SCONE SPY
The undercover cafe critic
YOU
know, it used to be easy, this café lark.
In you’d pop and the choices before you were, to be fair, on the basic side.
Tea, pretty much builder’s or nowt. Coffee – well, it was either milky or not. Chocolate was of the straightforward hot variety.
Now, they need a section, nay a menu of their own.
Actually, a book – a fairly beefy beast at that – might be more appropriate.
I find myself mulling that as I have a look at the options at Charlie’s Coffee Shop & Bar at Mugdock Park, a short drive from Milngavie on the outskirts of Glasgow.
If tea’s your cuppa of choice there’s camomile and China green, rooibos, red berry splash and chai latte as well as Earl Grey and Scottish brew.
Coffee concoctions include cocomon latte – that’s coconut and cinnamon – cara-mallow latte (caramel and marshmallow) and liquorice mint mocha.
That’s on top of the standard flat whites, Americano et al. And “traditional” is just one of various chocolate choices.
However, the bottom line is that, if it’s good, then I’m all for it.
And Chunky Monkeys Coffee (there’s another branch in Airdrie) say they pride themselves in dishing
up amazing coffee with great and personable service.
We’ve had a couple of hours strolling around the expansive park, including the fascinating ruined 14th Century castle, so a reviving bite and a nice brew sounded just perfect.
It’s a decent day and we pick a table outside in the old courtyard among the walkers, cyclists and runners.
As it’s late morning the various breakfast options are pretty tempting, especially the bacon and egg omelette round.
But I settle on a freshly-baked ciabatta with a few slices of nicely crispy bacon, while my dining companion picks one of the individual waffle options (they also come as part of a hearty breakfast selection at £4.50).
In her case it’s the maple syrup which covers it plentifully in a big bowl.
A cappuccino is my liquid accompaniment and it more than lives up to the billing. So, too, I’m told does the hot chocolate.
Of course, the most important part of all of the offerings is the scone – and we really have saved the best for last.
On the menu it tells us in big and bold lettering that they are Irish buttermilk scones, made fresh every morning.
And big and bold is the perfect description for the scone.
It’s a cracker, overflowing with fruit and perfectly crisp and soft in all the right areas.
Amidst all the change, thankfully, some things stay reassuringly the same.