Hospitality Critic
We have been set a hard challenge for 2025 -
Where in Scotland serves the "Best Afternoon rea"?
I myself and my small team of professional Chefs, Bakers and Cake artists travel the length and breadth of Scotland, to Review Post Covid venues for Afternoon tea.
For too long, these once luxury teas, were simply for the landed gentry. Full of fine teas, professional service, etiquette and finger size pieces of excellent Handmade delicacies.
Sadly, In the more recent decades, we see them everywhere, a diluted and watered down version of their real worth, but we are being charged a small fortune for the privilege.
Our aim this year, is to seek out the hospitality outlets that are serving the Afternoon teas the way they once were, a luxury, a real treat, something a bit different, with fine teas, excellent service and a good canny price.
We have found this to be a rarity so far .......
A cold day but a lovely drive through Argyll countryside, and onto a small but very well looked after village - Drymen. This village is arguably well known for the oldest Inn called The Clachan. Its has served great food consistently for decades and today was no different. A great ham salad with with lots of trimmings and fresh fruit and a basket of fries, what's not to like. Dessert wasn't to bad either . A trio of lemony delights, a posset, a sorbet and a tart. Not badly priced and happy to report its still worth a visit . Staff were attentive and relaxed. Long may you continue to serve this great little Scottish community .
This weekend I will be visiting the much hyped Monachyle mhor Hotel and Restuarant in Callander. My review will be honest, unpaid and I am visiting unannounced. Watch this space !!
Update-
Unable to review Hotel and Restuarant this weekend as planned - Next time !!
The Hotel and its surroundings, however, were breathtaking. Lots of quirky outside activities, outbuildings, huts, cottages etc. Almost like a commune or a retreat of sorts. Very holistic feel about the area. I would imagine great for getting away from everything.
There is a 6 or 7 mile windy road to the Hotel which is simply stunning but most of it is a single track road.
Hopefully i will get back again soon to try the Hotel and Restuarant when it's not a big Rugby weekend !!!
Now I know I'm almost geriatric, and some days i feel it, but today's rant is about outdoor markets and festivals.
I used to trail around these with my mum, and I absolutely loved them. You got to meet some fantastic characters, and this was their only income stream, so they worked hard at making their own 6ft table ultra special. They were ALWAYS, and I mean "ALWAYS", homemade produce, ALWAYS cheaper than the shops and more often than not better quality than you would get elsewhere.
Europeans have perfected the outdoor markets by applying the very ethos above, and obviously helped with far better weather than us brits. Dare I say, they may have higher standards than we do when it comes to good, local, handmade or farm reared produce ? I know we have excellent produce in this country !
I am a tad concerned, after visiting many an outdoor market locally, that the produce being offered is by no means Handmade by the seller, certainly not better quality and twice as expensive as a shop premises. Why are we being fooled like this I ask ? Because we don't complain enough? Because we don't know good produce from mediocre ? Because we just don't care ? Or because we have more money than sense ?
That said, there are some excellent producers at some of these markets but I just refuse to pay the price now being asked. In this social and economic crisis, something has to change for me to continue to support most of these hard working stall holders. Sadly quite a few nowadays are ruining the image of Outdoor Markets. Time for change maybe ??
