Ahhh, Portobello. Or rather, Porty. A quaint seaside town with a lovely community feel about it. Gorgeous buildings and a nice beach, Porty has it all (including great Montreal-style bagels)!
Just outside of Edinburgh, Portobello is a great place to escape to for the day - especially if you're in Edinburgh and feeling slightly overwhelmed by tourists at this time of year. Once popular with smugglers and sailors, Porty is now home to commuters but worth visiting in its own right. For one thing: the beach; a lovely sandy beach looking out onto the Firth of Forth. On a sunny day, it's a great place to hang out and stroll along the promenade.
If I could name only one other reason to visit Portobello, it would be Bross Bagels. I have been living in Scotland for over a decade now and in that time I have NEVER bought bagels here. Why, you might ask? Because Montreal bagels are truly the best. Sorry, New Yorkers, but Montreal bagels really are (MONTREAL RIDE OR DIE, BABY!) And those things that you can buy from the grocery store here? Well, I'm not sure what they are but they are *not* bagels. I'm not the only one in the UK who professes Montreal's superiority in the bagel arena either. Grace Dent wrote an entire article about it.
(FYI, before Bross opened and if I was desperate for bagels, I made some using this recipe and would freeze them. So, if you're not anywhere near Bross in Portobello or Edinburgh and fancied trying Montreal-style bagels then I recommend it.)
What's the big deal about Montreal bagels? Watch the video below:
Sorry, didn't mean to go on about bagels. Moving on...
Bagels not your thing? Grab some spanokopita from Greek Artisan Pastries then.
If you're craving something sweet then you *must* head to Twelve Triangles for a croissant and/or doughnut.
After hanging out at Portobello beach and enjoying some lunch, take a stroll along the High Street stopping in at the various independent shops such as COVE, Two Sisters, and the newly opened Portobello Bookshop, which looks fabulous. For such a small town, Porty really has a lot to offer in terms of independent shops, restaurants, butchers and more.
Finally, after relaxing at the beach, eating carbs, and shopping, it's time to finish off a hard day's effort with a drink at The Espy - a Portobello institution.
One more thing though, don't forget to stock up on some Bross Bagels for your freezer before leaving. Montreal-style bagels will change your life!
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Today is Pancake Day in the UK (Shrove Tuesday and Fat Tuesday elsewhere), where it's perfectly acceptable (encouraged even!) to eat pancakes for dinner. Being a Canadian, naturally pancakes are one of my most favourite things to eat.
To be honest, I am somewhat of a traditionalist when it comes to pancakes though. I prefer proper big fat fluffy buttermilk pancakes rather than those crepe-like things; pancakes, to me, should be the thick North-American type, you know? I mean, they are called PAN CAKES.
Over the years, I've tried dozens of pancake recipes and the one I always keep coming back to is the good ol' buttermilk recipe from Bette's Oceanview Diner. First though, a few tips:
- This recipe uses baking powder and baking soda as leavening agents so check to make sure they're not out of date.
- Don't overmix the batter! Too much mixing will burst the air bubbles that make for delicious fluffy pancakes.
- Do not over grease the pan (use non-stick if you can).
- This recipe uses American cup measurements (US cup is 240ml whereas the UK is 250ml).
serves 4
2 cups of all purpose flour
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk (often available in larger grocery stores but if not, you can substitute with plain yogurt)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs, buttermilk, milk, and butter. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients all at once, stirring just to blend. The batter should be slightly lumpy and quite thick. Let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or heavy skillet over medium high heat (375 F on an electric griddle). Portion 1/4-cup measures of batter onto the hot griddle, spacing them apart. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until bubbles cover the surface of the pancakes, and their undersides are lightly browned. Gently turn them over and cook for about 2 minutes more, until the other sides are browned.
If you want, you can make variations based on this recipe such as blueberry pancakes, banana pancakes and so on. Enjoy!
]]>One of the things I love about Christmas, besides the indulgent food, slowing down and spending time with friends and family, is buying gifts for people. Now I know some people dread it and stress out about it but I actually love researching gift options for people. As we get older and accumulate more "stuff", I find it's getting harder and harder to buy for people; once you're at a certain age, most people tend to buy what they want for themselves anyway. This makes it even more challenging to buy for other people.
When purchasing presents, I tend to fall back on gift food items, gift certificates, and experiences. I also like to top it off with an item that I've really hunted around for in the hopes that the recipient will not only love it but be surprised and delighted by it.
So, the all important gift-buying tip: buy something that the person probably needs but would never splurge on themselves such as underwear, socks, and pyjamas. I know that sounds boring but honestly, it is so appreciated and welcomed!
Since it's important to support indie/small/local and UK businesses, most of the gift suggestions are UK-based. And with that, here are some gift suggestions for those hard to buy for people!
(Just a note: I haven't included children because I tend to think that children and teenagers will tell you EXACTLY what they want).
1. Plant/Succulent or Terrarium from Tuck Studio. Although currently based in the Barras, Tuck will be moving to the Southside soon.
2. Dawn Ritual Ceramic Incense Holder: £25
I love this incense holder and recently bought it for myself (along with the Whisky Incense). It's simple, does the job and looks great.
3. Peruvian Alpaca Blanket: £45
These make for a great gift because they easily add colour to a home.
4. Jono Smart Vase: (£50 on sale for £35)
Jono Smart is a Glasgow-based potter. He makes utterly delicious clay cups, vases, jugs and plates. Although he has his own online shop, it's only open periodically throughout the year and sells out quickly.
5. Tierra Negra set of 4 x 20cm serving plates (£72 on sale for £48)
Meaning black earth in Spanish, the Tierra Negra cookware is well-known throughout Colombia where it's handmade and is distributed in the UK by a family company based in Dalkeith.
6. Mamnick Yomping Socks: £16
You can't beat a good pair of socks especially colourful flecked ones like these from Mamnick.
7. Percival Moka Espresso t-shirt: £39
A classic t-shirt featuring the iconic Italian espresso maker.
