There was still a whiff of fresh paint at Madigan's Food Emporium - it's that new. This cafe and delicatessen has taken over from the Burgh Coffeehouse in Castle Street, Dundee. It was so fresh and new that the food for the delicatessen section hadn't arrived! We were not able to sample any Rocky Road sadly but I was assured that they do often have it on offer, so there's an excuse to go back. We did have some really nice food, ciabatta's with lovely fillings and my son had the special of the day which was crab - his favourite. We felt it was important to try the cake selection to see what kind of standard they're achieving and we were impressed. I had a Mars Bar chocolate bun which was very chocolatey, my daughter had an excellent Millionaire's Shortbread and my son said the Toffee Cake was very good. One of the main attractions is the fact that their tea and coffee come from the very wonderful Braithwaites which is further up Castle Street. If you're ever in Dundee you must call in. This unassuming traditional shop looks like it belongs to another century but it contains a treasure store of fabulous teas and coffees.
Monday, 29 October 2012
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Nardini's, Byres Road, Glasgow
In the summer I'd had a disappointing experience at the new Nardini cafe which I mentioned in a previous posting. It had been busy and disorganised and when the assistant had finally got round to serving she'd served the next person in the queue and not me, so I'd flounced off and taken my custom elsewhere (you're spoilt for choice on the Byres Road).
However, on Saturday night - when I had to spend three hours waiting for my daughter who had gone to see Benjamin Francis Leftwich at the Oran Mor which I had been assured I'd be able to buy a ticket on the door to but discovered it had sold out, am I digressing? - I was very glad to see it's bright lights shining in the dark of the Byres Road. It has a lovely shiny Italian style interior and was doing a great trade in ice creams even at nine o'clock at night. As I looked like Jilly no mates on my own, I took a quiet table where I could read my newspaper rather than looking like some sad middle aged woman looking for company - which I most definitely was not. Ok I'm middle aged but not sad or looking for company. Am I digressing again?
The rocky road. It was fantastic and has gone straight up to being one of my favourites so far - along with Reading Lasses in Wigtown and The Cream Puff in Denholm near Hawick. Not only was it a very generous piece but it had big chunks of biscuit, great chocolate content, marshmallows, cherries AND pistachio nuts. Of course I had it with a great cappuccino which only added to the whole experience. I was a big fan of Nardini's years ago after visiting the magnificent cafe in Largs so I'm delighted that they seem to be back on track now.
However, on Saturday night - when I had to spend three hours waiting for my daughter who had gone to see Benjamin Francis Leftwich at the Oran Mor which I had been assured I'd be able to buy a ticket on the door to but discovered it had sold out, am I digressing? - I was very glad to see it's bright lights shining in the dark of the Byres Road. It has a lovely shiny Italian style interior and was doing a great trade in ice creams even at nine o'clock at night. As I looked like Jilly no mates on my own, I took a quiet table where I could read my newspaper rather than looking like some sad middle aged woman looking for company - which I most definitely was not. Ok I'm middle aged but not sad or looking for company. Am I digressing again?
The rocky road. It was fantastic and has gone straight up to being one of my favourites so far - along with Reading Lasses in Wigtown and The Cream Puff in Denholm near Hawick. Not only was it a very generous piece but it had big chunks of biscuit, great chocolate content, marshmallows, cherries AND pistachio nuts. Of course I had it with a great cappuccino which only added to the whole experience. I was a big fan of Nardini's years ago after visiting the magnificent cafe in Largs so I'm delighted that they seem to be back on track now.
Doesn't that Rocky Road look amazing?
Biggars, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
I came across this great little cafe earlier this year when my daughter went to see a play at the King's Theatre which is nearby. Lovely selection of cakes, teas and coffees in a relaxed atmosphere. I was on my own this time and I was quite happy to sit in one of their bucket chairs and read the paper. For research purposes I decided to try the rocky road.
The rocky road was good. It was made with the crushed biscuit method, so a layer of biscuit and chocolate as a base with a top layer of chocolate with small marshmallows. No fruit or nuts just the occasional large marshmallow. Good chocolate taste though. Think I'll go for cake next time though.
The rocky road was good. It was made with the crushed biscuit method, so a layer of biscuit and chocolate as a base with a top layer of chocolate with small marshmallows. No fruit or nuts just the occasional large marshmallow. Good chocolate taste though. Think I'll go for cake next time though.
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