Glasgow
Today was a beautiful sunny day for eating your way through Cakes for a living. Our first stop was in the lovely town of Biggar. A really well looked after town and lots of lovely shops to browse around. Biggar Flavour is actually in South lanarkshire and well worth a drive . The Scottish Baking Awards first came across Biggar Flavour last year and since then have been noticed by many Awarding bodies in this country and rightly so. Where do i start with this enterprising husband and wife team - Ranald and Jane ? Since last year this Bakery and adjoining Fruit and Vegetable shop have gone from strength to strength . The Baking is mainly done by Jane,Carolyn and her family and Ranald takes pride in his Award Winning Jams and Preserves. This is a very busy shop and let me tell you why . The breads from Sourdough,Wholemeal ,Plain and seeded to name but a few are all baked on the premises . The enormous display of Homemade cakes are also all made on the Premises . Everything Baked or made has won some kind of an Award in this small shop and the Pies ,Quiche and Homemade Convenience meals are just truly inspiring. I tried Scones,Empires,Sour Dough ( Which was just mind blowingly good) and wait for the best bit yet - A Chocolate coated Turkish delight Brownie !!! Heres another Toffee Apple teacake Shortcake !! and another Pink Lemonade ,Lemon curd Delice !!! I actually dont have the words to describe the originality and brilliance of these Homemade Cakes. There comes a time when trying all the same usual Home Baked goods becomes a bit dull no matter how good they are but when you come across Baking which is inovative and new then this is refreshing and in my opinion Ground breaking. Baking and particularly Homebaking has become so popular everywhere now that we need to take it to the next level to keep and maintain the publics interest . This in my opinion is being done at Biggar Flavour in Biggar and i personally cant wait to see their next invention. Well done Ranald and Jane and all at Biggar Flavour today .
Todays Assessments took me to Glasgow and first stop was a lady by the name of Sheila Jones in Newlands . Sheila is a well known Cake Maker and Teacher from her home in Glasgow . A Nursing profession by trade and now passionate about Cakes and particularly good cakes . Sheila and i sing from the same Hymn book regarding Cakes being as brilliant in the inside as well as the out. Too much attention is being made to creative and brilliantly decorated cakes but the content is not the same in the inside. Well i am here to tell you that this lady can do both . This is rare !! Sheila is not a shy and retiring kind of a lady and my Assessment took me nearly 3 hrs . This is because we both are passionate about Baking ,Cakes and all the customer confusion that exists today . Sheila is passionate about the small independant retailers being recognised that produce excellent Baking. Until the Scottish Baking Awards came along the only Bakers being recognised were those from huge Industry or Member paying organisations. Take it from me these are NOT the best Bakers in Scotland. Anyhow i digress - Sheilas Home and Kitchen is bright ,Clean ,Airy and welcoming and the Aromas are enough to make you want to slip off your shoes and curl up. I was treated to a fine Afternoon Tea in the Lounge where the Lovely Baking and cakes adorned the huge table. I loved the effort and attention to detail that sadly lacks today . This was reminiscent of how the Victorians would have taken their tea many moons ago( Of course i am far too young to remember that ) The whole experience today was just lovely and dreamy. The Tiffin was dark,chocolaty ,moist and heaven . The empires melted in your mouth . The Orange and Lemon Cake proves this ladies cakes are as good inside as out. The profiteroles i could have gladly ate the whole display. Click here to visit her website
Needless to say Sheila is now a proud recipient of one of our prestigious Scottish Baking Awards and more power to your elbow Mrs Jones !!
Today was a beautiful first day of spring in 2014 and our first pit stop was at the family run - Gouldings Garden Centre . This garden centre has been in the Goulding family since 1897 . What an absolute treat to see such a hard working and hands on family in every area of this business. Jimmy and his late wife had seen a few changes to the Gouldings name through the years but he agrees that Marie and George have hit the nail on the head with the way this very busy garden Centre and Restaurant is being run now. I have to say the display of cakes on entering the restuarant ( After a 15 min wait to get in ) was just extraordinary . Please dont let the wait put you off as this place is busy for a very good reason. Friendly ,Welcoming, clean and excellent food and cakes passed me by at every corner. I sampled i mind boggling choice of every type of cake imaginable. All the favourites here such as fresh cream meringues,Caramel shortcake ,Lemon meringue pie ,Gluten free cakes , but my favourite had to be the Exford Tart which was absolutely executed perfectly . The Cinamon and Apple Scone was served with Gouldings own raspberry preserve- now thats a treat .The fruit and Vegetables that George grows in the Garden centre and farmland are used in the kitchens here - absolutely fantastic. You dont get this attention to detail,customer service and quality in large commercially run organisations nowadays . This is why this kind of establishment i will promote to the day i die and long may it continue to stay in the Gouldings family .Well done folks.
The Wallace Tearooms
18 Broomgate
Lanark
ML119EE
Tel:01555 728293
Today was a simply beautiful drive through the picturesque Clyde Valley today and onto Lanark . I arrived at The Wallace Tearooms to be met by the bubbly and enthusiastic owner Kym Fletcher . What hits you on arrival of this lovely tearoom is firstly its location in Lanark which is quaint but the Door opens to the most magnificent display of Homebaking i have seen in a while . Every type of Cake,Slice,Sponge,Biscuit,Scone ,Tart and even Gluten free Cake was there in front of my eyes -Wow !! Kym took the time, which i love to explain all about the Tearooms History and how she and her partner had lovingly restored it into the wee Haven it is today .Kym has only been open 6 x months and i see this lady going from strength to strength .She has a great work ethic and passion for her Baking oozes out of every orifice . I loved the tattoo on her arm which i must try and post here which simply states over half her arm -" Let them eat Cake" !! Now if that is not commitment to your Art i dont know what is ? I tried Blueberry and Lemon Scones with Homemade preserve,Chocolate Fudge Cake,Beetroot Cake, Pollenta Cake and Iced Gingerbread . Every single one scored top marks and Kym is now the proud owner of her SHBA and a serious contender as one of our Finalists for 2014. Well done Kym and your lovely Cakes .