8. Crew Neck Lambswool, Blue Jumper from Old Harry: £85
Every guy needs at least one wool jumper in their wardrobe and this Old Harry one from Ryan James is perfect. Love this colour!
9. Universal Works Bakers Jacket in Navy Twill: £155
The number one selling jacket from UK brand, Universal Works. The classic style comes in various colour, fabric and size options and looks good on most people!
10. Masterpiece Link Backpack: £165
Ok, it's a little pricey for a backpack but consider that it's made in Japan from tough waterproof nylon canvas. Masterpiece bags are quite literally, master pieces! I've had one for a few years now (bought on our honeymoon in Japan) and it's been through ALL types of weather in Scotland and still going strong. 100% recommend.
11. LAKE&LOCH Mini 'Ma Bit' Scotland Pin: £7
Rep Scotland with our Scotland beanie enamel pin!
12. Neon Gray Banter Placemat: £8
One Scottish idiom that you can't argue with: Whit's fur ye'll no go by ye.
13. Map of West End of Glasgow: £20
Colourful maps featuring various bits of Glasgow (Shawlands etc), Natalie has also branched out to other areas such as Gourock and Oban.
14. Wee Highland Cow Brooch: £25
Bling up that tartan scarf with a Bonnie Bling highland coo.
15. Gold Hart Glen Classic Candle: £35
The Glen candle from Glasgow-based Gold Hart Candles evokes misty Scottish Highlands with top notes of lime, bergamot, and a touch of spice. A gorgeous candle.
16. WeeBox gift / Trial subscription: £35
For all those Scotland lovers out there and/or homesick Scottish Aunties in North America - a little bit of Scotland delivered to your door. For £35, you can send someone a trial/ gift subscription of WeeBox featuring anything from tablet, marmalade, Tunnocks (!) and candles.
17. Springbank 15 Year Old: £59.50
One of my favourite whiskys - I love love LOVE Springbank whisky.
18. Indigo Hybrid Dry Waxed Cotton Hooded Mac from Kerrie ALDO: £240
Yes, £240 is a lot of money for a jacket but it's slow fashion made in the UK. Each piece can also be customised so the jackets are a lifetime investment.
19. Vegan Burd Chocolate Bundle: £7.50
Vegan Burd, based out of Glasgow, now has a vegan sweet/junk food shop in the East End. You can still buy her homemade chocolate bars online though.
20. Temple Donuts and Coffee - Dairy Free Mug: £10
Leeds-based Temple Donuts and Coffee has me swooning over Instagram. I am dying to try their doughnuts (what? I am Canadian; we love those things). Although I am not a vegan, I do try to limit animal-products in my diet. I just love the retro feel of the Temple Coffee mug!
21. Vegan Fudge Selection from The Fudge Kitchen: £16
OH. MY. GOD.
22. Nourishing Face Care Set from Lucky Cloud: £37
Edinburgh-based Lucy Cardwell makes everything in-house for her gorgeous skincare company, Lucky Cloud.
23. Schlepp Tote from Matt and Nat: £110
Not a British company (Canadian, actually!) but Matt and Nat are the first generation of vegan bags so it would be rude not to include them, really.
24.Coffee Subscription: £9 - £24 per month
Close to home, Glasgow's own Dear Green Coffee offer a weekly, fortnightly, and monthly coffee subscription starting at just £9. They've also got you covered on any kit you may need.
If you fancy something a little bit more exotic, then check out Kurasu from Kyoto, Japan (!) They'll send you 200g or 400g of coffee a month (£24 or £34) from some of the best Japanese roasters. You might be confused - after all, Japan is the home of matcha tea - but the coffee "scene" in Japan is phenomenal. Not at all pretentious; just honest-to-God craftspeople trying to make the best damn bean water you've ever had.
25. Oven Bird Coffee Beans Aged in Whisky Barrels: £15
I actually bought a whisky collection box set (sadly doesn't seem available) last year for the Scottish half of LAKE&LOCH. It featured various coffee beans aged in different whisky barrels such as Laphroaig and Auchentoshan. Well, I say I bought them as a gift for him but actually, I benefited as well since I drank most of it. Anyway, it was delicious. Highly recommended.
26. Libby Walker Southside Coffee Shops Print: £35
I LOVE THIS. If you're on the Southside of Glasgow and love coffee, you probably love this print too. Anyone who loves the Southside and coffee would probably appreciate this.
27. Dr Sam Bunting Flawless Cleanser: £16
Let's just say it: buying for your Mum is HARD. She'll never just say, "oh well, I could use this or that". Nah. So you have to think about what to get her and you know, some Mums are very specific about what they like.
Anyway, I like this face cleanser. It's gentle and takes off make-up. Done and done.
28. Express Facial at Blythswood Hotel: £47
If in doubt, fall back on the principle: get her something she would love but never buy herself.
29. Silk Scarf from Karen Mabon: £85
Silk scarves: a classic staple of any wardrobe. Scottish designer, Karen Mabon, makes colourful and gorgeous scarves featuring everything from Christmas cats to (my favourite) guilty pleasures (JUNK FOOD! YAAAS!) Be quick though because a lot have sold out!
30. Flannel Pyjamas from Toast: £99
Who honestly wouldn't love fancy pyjamas? Man, woman, child - No one can deny the seduction of soft comfy bed wear.
31. Tour of Central Station: £13
We recently went on the fully-booked tour of central station. While it isn't a complete in depth run down of dates, engineers and facts, it certainly is fascinating. I would describe it as more of a people's history of Central Station. You learn a lot about Scottish and Glaswegian history and the people who were in and out of the station. We'd recommend it to people to learn more about the life and times of regular Glaswegians at the turn of the century.
32. LAKE&LOCH Enamel Camping Mug: £16
Is your Da into hill walking? Munro bagging? Then this is the mug for him.
33. Brompton Scarf from Josef McFadden: £30
Because your Da' needs to keep warm too!
Paisley-based Josef McFadden also has a lovely selection of ties, bow ties, beanies and more.
