Readers, as part of my commitment to regular blogging, I’m
hoping to add a “Glasgow Life” feature every so often on the blog.
For those of you who may or may not have realised (blog
header needs updated, sorry!) Mr What Claire Baked and I have recently
relocated. We’re now in
Glasgow. Careers, a need for a change
and liking the city has led us to live southside and over the next few months,
I am hoping to chart our foodie adventures as we go.
 |
| Glasgow Life! |
My lovely friends arrived yesterday for a day out and wanted
to see where we lived as well as spending some time in the city. We had a typical ladies day, starting with
brunch and ending with cocktails.
One of my good friends is coeliac and we’ve always tried to
find a venue that caters to her wherever we go – by caters, I mean be happy to
provide gluten free alternatives: not suggest she brings her own roll and they’ll
provide the filling (somewhat takes away the experience when you’ve to take a
handbag big enough to fit a roll in!)
We started our day at The Glad Café on Pollockshaws Road,
next to Queens Park. Tucked down an
alley it’s a café by day and provides craft beers, wines and entertainment of
an evening. “Gluten Free Fi” as she’ll now be known was delighted to have French
toast with bacon and maple syrup – served on the café’s vast selection of gluten
free bread and rolls. Result was a big
thumbs up from her!
 |
| Photo Credit: The Glad Cafe |
We headed back into town for some shopping, before going
down to Merchant City for afternoon tea at Arisaig - a Scottish restaurant located in Merchant
Square. Despite being there on an itison
deal (great value), the venue didn’t treat us differently or try to move us on
quickly. Hats off to Autumn and the
staff who took a delivery of 30th birthday decorations the day
before and had dressed the table for us arriving. A surprise for the first 30 year old in the
group! We treated ourselves to some prosecco with raspberries, then enjoyed a
few hours in Merchant Square, even stopping off to visit the craft market that
takes place on a Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 6pm. Autumn even popped out to check everything was
ok and we were happy with the décor.
 |
| Selection of cakes at Arisaig, Merchant City |
Again, Gluten Free Fi was catered for with A LOT of sandwiches and some
cakes.
 |
| Gluten Free Afternoon Tea Selection |
Our day of eating was thirsty work, so we finished off our
afternoon with some cocktails in October – the top floor cocktail bar in
Princes Square shopping centre. Take
note – this is no ordinary shopping centre.
The second floor has some lovely restaurants and the bar has a nightclub
feel up on the top of the building.
Drinks prices are reasonable at around £6 for a cocktail that’s properly
mixed. We all had variations on berry
cocktails seeing as it was summer. The bar was packed with girls heading on a
night out: much more glamorous than us,
who’d been out since 9.30am.
 |
| Strawberry Collins Cocktail at October |
All in all a great day was had by one Glasgow newbie and three Glasgow visitors. This concludes Glasgow Life Part 1… tune in next time,
for more city foodie adventures!
