Had a trip yesterday to the Oakwood Garden Centre near Killearn Village, a short drive from Glasgow. This has been around for a few years now and is very popular for lunch and coffee. We know this as we had to queue for 10 minutes for a table! It is definately a cut above the usual garden centre cafes.
LOCATION
The most amazing views of the Campsies and a bright and spacious area within the garden centre but the window tables are always the first to go. However, if you phone first thing in the morning you can book one! Will remember to do that next time!
FOOD
We had a selection of teas, Tetley, Twinings Speciality and Thomson's Coffee, all very nice. Scones were good but a bit crispy on the outside. The rest of the baking looked lovely, lots of sponge cakes, Coffee, Chocolate and Victoria and Empire Biscuits, Caramel Shortcake, fruit scones and tray bakes. Will try on next visit.
Lunch looked so good we decided to indulge. There was a choice of three soups, Ploughman's platter, fab sandwiches and a selection of hot dishes.
AMENITIES
Light and spacious with easy access for buggies or wheelchairs. Toilets were very designer, clean and modern. Easy car parking outside the garden centre. The centre itself had a good selection of gifts, cards, gardening tools and plants. The village of Killearn is 5 minutes drive away with a good gallery, gift shops an excellent pharmacist and other local shops. Well worth a walk around. Whisky tours available at Glengoyne Distillery nearby and some nice walks.
SERVICE
Staff were helpful and polite.
VERDICT
Great place for tea or lunch. Really outstanding views and well worth a drive to find it.
Cherry Tart
Friday 21 August 2009
Thursday 20 August 2009
Beanscene Cresswell Lane Glasgow
ATMOSPHERE
Popped into Beanscene Saturday lunchtime. Lively trendy west end coffee shop with a cosy but noisy atmosphere. Large comfy sofas and well spaced out tables. Very busy and mix of music to appeal to younger customers. Full of students, teenagers, young mums with babies and small children as well as a few professionals.
LOCATION
Great position in heart of west end. Quaint quiet cobbled lane behind Byres Road. Near loads of gift shops, charity and junk shops and lots of nice cafes and restaurants. Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries, Transport Museum and Huntarian Museum nearby. Botanic Gardens handy to walk off the scones after!
FOOD
Blackboard menu with specials. Lunch menu with large portions obviously catering for the large local student population. A good selection of antipasti, nachos chilli, pizza, crepes and veggie options. We had tea and scones which were a bit dry and not up to our usual exacting standards. Muffins and pastries looked much nicer and I wished I'd had them. (Toffee Apple Muffins looked amazing and Blueberry looked pretty good too) Fairtrade products, teas and a good range of coffees and hot chocolate. Large range of milkshakes and iced drinks looked tempting on a hot day.
AMENITIES
Toilet facilities were not quite up to the volume of customers passing through but I might have hit a bad day. Self service but staff did bring over drinks. Staff were young, friendly and helpful. Loads of papers to read and lots of whats-on leaflets.
VERDICT
Not my scene but ok for lunch with a hungry student son or a quick cuppa.
Cherry Tart
Beanscene
DE Courcy's Arcade
5-21 Cresswell Lane
Off Byres Road
Glasgow G12
Popped into Beanscene Saturday lunchtime. Lively trendy west end coffee shop with a cosy but noisy atmosphere. Large comfy sofas and well spaced out tables. Very busy and mix of music to appeal to younger customers. Full of students, teenagers, young mums with babies and small children as well as a few professionals.
LOCATION
Great position in heart of west end. Quaint quiet cobbled lane behind Byres Road. Near loads of gift shops, charity and junk shops and lots of nice cafes and restaurants. Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries, Transport Museum and Huntarian Museum nearby. Botanic Gardens handy to walk off the scones after!
FOOD
Blackboard menu with specials. Lunch menu with large portions obviously catering for the large local student population. A good selection of antipasti, nachos chilli, pizza, crepes and veggie options. We had tea and scones which were a bit dry and not up to our usual exacting standards. Muffins and pastries looked much nicer and I wished I'd had them. (Toffee Apple Muffins looked amazing and Blueberry looked pretty good too) Fairtrade products, teas and a good range of coffees and hot chocolate. Large range of milkshakes and iced drinks looked tempting on a hot day.
AMENITIES
Toilet facilities were not quite up to the volume of customers passing through but I might have hit a bad day. Self service but staff did bring over drinks. Staff were young, friendly and helpful. Loads of papers to read and lots of whats-on leaflets.
VERDICT
Not my scene but ok for lunch with a hungry student son or a quick cuppa.
Cherry Tart
Beanscene
DE Courcy's Arcade
5-21 Cresswell Lane
Off Byres Road
Glasgow G12
Thursday 6 August 2009
Scone Secrets
Decided to share my scone making secrets with you! I adore (as does C. Violet) treacle scones and can say without too much boasting that mine are very, very good! Here are the basic rules - never roll out scone dough - use your hands but handle as little as possible. Keep the mix very moist, better to add more flour at the rolling out stage if it's too liquidy. Use the biggest cutter you've got - who wants tiny scones for goodness sake!! Have them for lunch if you're dieting then you don't feel at all guilty!
Treacle scones
Pre-heat oven 220 oC/ 425 oF, grease baking trays.
8oz(225g) self-raising flour, 2oz(50g) butter, 1 oz(25g) caster sugar, 1/2 teasp cinnamon, 2 tablesp treacle, pinch salt, 1/4 (150ml) milk. Sift flour & salt into very big bowl, rub in butter , mix in sugar, cinnamon, treacle and enough milk for a soft dough (bit like making mud pies). Knead till moist and elastic. Pat out with fingers. Use biggest cutter you have. Pop onto greased baking tray, brush with milk . Bake for 15-20 mins. Watch them closely and take out when golden brown. Serve with butter although I prefer any red jam! Enjoy!
Cherry Tart
Treacle scones
Pre-heat oven 220 oC/ 425 oF, grease baking trays.
8oz(225g) self-raising flour, 2oz(50g) butter, 1 oz(25g) caster sugar, 1/2 teasp cinnamon, 2 tablesp treacle, pinch salt, 1/4 (150ml) milk. Sift flour & salt into very big bowl, rub in butter , mix in sugar, cinnamon, treacle and enough milk for a soft dough (bit like making mud pies). Knead till moist and elastic. Pat out with fingers. Use biggest cutter you have. Pop onto greased baking tray, brush with milk . Bake for 15-20 mins. Watch them closely and take out when golden brown. Serve with butter although I prefer any red jam! Enjoy!
Cherry Tart
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)