34. Black Watch Flannel Pyjamas: £110
Once again, not a UK company but the Black Watch tartan is quintessentially Scottish. Who wouldn't love to roll out of bed with these swanky pjs on? They look suitably comfy and at £110 I guess they should!
35. Other People's Opinions: £7
Maybe you're tired of lists, opinions, and advice this holiday season? Then this is the pin for you!
Today is Canada Day: a national holiday in Canada celebrating the union of various colonies into a single dominion. Canadians across the country celebrate in various forms: concerts, BBQs, fireworks and hanging out with friends and family.
Modern Canada owes a lot to Scotland: Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A Macdonald was actually born in Glasgow (sadly what is thought to be his birthplace was torn down in September 2017 - although be sure to check out this 1967 clip of Sir John A's Great-Grandson returning to Glasgow to see his Great-Grandfather's birthplace ending up in a pub, of course) and many Scots contributed to the very foundations of Canada such as the railway, education, and banking. Scots also played an integral role in the discovery of the North West Passage and success of the Hudson's Bay Company. Today 4.8 million Canadians (about 15% of the population) claim to be of Scottish descent (including me!)
Nowadays it's gone full circle and many Canadians are heading back to the Motherland, so to speak, be it for work and/or adventure. It's always funny to think that both my Great-Grandfather and Grandmother left Scotland and Wales respectively in the hopes of a better life, only to have their descendants return a few generations later. When my Grandmother left Cardiff as a war bride in 1948, I'm not sure she ever saw her parents again. Nowadays, of course, the world is a vastly different place and people can move more easily between nations and continents. Moving abroad, even if temporarily, is hugely inspirational as well as challenging. I honestly believe it can make the world a truly better place; without the thousands of Scots emigrating to Canada, where would we be?
And so, here's a list of some of the Canadian businesses here in the UK:
- Claire Henry Ceramics: small batch wheel thrown ceramics. Originally from the West Coast of Canada, Claire now works out of Glasgow. She's stocked in various places around Scotland and made the ceramics for Short Long Black Coffee in Govanhill.
- Tim Hortons: look, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to great coffee in Scotland with loads of great independent cafes. Looking out my studio window, for example, I can spot Southside Roasters (who do great coffee) but you know, sometimes you just want a mediocre filter coffee with CREAM and that's where Timmy Hos is great. Also partial to the odd Timbit. That said, please support local small businesses but no judgement here if you crave the occasional Tim Hortons too!
- Pure Maple: a small British-Canadian family business specialising it what else? Maple syrup. Although lighter grades of maple seem to be popular, my personal favourite is the dark amber with an almost smoky caramel flavour. Ooft!
- Nanaimo Bars: The Original: sure, you could make your own (I like adding whisky to the custard layer) but if you simply want to try this insanely sweet and insanely delicious Canadian tray bake, then check them out. Taking their name from the city they were invented in, Nanaimo Bars are formed from a chocolate coconut cookie base, custard layer and then finished with dark chocolate. DANG!
- The Canadian Cottage - homemade Canadian bakes such as butter tarts (a Canadian staple!), maple fudge, nanaimo bars, maple cookies and much more.
- The Blue Caribou Canteen - hands down the best poutine I have had in the UK. They now have a permanent base in Arndale Market, Manchester, but still pop up around the country. When I tried them in Glasgow, they were at the Big Feed and I nearly cried tears of joy. Don't miss out.
- Bross Bagels - the ONLY bagels I will eat in the UK (unless I make my own using this recipe). Bross Bagels now have 3 locations - 2 in Edinburgh and 1 in Portobello - and are that good, Grace Dent waxed poetic about their chewy goodness in the Guardian. And Grace is rarely wrong.
- Down the Hatch Cafe - a Canadian diner in South Queensferry and although I haven't been personally, other Canadians verify that it is very good. With a Canadian running the ship, so to speak, you know you're in good hands.
- Second Cup - with a few outlets in England, Second Cup is kinda like Tim Hortons' slightly upscale cousin with fancier lattes. Definitely worth checking out.
Do you know any other Canadian businesses based in the UK? We love to support fellow Canadian-British businesses so let us know!
So where ever you are and whatever you're doing, have a happy Canada Day!
]]>So when I first came to the UK, I was blown away by the superior quality of junk food: pickled onion chips (crisps)?! Monster Munch!? Double Deckers?! Woolworth's Pick n Mix (RIP)!? Don't get me wrong, Canada still has some pretty amazing junk food too (Dill Pickle chips FOREVER) but really, it was Scotland's offering of sugary goodness that ultimately sealed the deal.
So, to celebrate the launch of our Scottish Junk Food Tote Bag, we bring you:
1. Tunnock's Tea Cakes/ Snowballs/ Caramel Wafers/ ANYTHING TUNNOCK'S
Where would Scotland be without Tunnock's? I honestly don't know but I wouldn't want to live in that world.
I was first introduced to Tunnock's tea cakes as an exchange student and when fellow students heard I hadn't tried a tea cake, was promptly forced to try one. I remember thinking the packaging was old-fashioned and thought they resembled a whippet but wow, how wrong I was! From the whipped and airy marshmallow to the soft biscuit base, I was hooked. Snowballs are also little balls of sugary heaven and caramel wafers are what Kit kats wish they were. Thank you, Tunnock's!
2. Irn-Bru
A true staple of Scotland, Irn-Bru recently changed their recipe to include less sugar and well, Scots are not happy.
3. Kilmarnock Pie (actually the native Scot of LAKE&LOCH made me add this)
I don't eat beef/pork/chicken so cannot attest but Mr. LAKE&LOCH loves them. They've won loads of awards including World Championship Scotch Pie (I know) so I guess they're good? The idea of a "savoury pie" is still somewhat unknown in Canada (unless it's a chicken pot pie) so I can't really judge one savoury pie to the next.
The first time I saw a caramel shortcake I was curious - they looked similar to a nanaimo bar (again, an amazing offering of Canadian junk food) so obviously I had to try it. Personally I'm a fan of the really disgustingly thick caramel ones with equally thick chocolate on top.
