Silent Sunday – 30 March

Sunshine in Glasgow makes everything beautiful…

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It’s what’s on the inside that counts

You may have walked past Siempre Bicycle Café many times. It’s easily done. After all, at first glance it simply looks like a small coffee to-go window. Step up, order and be on your way.

Fast, easy but unfortunately you’re totally missing out.

Brunch delights and bikes

Step through the door into the most magical little café. Actually, the most magical massive café. Siempre is a sprawling tardis of freshly made food and bicycle bits and bobs.

As the name suggest, you can indeed get bike gear, clothing and even bikes. Or you can sit down in one of their comfy spaces and enjoy scrumptious food.

We opt for the latter and are totally delighted by their scrambled egg and salmon on a toasted bagel, eclectic veggie platter and refreshing smoothies. The French toast is also tempting.

We’re totally charmed by their cuppas – that quite literally come with a smile…ok a moustache but still pretty cool.

And their extensive selection of hot chocolate is nothings short of impressive. Whether you like it super sweet or even spicy, Siempre has it covered.

Not only is does this relaxed haven offering up good food, the staff are also lovely. It’s the perfect place to whittle away a few hours.

So the next time you’re speeding out of the Kelvinhall underground, by-pass that to-go window and treat yourself to something tasty inside.

– T

Silent Sunday – 23 March

Try the Hillhead Bookclub gramophone cocktail if you dare

The Kitchen is calling – but you don’t have to cook

Don’t think that Mother Nature got the first day of spring memo this week.  It’s cold – too cold for cooking in my own kitchen.  And so we head to another.

The Italian Kitchen’s welcoming space is just what we need.  It instantly warms the soul and treats our senses to the most delicious of smells and lovely looking food.  And there’s choice galore.

We start with their mozzarella, basil and tomato salad perfectly complimented by freshly baked focaccia.  It just may be the best in town, sprinkled with fresh rosemary and infused with flavour,  it literally melts in the mouth.

If you can manage to resist the impressive and appetising selection of pizza, their creamy dreamy tagliatelle with pan-fried mushrooms in garlic, sage and parmesan is absolutely amazing.

Happily stuffed, we give dessert a miss but  cappuccino and a baileys coffee is the perfect end to a spectacular meal.

But what’s good food without exceptional service?  Nothing.  But that’s not a concern here.  Our lovely server is attentive, knowledgeable and totally accommodating.  Our glasses are always full and our food is absolutely perfect.

Looking around the packed restaurant, it’s clear we’re not the only ones that know about this culinary gem.  So do make a reservation to avoid disappointment.

While I’m hopeful that spring will make an appearance in Glasgow soon – having comforting scrumptious food helps to brighten the dark cold days.

– T

Silent Sunday – 16 March

Enjoy veggie delights at the delish 13th Note

 

Silent Sunday – 9 March

Have a sweet Sunday at Once Upon a Tart…

Banish the mid-week blues at the Bookclub

It’s dark, wet and sometimes feels like the weekend is never coming… so I  introduce emergency cocktail Thursdays to beat the almost-weekend doldrums.

Our inaugural outing leads us to Hillhead Bookclub  just off Byres Road.  A perfect choice.

Room to breathe and explore

It’s a wonderful vast place with high ceilings and refreshing room to breathe.  Even with its different levels, booths facing every which way and old fashioned chairs – it feels reassuringly warm and welcoming.

You can get up to all sorts of fun at Hillhead – everything from bingo on a Wednesday, vintage fairs on a Sunday and chowing down on delicious food any day of the week.

But we’re here with one objective – to explore the impressive cocktail menu.

Delightful drinks galore

We resist the tempting Book Club Punch served in an old fashioned gramophone and head straight for The Pomeranian.  Delicious but over far too quickly.   The Red Headed Stepchild is my favourite followed by the Colin’s strawberry Collins.  A Vanilla Coke Float tops off our night as a shared delightful dessert.   Mission accomplished – not a bit of melancholy remains.

Soul-restoring cocktails aside, Hillhead Bookclub is a comforting combination of conundrums. Ping Pong tables, dentist chairs, cocktails in tea cups combine for the perfect offering of ease and relaxation.

So shake off those winter blues, face the cold to take comfort in the warmth and wonder of the Hillhead Bookclub.

-B

Silent Sunday – 2 March

There’s light (and a train) at the end of the tunnel…