There could have been no greater compliment for Janette and Philip Dixon than a Frenchman settling down on their Kendal Creperie doorstep to while away the day because it so reminded him of home.

The Dixons don't do things by halves and Janette is a stickler for detail so, after she'd sourced a mobile kitchen in which to make her crepes, she set about recreating a small corner of France for a truly authentic dining experience.

This is the Dixons third year in business and it has been their best. The venture has also resulted in a vastly improved 'life balance'.

Married for 30 years, Janette and Philip met in Kendal when they joined the same gospel choir. Birmingham-born Janette was a trainee teacher at Charlotte Mason at the time, Philip had been a pastor with the Salvation Army in Wales and was on a three month furlow in his home town.

The newly-weds went back to Wales but Philip is a 'man of the hills' says Janette so it was only a matter of time before they returned to the Lake District.

"The pull of home was too strong," she recalls.

This is also a lovely part of the world to bring up children, in Philip and Janette's case Zac (28), Zeke (25), Zoe (23), and Zarah (13).

It is inevitable with such a brood that, as parents, you get roped in to help out at school. And so it was that the couple started coaching table tennis.

They were good - so good, in fact, that they took teams through to the national finals.

Unfortunately, coaching table tennis doesn't pay the bills and Philip ended up having to find more and part-time jobs to help cover their cost of living - and the occasional family holiday.

"We loved travelling around Europe," said Janette who is chairman of Kendal's Rinteln twin town association.

Add to the equation the fact that Philip speaks French and the couple adore crepes and you begin to see why Janette then had her brainwave.

"I had this idea about buying a crepe-making machine," she explained. "There are 20,000 crepe-sellers in France but only about 100 in this country."

The good summers we had been having sadly deserted the Dixons when they had their first outing at Sedbergh Gala. And then came foot-and-mouth.

"We had worked our socks off and were so nervous," said Janette, who consoled herself with the fact that at least the couple had given it their best shot.

But the queues didn't go away.

"We hadn't got it quite right but we knew we were on to something."

And so it was by the steam gathering at Flookburgh later that year the couple were well and truly in their creperie stride and regularly attracting a legion of hungry followers.

"We attended more events the second year and then this year our 'season' started in March," said Janette, who believes that when people see the effort she puts into setting up her stall, they will realise the effort she puts into the food too - from savoury crepes filled with a full English breakfast, roasted Mediterranean vegetables, or mushrooms and Stilton, to sweet treats oozing with apple and cinnamon, fresh orange and sugar, or luxury chocolate, coconut and dairy cream.

"The recipe is authentic," said Janette who has created such a French ambience that she and hubby are regularly asked if they speak English!

Janette calls her creperie kitchen her 'wendy cafe' and the mobile home in which the family resides while at shows etc her 'wendy house'. And she takes such pride in both that the creperie's food hygiene rating is the maximum five stars.

"I like things to be just so," said Janette. "And I love it when people comment on how nice it is to be served politely."

Being able to work as a team with Philip and with her children who regularly help out, means the world to Janette.

"Setting this all up hasn't been without its pitfalls but now people come to us for advice. It's just been wonderful to have the opportunity to create something like this. It's a little bit of theatre."

To celebrate the Kendal Festival of Food which starts this weekend, Kendal Creperie are launching a regular continental hour at their Saturday market from 3pm to 4pm for French people and other Europeans to gather for a chat and something to eat. Although not exclusive, to our friends from across the channel, the Dixons hope the invitation will encourage a little entente-cordiale.

Also, from January next year, Kendal Creperie will be available for private functions - whether you want your crepes made for you, or want to hold a party where you can make your own. Call Kendal 724498 or 07968-412827 or email dixonsteam@yahoo.co.uk