Unnaturally yellow but SO DELICIOUS. Why am I so obsessed?! Am I crazy for loving these cream topped squishy tarts? Do yourself a favour: head to the nearest Greggs and get a pineapple tart/ cake. Let me know if you have any thoughts on who makes the best ones in Glasgow and beyond!
6. Tablet
An institution. You might even say tablet is to Scotland what maple syrup is to Canada.
7. Macaroon
To readers outside of Scotland - this is not the macaroon you know but rather, the one traditionally made with potatoes. Very sweet and very sinful but also equally delicious. Sometimes you just can't beat a Lee's Macaroon bar, you know?
8. Coconut Ice
Again, achingly sweet (are you seeing a pattern here?) and you definitely must be a fan of coconut (who isn't?) to enjoy this sort of ice.
9. Sausage Supper (again, the native Scot's choice)
A deep-fried sausage with chips.
And that's all I have to say about that.
10. Raspberry Ruffle
We here at LAKE&LOCH HQ aren't sure if the Raspberry Ruffle bar is actually Scottish or if it's known nationwide (anyone know?) Either way we're including it because (a) it seems like the sort of sweet to come out of Scotland and (b) it's freakin' AMAZING. We've written about our love of the ol' Raspberry Ruffle before too.
11. BONUS: Almost anything by Buchanan's
What's your favourite junk food - Scottish and beyond?
]]>Fancy a wee day out? Wanna come sniff our gorgeous candles? Interested in independent makers/ designers and local businesses? Yeah? Then come along to one of the many upcoming markets - just in time for Christmas!
]]>Are you a bit like us and get annoyed at arbitrary artificial things like "National Coffee Day"? Don't get us wrong - we love coffee. LOVE IT. But we're not really fans of forced participation and following others. Yes, we love deals like everyone else and yes, of course, we want people to purchase our products. But not in an overly-commercialised hurried manner.
We want LAKE&LOCH to be a place where you can drop by, check out our items and maybe even read about a new place to get coffee in your bit. Or maybe just send us an email with a question or suggestion. We like engaging with people, which is why you'll often find us at markets (probably talking too much), or collaborating with others. So, if you want to stay up-to-date with deals, gossip and special offers, follow us on Instagram and/or sign up to our mailing list.
Initially we decided that we were not going to take part in Black Friday but then realised, why not do it our own way? We know - it's not a HUGE discount but we wanted to do something a little bit different. So instead, on Friday the 24th we're going to donate £5 from every sale* to Social Bite: a social enterprise which feeds, employs, and supports homeless people. We admire what Social Bite do, which is why we're donating to their effort to build a village for homeless and vulnerable people, just outside Edinburgh.
You save 10% on (almost) all sales; we'll give a fiver to charity. Sound good?
The Black Friday "sale" starts Friday 24th November at 12.00am until 11.59pm. Use code:
Happy shopping for a good cause!
*Please note: the ONLY item not included in our "sale" are the BUCK FAST KOZY gloves.
]]>Duke Street runs through the heart of Dennistoun with lots of independent shops and cafes scattered across and around it. Like a lot of Southsiders (or Westenders even), we haven't spent a lot of time in Dennistoun. Our own fault, admittedly. But wow! There's a lot of great places and history to explore.
Firstly, there's the history. If you haven't seen the BBC documentary, The Secret History of our Streets (link), about Duke Street, it's definitely worth a watch.
Dennistoun is named after James Dennistoun (1759-1835), a wealthy merchant and banker who purchased land to the North East of the city. After his death, his son Alexander purchased more estates and in 1854, employed an architect - James Salmon - to create a new suburb: Dennistoun.
Secondly, there's the institutions: Nakodar Grill, Celino's, Coia's, Tibo, and Tapa.
Thirdly, the new guards: lots of interesting and exciting places have started opening in Dennistoun in the last few years. Places like McCune Smith (which offers filter coffee too!), Redmond's (some say the best pub in Dennistoun), Stan's (OMG. The cakes. And Maybel the whippet; in fact, we may have stood outside like pure weirdos admiring Maybel), Kind Crusts (vegan food and doughnuts), and the polar opposite: Dennistoun BBQ. However, we actually haven't been to Dennistoun BBQ so can't vouch for it.
Another place we haven't been to but are really keen to try is Bilson Eleven. Only opening at the start of 2017, the restaurant received a scathing review a few months ago in the Guardian. Our interest was immediately piqued. Then a couple weeks ago it was announced that Bilson Eleven had earned a mention in the Michelin Guide 2018. Huh. What to make of it all, eh?
We suppose the only fault to be found in Dennistoun is the lack of independent and quirky shops. Apart from the secondhand / charity shops, we didn't really come across any other retail / gift shops.
And finally, the sense of community. From organising a community-owned housing association to community gardeners, there is definitely a sense of pride amongst Dennistoun residents. Quite rightly too!
]]>We love Shawlands. Everyone loves Shawlands, don't they? How could you not?! It's a bustling wee bit of Glasgow with plenty to offer: decent shopping, amazing cafes, lovely old tenements and definitely a community vibe amongst it. The Sunday Times even named Shawlands as one of the 12 best places to live in Scotland. One of the reasons why Shawlands is so great is because Queen's Park is right on your doorstep. After eating at any number of great restaurants, it's nice to grab a coffee and stroll around the park.
As for shopping, we've mentioned before our love of bargain shopping and the ensuing buzz. Well another one of our loves is junk food which, of course, Scotland and the wider UK excel at. With a Poundworld and B&M in Shawlands, it's always nice to pop into either and buy Pringles or - our favourite at LAKE&LOCH - a six pack of Jameson's Raspberry Ruffle bars (ALTHOUGH WE SWEAR THE RECIPE HAS CHANGED) for a £1.
Aw yeah, the good sh*t!
