruner

Bekim Visoka, owner of the Rustique Literary Café in Tufnell Park

IT'S a place where they apparently welcome writers, even those who, pleading poverty, manage to scribble away for hours on end sipping on just just one cup of coffee.
But then Bekim Visoka, 35, owner of the popular Rustique Literary Café in Tufnell Park knows that today’s struggling unknown could be tomorrow’s writing sensation.
Kosovan Mr Visoka, who took over the four-year-old establishment last September, is keen to maintain its reputation as a place for good home cooked food as well as an establishment for artists and writers to come and hang out.
Books line the walls and every Monday evening the café hosts a creative writing class for locals who want to polish up their skills.
Mr Visoka says that in his home country there is a great tradition of writing, much of it, sadly, dealing with painful periods of war and poverty.
He said: “The literature there is strong and emotional but these days I’ve no time to read because I’m too busy running the business. But I like people who like books and are well read. They are usually very civilised.”
But it is not just for a book that customers flock to the Rustique.
Home Cooked Apple and Caramel Cookie Dough Pie is a firm favourite among those with a sweet tooth, as is the New York Cheesecake and banana and walnut bread.
On the savoury side there are the goat’s cheese salad or Mediterranean vegetables, quiche or homemade soup of the day.
Irene Garron, who runs a creative writing course at the café every Monday evening at 7pm says she loves the atmosphere of the café.
“It’s perfect for us, very relaxed and quiet in the evening,” she said. “Hopefully it will inspire a lot of good writing. “

• Rustique Literary Café, 142 Fortess Road, Tufnell Park, London NW5 2HP. Call 020 7692 5590. Call the café for details of the creative writing course.