Fife
Today's Assessment took me to Cupar in Fife and onto a place called Falkland , home of the Falkland Palace . This is the most well cared for town i have seen in Scotland in a long time and a real community feel about it . Its only small but bustling and full of life . Miss Daisy Tearoom is a quaint little Craft and Tearoom on the corner of the High street and its just bursting with originality . I absolutely love the artisan feel to this little shop which makes it stand out from all the generic and mass chain type cafes that now exist in this country . Miss Daisy is owned by the shy and retiring ex Nurse turned baker extraordinaire Debbie Cameron . It never ceases to amaze me the amount of ex health service workers that have a great aptitude and interest in Baking. Anyhow it was great to chat to Debbie today and find out her complete lack of faith in her own talent ( A common trait in most talented bakers) I have found on my travels that it is the people that dont know they have a talent in Baking that generally are the best bakers and dont even know it . Debbie works a tireless 7 days a week to make her small but perfectly formed gift shop and Tearoom what it is today - just lovely !! .
I was treated to Homemade Strawberry tarts, Bakewell slice, Mouthwatering meringues and a brilliantly light and full of flavour Coffee Cake , but my favourite of all time was the lightest Plain scone , full of texture, flavour and moist as can be . It was served brilliantly alongside tiny little ceramic pots of real clotted cream , homemade strawberry preserve and butter . It was truly the best plain scone with jam and cream that i have tasted in a long time . It is all about how to present the bake at its best and i couldnt have asked for anything better - first class ! Debbie keep doing what your doing and as long as your customers are happy thats all that matters - this customer certainly was today !
Robertsons Art Cafe in Glenrothes is a great place to combine your love of Art , Cake and Food all in the one place. It was a beautiful sunny day when i arrived in Glenrothes and this bright ,Airy and clean Cafe was a welcoming stop. On arrival you are greeted by some beautiful pieces of Art adorning the walls and some unique and original gift ideas in glass cabinets surrounding the Cafe area. This Art shop is one of two for the Robertsons family and the cafe really started out with just a few tables for their Art lovers to sit and have a cuppa whilst pondering over their next purchase. Such was the runaway success in no small part due to Baker/Cook - Yvonne that it is now bustling with triple the ammount of covers. The lovely Yvonne is not unlike many marvellous Bakers that i meet , no airs and graces or ideas of grandeur and quite simply unaware of their own talent. This lady can Bake though i tell you and Bake extremely well. I tried the best Lime and Coconut sponge i have ever tasted- light as a feather and moist as can be. A simply devine individual Apple tart that looked like a giant Mincemeat pie- Mouthwatering pastry encasing brammley apples cooked to perfection. The gingerbread was simply beautiful as was the gluten free Blueberry and Ricotta Cake. But for me the homemade lemon and Blueberry scone with Yvonnes Homemade Award winning raspberry preserve was a heavenly moment in my life so far. The scone as it should be with little or no salt and no sugar , crumbly on the outside and moist in the inside . I had tasted this ladys baking many years ago at another premises and did not get to meet her . Today at her new abode i was honoured to share tips and notes with a very talented Baker indeed. Well done Yvonne and all at Robertsons Art Cafe .
The Peat Inn near St Andrews is a first class accomodation provider and gastronomic delight.If you are lucky enough to stay overnight here the acommodation on arrival is layed out with a beautiful sample of Homebaking which is just a small taste of whats to come.The dining room is seperate from the acommodation and boasts an excellent wine list and superb menu.The food served here in an "Olde Worlde charm is worthy of a michelin star .I have never tasted food quite like it .Five cuts of a very underated meat "pork "and i have never tasted anything quite so special . The desserts are a treat and very parisian in detail and taste. I would certainly put this place on your to visit list.
For more details visit: www.thepeatinn.co.uk
The Peat Inn,
Nr St Andrews
Fife,
KY15 5LH
01334 840206
The Hayloft Tearoom is actually in Falkland. Fife. This was assessed today by our senior assessor Catherine and what a delight this little place was. Falkland in Fife is a tiny place and this was a tiny little ,cosy ,warm and inviting tearoom.Everything on the premises was home made and the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful which is a huge bonus when eating out. Not unlike a farmhouse type atmosphere and decor with clean tablecloths on all tables.A local women in the village does all the baking for this tearoom and there was a small but adequate selection for a tearoom of this size.The scones were freshly made and scrumptious. Local prints and art were for sale also. Nearby there is the fabulous Falkland palace which is well worth a visit if in the neighbourhood.Our assessor was very impressed with this lovely little tearoom today.
The Hayloft Tearoom
Back wynd ,
Falkland
Fife
KY15 7BX
01337 857 590