Side note: how is it possible that we here at LAKE&LOCH HQ have lived in Glasgow for nearly 50 years between us and have only just set foot into B&M for the first time this year!? We're also big fans of Home Bargains - especially the one just down the road from Shawlands at Auldhouse. If your weakness is junk food, random foreign-looking junk food and scoring a bargain, then Home Bargains is your mecca.
Anyway, back to Shawlands. People love Shawlands and rightfully so. It's like a wee Glasgow within Glasgow. Spend any amount of time in Shawlands and you start to see regulars about the place; there are even people who have lived their entire lives in Shawlands and it's easy to understand why. So, yes, we adore Shawlands! So much so that we are slightly reluctant to rant on about it...lest it become way too expensive (see: Anywhere In The West End).
But we love it and we'll let you in on some of favourites and what you might have missed:
SHOPS
Stephen O'Neil - A fantastic gift shop (who also happen to stock some of our beanies), Stephen's has been referred to as "probably one of the best curated retail space in the city". He also sells some of his own Glasgow/ Scotland inspired art and prints. If you're a visitor to our fine city and manage to actually make it across the Clyde, you should definitely pop in for some souvenirs.
Paper Plane - Another gift shop just off the main thoroughfare of Kilmarnock Road. A nice selection of cards and gifts to save you from going into town.
Stalks and Stems - A florist, greengrocer, and Christmas tree provider all rolled into one. If you're in urgent need of a flower bouquet, posh tablet, or fennel then Stalks and Stems have got you covered.
Shawlands Continental - Walking home from the gym one day, we were suddenly hit with a craving for some middle eastern spreads like hummus and feta cheese. We just so happened to be walking past Shawlands Continental at the time and it looked like the kinda joint that might stock our desired goods. We're lucky that we didn't wait until we got to our local grocer because Shawlands Continental rules! In we walked and spent about the next 30 minutes inspecting all the different foods/ groceries on offer. They stock everything from fresh sandwiches, popcorn kernels (not the most widely available here), East Asian ingredients, South Asian ingredients, delicious Turkish Delight (of course we bought it!), and with a butcher in the back, they also sell halal meat (if that's your thing).
Another day and another post-gym craving, we popped into Shawlands Continental once again to satiate our cravings and noticed the shop guys tucking into some juicy-looking mangos.
"Hey, are those mangos the super expensive ones from Pakistan?" we asked. Admittedly we're weirdly into mangos (and Ontario tomatoes).
"They're Pakistani but they're not that expensive; they're only a £1 each. Here. Try one," they replied, plonking over a golden-yellow mango into our greedy paws. Honestly, we were so touched. And yes, it WAS DELICIOUS. Though you should definitely eat them over the sink.
RESTAURANTS / CAFES
You are really spoiled in Shawlands when it comes to coffee and eats. Like Strathbungo and Pollokshields, there's been an explosion of amazing places to eat and drink in Shawlands in the last few years.
Cafe Strange Brew - Winner of best cafe in Glasgow for the second year in a row, it's easy to see why. At first glance it might appear like your usual brunch spread. Pay attention to the description and it's anything but. Today, for example, as we type this blogpost, their specials were: "truffled artichoke baked eggs with Parmesan and truffled cream or berry pancakes with brown butter oats and rose yoghurts"
I MEAN....
HAVE MERCY!
Glad Cafe - Another staple of Shawlands. Although we've been to The Glad Cafe for breakfast, lunch, performances, cake and coffee, we have yet to try their new dinner offerings. They now offer an East Asian inspired dinner menu ("Nanika") that we have heard great things about and are dying to try.
The Butterfly and the Pig - the Southside offshoot of the popular city centre bar/ restaurant. If you're hungover/ greedy/ with your parents and need a safe space, this is your go-to. Big portions that we can finish even when we're not hungover. NO SHAME. NO JUDGEMENT.
Julie's Kopitiam - Admittedly this cafe/ restaurant isn't even open yet (it's opening in the former location of Cafe Strange Brew, who moved across the road to larger premises)! However, we sampled Julie's Malaysian street food at SWG3's Hypermarket back in June and have been waiting with baited breath ever since for it to open. Since we tried her delicious dhal and slow roasted satay chicken that weekend, we've been excited for the new place to open. We cannae wait!
Gizzi's Espresso Bar - Good consistent coffee. We've not actually eaten at Gizzi's although the offerings look appetising. They also won Best Barista at the Italian Awards so you know they mean business. Cannae go wrong with an Americano, in our opinion.
Dixie Bakes - Ok, there's no actual location but Carina supplies a lot of cafes/ restaurants in Glasgow, particularly on the Southside, with her amazing bakes. You can even sample some of them at Cafe Strange Brew and Gizzi's. She also does wedding and celebration cakes to order. Honestly, scroll through her instagram and scream at the sheer desire of wanting to smash your face into everything.
It All Started Here - a newish cafe in Shawlands, we first tried their coffee at Bakery47 (which, sadly, closes next weekend). Be warned though, this small cafe is only open on Saturdays and Sunday. Very good coffee and worth the effort to get to if you're not on the Southside.
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
Soy Division - a vegan eatery that wins on the name alone. We're not sure but this might be the only strictly vegan place in Shawlands?!
Sir John Stirling Maxwell - Yes, it's a Wetherspoon and admittedly, we wouldn't recommend eating there (which we did once) but you know what? The drinks are reasonable in price and they have a great selection of ales, if you're into that sort of thing. Also, you're almost guaranteed a seat so if you wanna sit and enjoy a nice ale in Shawlands, this is your place.
Black Dove - We've never actually eaten here but have heard good things about it. Definitely on our list of places to eat soon!
Whew!
So, what did we miss? What are some of your favourites?
]]>So, we decided to put our innate doughnut-judging skills to the test and sample some of Glasgow's finest.
Just a word of warning though: we opted to sample freshly-made doughnuts from independent shops rather than multinational chains. Yes, the Canadian institution that is Tim Hortons is now in Glasgow (and yes, we were pretty excited about it when it arrived) and yes, Krispy Kreme has an exciting and diverse range of doughnuts. That being said, almost errrrbody in Glasgow knows these places; we wanted to highlight some places that you might not know about it. And so, without further ado, here are our top three doughnut joints!
27 Old Dumbarton Road, G3 8RD
Lemon Passionfruit Meringue / £2.15 (takeaway)
W O W.
O
W.
There is a reason why Tantrum Doughnuts currently sits at number two on TripAdvisor as the best dessert in Glasgow. They are unparalleled when it comes to doughnuts in Glasgow; there's nothing in comparison to what they're doing, to be honest. The dough was perfectly cooked (albeit just slightly too oily on the bottom) and the lemon passionfruit curd in the middle was just the right hint of tangy. Truly delicious. Tantrum, you're slayin' it and slowly killing us all in the process (don't stop though).
2. Eusebi Deli
152 Park Road, G4 9HB
Salted Caramel / £1.45
Look at the size of it! OOOFT. Again, the dough was fluffy, fresh and perfectly-cooked. We really REALLY enjoyed the dough. The salted caramel custard? Not so much. For a start, it didn't seem like a traditional custard (cream, egg-based) but more like a whipped oil-based product. It tasted greasy and almost evaporated once it hit our tongue. We didn't get much "salted caramel" from it either - just an overall sweetness flavour. That being said, it's still the second best doughnut we've had on our travels around Glasgow. We really wanted to try their nutella-filled doughnut but they didn't have it when we were in.
Still, pretty damn good. As is all their food, to be honest. Definitely go for a meal, wine, and doughnuts if you haven't been yet.
498 Dumbarton Road, G11 6SL
Custard Doughnut / £1 (!)
This Polish takeaway, situated in Partick, is making the kind of doughnuts that we remember eating as a kid in Canada, before the advent of more "fancy" doughnuts and franchises. Just straight-up dough fried, glazed in sugar, and injected with something similarly sweet. It was refreshing to eat something that transported us to another time. The dough was denser, perfectly cooked, and ever so slightly oily. The glaze had a hint of orange in it (we think? We couldn't quite place it) and was a nice touch. The custard, however, is what ultimately let the doughnut down; tasteless and with a mealy texture, we were disappointed. Overall though, you can't complain because it was monstrous in size and only £1. Quality!
What are some of your favourite doughnut places?
]]>Let's be honest: some people are pretty divided about Strathbungo. And being Glaswegians, they have strong opinions on the matter. When the Guardian featured Glasgow's Southside in their February 19th 2016 weekly column, Let's Move to... one Glaswegian shared their opinion, which might be shared by quite a few:
We, however, love Strathbungo. True, property is overpriced (why!? What is even happening over there?), a person can barely manage to walk on the cramped pavements (assuming a car hasn't parked on it) and there are WAY. TOO. MANY. CARS. parked on the narrow streets. Full disclosure: we are based nearby in Pollokshields (considerably cheaper even though we could probably slingshot a stone from our window over onto Moray Place).
Ok, I hear you say, what's to love about Strathbungo then?
First and foremost, the architecture and history. Strathbungo has some truly stunning architecture, most notably 1-10 Moray Place designed by Alexander "Greek" Thomson. Thomson himself lived at 1 Moray Place until his death in 1875. If you haven't had the pleasure of strolling along Moray Place in the Glasgow sunshine, we would urge you to do it. You might even bump into a couple of black kitties slinking around ("Treacle", who is friendly and has a snaggletooth, can often be seen basking in the sun around here). We won't go into too much detail as there are literally a half dozen blogs / blogposts dedicated to the history and architecture of Strathbungo.
Secondly, the sense of community. Perhaps a lot of areas in Glasgow are similar but we love that Strathbungo residents organise various clean-ups, societies and events in the neighbourhood. In fact, our very first pop-up event - and second day of trading - was at Bungo in the Backlanes. Earlier this year there was also the first ever Window Wanderland.
And finally, all the amazing places to shop, eat, and enjoy coffee. Here's our rundown:
Image via Potluck's crazy delicious-lookin' Instagram
Potluck - Only just opened in May, Potluck and the two talented women who run it are getting loads of love and admiration (rightly so!) for their ambitious and tasty food. With a glowing review from Briony at The Glasgow Food Blog, it's easy to see how this place is already a Strathbungo staple. On top of the ridiculously delicious food, it's also reasonably priced. We've been a couple times now and both times were blown away with our meals and creative effort put into each dish. Right. Sorry to gush. It's just good, aight!?
Image via Southside Roasters lovely instagram feed
Southside Roasters - Another (reasonably) new place in Strathbungo and another favourite, here at LAKE&LOCH. They make some of the best coffee this side of the river (maybe all of Glasgow but we dunno, to be honest, 'cause we're just amateurs). With an Instagram-esque interior, the food and cakes are also delicious. Of course, we also love the fact that some of their coffee beans are named after various bits of the Southside.
Locavore - A social enterprise that runs a shop, vegetable delivery box and farm; they do a lot to inform and engage the community about food and where it all comes from. A great wee store that does their best to stock local food and drink they will be moving, alas, over to Victoria Road to open a bigger shop and deli in the next few months.
The Bungo Bar & Kitchen - Opened in December 2011, the Bungo is a local stalwart. The food and drink are really good (not so much the coffee) and it's dog-friendly.
The Rum Shack - With over 100 rums on offer, The Rum Shack is Glasgow's "original Caribbean" restaurant and bar. They also offer pub grub with a Caribbean flavour. Alongside the bar, there is also an event space/club where we attended a PURE BANGIN' night a couple weekend's ago. Recommended. Dog-friendly.
The Allison Arms - We love this pub. As do most of the locals. It's so good we're almost reluctant to bang on about it 'cause it's always heaving (rightly so). The amazing selection at the Ally Arms is everything: from the tunes on the jukebox, to the beer, to the gin; it's all good. Again, dog-friendly too.
Gusto & Relish - Wee cafe favoured by locals with kids (not sure why?) that make quality home-cooked grub.
Lebowski's South - Just over a year old, Lebowski's opened a branch on the Southside offering their usual menu and white russian cocktails. Dog-friendly.
Ranjit's Kitchen - We're not sure where Ranjit's falls under - whether it's Pollokshields, Strathbungo or just veggie heaven - but nevertheless, this place is glorious. Making Panjabi food, it's family-run and totally unassuming. They're currently ranked as the number one restaurant in Glasgow on TripAdvisor. Cheap, bountiful and really really good.
As you can see, there's a lot on offer in Strathbungo (and periphery). Just don't call it the West End of the Southside.
What are some of your favourite places in Strathbungo?
]]>R.I.P. Velvet Elvis
Here at LAKE&LOCH, we're big fans of Partick - we lived in Partick for many years and have fond memories of our time there. For those that don't know, Partick is on the periphery of the West end of Glasgow, but not outrageously priced. Just yet anyway.
Some of our greatest memories of Glasgow were formed when we lived in our one-bedroom flat on Peel street, across the road from Stumps pub. From strolling through the Farmer's Market at Mansfield Park (every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month) to hitting up Cottonrake Bakery for some amazing pastries (sadly now based on Great Western Road) to whisky sessions in The Lismore to rummaging through all the secondhand shops dotted around the neighbourhood.
The Lismore - previously mentioned "old man's pub" with a great selection of beer and whisky.
The Sparkle Horse - another great pub where, most of the time, we have been able to get a seat (important at our ages) and enjoy great beers. Also has a fantastic selection of tunes on their jukebox. They also have a quiz every Monday night, religiously attended by some.
Three Judges - again! yet another pub. Hey, what can we say? Glasgow does great pubs. Anyway, they have an amazing selection of real ales and cider. Great choice of beer and live jazz on Sunday.
Number 16 - another institution in Partick and Glasgow at large. A great restaurant where - until recently - their head pastry chef was Helen Vass, part of the winning team of BBC2's Bake Off Creme de la Creme. We love pastries at LAKE&LOCH (who doesn't?) so base a lot of eating out decisions on a restaurant's dessert selection (anyone else do this?)
Cafezique / Delizique - Is this still Partick or Hyndland? We'll go with the former. Cafezique and Delizique are owned by the same people and nearly side-by-side (separated by a close doorway). They both offer breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake and the Cafe bit also does dinner.
Kaf Coffee - Great coffee. Amazing food. Man, Partick is killing it in coffee at the moment.
For Fika Sake - Fairly new coffee shop with a Scandinavian slant which we haven't been to but have heard great things about.
Kimchi Cult - Another place we haven't been to but have heard great things about, specialising in Korean-style fast food.
What are some of your favourite spots in Partick?
]]>You see, when I first moved to Glasgow way back in 2006, the first flat I ever rented was in Maryhill. Technically the postcode fell under North Kelvinside but in reality, it was Maryhill through and through.
It was a one bedroom flat on Garrioch Road, just behind Tesco. It was close enough to the West end for it to be convenient but still cheap and close enough to the heart of Maryhill to still be crazy (at times). From the drunk 3am fights outside my bedroom window to the local (underage) kids asking me to buy them alcohol to walking along the River Kelvin walkway, I have fond memories of my time living there. It was also in Maryhill that I - a new immigrant - first discovered Tesco. Yes, Tesco.
When I was a broke immigrant to the UK with nothing but two suitcases to my name, Tesco was a lifesaver. Selling everything from cheap food to pillows to DAB radios, I totally appreciated it. Nowadays I mainly shop at Aldi to get my budget-buying buzz, but Tesco initially set off that addiction. They've since knocked down the dated Maryhill Shopping Centre and replaced it with a giant 24 hour Tesco. When the plans were first announced to replace the old Tesco with a fancy 24 hour one, there was some community (read: North Kelvinside residents) backlash. Personally I was delighted; you're telling me I could make a 2am run for Buchanan's Super Jelly Beans and a Raspberry Ruffle!? Hell, yeah, sign me up!
Yes, Maryhill was a colourful place with interesting sights: from witnessing fights spilling out from The Viking pub to the Liquor Barn to the questionably named and painted, "The Lucky Midden".
Sadly, the Midden is no more.
Nevertheless, there are loads of things to see and do in Maryhill like the obvious: hit up Cafe D'Jaconelli for a milkshake or ice cream and visit the Mackintosh Church (although is this still Maryhill or Queen's Cross?) I'd also suggest heading over to the Codfather for a fish supper and then walking off all that deep-fried goodness along the River Kelvin up to the Maryhill locks (weather permitting, of course). Like I mentioned earlier, I loved walking along the Kelvin walkway down into the West end; it's one of the best experiences in Glasgow and it's free.
If football is your thing then you can obviously catch a Partick Thistle match at Firhill. I know, it's confusing; a Partick football team play in Maryhill.
And if your hunger still hasn't been satiated then head over to the highly recommended, Black Sheep Bistro, who are currently sitting in at the 16th spot of best places in Glasgow on Tripadvisor. They specialise in Scottish home-cooked comfort food.
So grab your bike (or walking shoes), get yourself down to the Kelvin Walkway and up into Maryhill.
]]>Beavers are also historically important to the founding of modern Canada as well. In the 16th century, beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK, mainly for their fur and glandular oil. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, fur hats – often made from beaver pelt - were extremely fashionable. Early European explorers of Canada soon realised that the demand for fur hats and abundance of beavers in Canada could be hugely lucrative. Indeed, King Henry IV of France saw the fur trade as an opportunity to make vast sums of revenue and to establish a North American empire. The Hudson’s Bay Company, the oldest corporation in Canada, was incorporated by English royal charter in 1670 and was founded on fur trade. So powerful was the Hudson’s Bay Company, it was once the world’s largest landowner, undertaking early exploration of Canada, with traders and trappers establishing relationships with many indigenous tribes. Soon both English and French fur traders were selling beaver pelts in Europe at 20 times their original purchase price.
After being made extinct over 400 years ago, beavers were reintroduced on a trial basis in 2009 in Scotland. So we were really excited when the Scottish government officially welcomed beavers back in November 2016 and were given protected status. They are the first mammals to be reintroduced to the UK.
So, yes, in short, we love beavers. And so should you. That is why we decided to donate £1 from every sale of our Camping Mug Candles to the Scottish Wildlife Trust; they do good work in protecting Scotland's wildlife.
A couple months ago, we decided to go check out the Scottish Beaver Trail in Knapdale Forest, west of Lochgilhead in Argyll. Heading from Glasgow, it’s only a 2 hour 15 minute drive and a pretty lovely one at that.
Once we arrived at Knapdale Forest, we parked our car at the designated parking lot and headed towards the "Beaver Detective Trail".
The trail itself is an easy stroll round Loch Collie Bharr and although we didn't see any beavers, we did spot evidence of them and one of their dams.
Your best chances of spotting beavers are at dusk or dawn as they are most active at night. That being said, it is still a beautiful stroll round the loch and worth it for that visit alone, especially on a sunny day.
On our way back from Knapdale, we stopped into Samphire Seafood restaurant for some dinner. Our meal featured Loch Fyne smoked salmon, delicious locally-smoked haddock chowder and gnocchi. Should you ever find yourself in Inveraray, which is admittedly quite touristy (I have no idea why), then I would recommend it. There is also, of course, the famous Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, which I have not been to but it's famous for a reason, I guess.
Go say "hi"to the Scottish beavers!
]]>Yeah, Clydebank. I LOVE Clydebank. Clydebank doesn't get enough love, in my opinion.
During the first few years of living in Glasgow, I had little to no disposable income (some things never change), so one of my favourite things to do was get on my bike and cycle out to Clydebank along the canal on route 754. Once there I would hit up all the bargain shops like TK Maxx, Lidl and my personal favourite, Wilko; seeing how much of a bargain I could score was like a kind of buzz back then. That being said, there is more to Clydebank than just discount shopping (although I heard they have a somewhat new Watt Brothers now)! Clydebank has a really interesting history as well.
Prior to 1870, Clydebank was largely rural, consisting of villages and farms mainly. In 1871, J & G Thomson set up a shipbuilding yard and rapid growth of industry and population followed shortly after. In 1882, Singer opened a factory in Clydebank, becoming the largest sewing machine factories in the world employing over 12,000 people. Sadly the factory closed in 1980 and the buildings were demolished in the 1990s. During World War II, Clydebank was heavily bombed by the Germans in March 1941 in what is known as the Clydebank Blitz: 528 people died with 617 seriously injured and thousands more homes completely destroyed and damaged.
Anyway, like I said: an interesting history that is worth learning about and you can at the Clydebank Museum in the town hall. After a stroll around the museum, you cannot go to Clydebank and not stop in at McMonagles for fish 'n' chips.
And then of course, get yourself up the Titan Crane like Dee Dee.
]]>Spotlight // Pollokshields
Based in the Southside, Pollokshields was initially developed towards the end of the Victorian era as a leafy suburb of Glasgow. With wide avenues and Alexander "Greek" Thomson villas, townhouses and tenements, it's hard to believe it's only one stop on the train from Central station.
Pollokshields has always inspired us at LAKE&LOCH with it's cultural diversity, gorgeous parks, plethora of cafes and really good independent shops. Here's just a few:
Maxwell Park: Gifted to the city of Glasgow by Sir John Stirling Maxwell, a Scottish politician and philanthropist, in 1887 the park officially opened in 1890. With it's various flower beds and naturalised pond to the west of the park, it's stunning - especially on sunny days. Located within Maxwell Park is Pollokshields Burgh Hall, a Scottish Baronial style community hall. Designed by Glasgow architect Henry Edward Clifford, the red sandstone building is a popular wedding venue.
Maxwell's Pollokshields: an awesome local corner shop that is slightly odd as they carry not only the usual stuff (junk food, newspapers etc) but also an amazing selection of wine, beer, whisky and even draught beer.
Moyra Janes: a Pollokshields staple. Decent coffee and cake and lovely food. French brasserie in style, it's easy to see why it's a long-established staple of Pollokshields.
Zucchini: Look, I know it's just a greengrocer but it's still worthy of a mention. With its fresh fruit and vegetables (although do be sure to inspect them to ensure freshness!) and unusual selection of random stuff (see: American style Jalapeno pretzels, baklava, root beer etc), I love it for the selection of liquorice alone.
Marie Brown at Home: a lovely independent gift shop run by a lovely woman. Perfect for cards, jewellery, candles and more.
Floral Haven: a gorgeous corner shop full of beautiful flowers, arrangements and gifts. Amazing and talented florists as well.
What are some of your favourite places in Pollokshields?
]]>
After many months of planning, designing and making, we have officially launched.
It's been a long and mostly slow process of designing, sourcing and sample testing. Throughout the last few months I experienced crippling fear; a sequence of "What ifs..." rumbled through my head.
'What if this fails?"
"What if I lose all my money?"
"What if no one buys anything?"
I seriously considered each question. I mean, whoever said that entrepreneurs must be crazy is onto something because faced with the reality that half (most?) businesses fail, I STILL had the notion to do it. Obviously I'm not a tech start-up and it's mostly myself - with a little help from my friends - so the risks are considerably lower. That said, when faced with the prospects of failure and continuous self-doubt, my gut feeling was still: I have to do this.
Yes, it could fail / yes, I could lose all my money / and yes, no one could potentially buy a damn thing but ultimately (and most importantly), I believed in LAKE&LOCH: I believe in my products; I believe people love Glasgow and Scotland as much as I do; I believe there is a community of like-minded people out there who want to support small businesses doing and making cool things.
Weighing up the options, I've ploughed ahead because I know that I would have regretted not doing it more than if I did. Maybe there are two types of people: those that regret doing it and those that regret not doing it and I definitely fall into the latter camp.
Through it all I've been supported and inspired by so many people. So, thanks. And thank you for stopping by.
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