We had Trecia visiting from London for the weekend for a whistlestop tour of Glasgow and the West.
We had taken her on the Glasgow tour with stop off at the People's Palace and Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and had hoped to take her for afternoon tea at the Willow Tearooms but had run out of time and we would not have got there before it closed for the day.
So on the steps of the Kelvingrove we had a quick reassessment and decided that we would have a small refreshment stop before finding an Indian restaurant to demonstrate why Glasgow is a contender for Curry Capital 2015.
So where to go? It did not take us long to decide on Nardini's because it had gone down so well with our previous guests.
As we approached we realised our arrival was coinciding with the school run and I was worried that we might miss out on a table.
However we found a table and with vanilla ices and coffees all round we were sated. Thanks Nardini's for providing a wonderful introduction for yet another friend to the delights of Scottish Italian ice cream.
This was a great interlude before our main event at Koolba in the merchant city
Monday, 31 August 2015
Thursday, 6 August 2015
Nardini's, Byres Road, Glasgow
Parveen and her kids Isabelle and Rohan were visiting us but had unfortunately had to cut their holiday short due to other commitments which meant that we did not have time to visit Nardini's in Largs.
We were doing the Glasgow open top bus tour and had decided to stop at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum which is within a short walk of Nardini's so that was decided. The Haynes family's introduction to the delights of Scottish Italian ice cream would start with one of the best.
The Kelvingrove Gallery & Museum was enjoyed by all and Parveen was introduced to Charles Rennie MacKintosh's designs and the art of Margaret MacDonald and the Glasgow Boys.
So we walked up to the middle of Byres Road. As always with Nardini's it was busy when we arrived but by the time we had decided who was going to have which ice cream, a table was vacated. The kids had Honeycomb Explosion and Parveen had Caramel Swirl with Peanuts. I of course had vanilla. Izzy had a waffle cone and the rest of us a single scoop in a glass. Hot drinks in the form of coffees all round and everyone tucked in.
All I could hear was Mmm and Aahh as they all enjoyed their ices.
Suffice to say that the visit was a hit and a highlight of their short introduction to Glasgow.
Come back soon Haynes family and we can continue your introduction to the iced delights of our wee country.
We were doing the Glasgow open top bus tour and had decided to stop at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum which is within a short walk of Nardini's so that was decided. The Haynes family's introduction to the delights of Scottish Italian ice cream would start with one of the best.
The Kelvingrove Gallery & Museum was enjoyed by all and Parveen was introduced to Charles Rennie MacKintosh's designs and the art of Margaret MacDonald and the Glasgow Boys.
So we walked up to the middle of Byres Road. As always with Nardini's it was busy when we arrived but by the time we had decided who was going to have which ice cream, a table was vacated. The kids had Honeycomb Explosion and Parveen had Caramel Swirl with Peanuts. I of course had vanilla. Izzy had a waffle cone and the rest of us a single scoop in a glass. Hot drinks in the form of coffees all round and everyone tucked in.
All I could hear was Mmm and Aahh as they all enjoyed their ices.
Suffice to say that the visit was a hit and a highlight of their short introduction to Glasgow.
Come back soon Haynes family and we can continue your introduction to the iced delights of our wee country.
Thursday, 12 February 2015
Progress to Date
Ice Cream Establishments Visited so Far:
| Establishment | Location | Visited |
|---|---|---|
| Renaldo's | Ayr | Yes |
| Royal Café (Mancini's) | Ayr | Yes |
| Wizgonies | Balloch | Not Applicable |
| Visocchi | Broughty Ferry/Dundee/Kirriemuir | No |
| Café Gelato | Burnside | Yes |
| Colpi's | Clydebank/Milngalvie | Yes |
| Giacopazzi's | Eyemouth | No |
| Valentini's | Giffnock | No |
| Pieri's Delicatessen | Greenock | No |
| The Esplanade Café | Greenock | Yes |
| Dino's | Helensburgh | Yes |
| Bordone's | Kilmarnock | No |
| Mayfair Café | Kilmarnock | No |
| Varani's Forum Café | Kilmarnock | Yes |
| Ghiloni's | Kirkintilloch | No |
| Sugar & Spice (Geraldo's) | Largs | Yes |
| Jaconelli's | Maryhill | Yes |
| Princes Café | Mauchline | No |
| Caffé Soavé | Muirhead | No |
| Elena DiRollo | Musselburgh | No |
| Luca's | Musselburgh | No |
| Janetta's | St Andrews | No |
| Luvian's | St Andrews | No |
| West End Café | Saltcoats | Yes |
| Brooklyn Café | Shawlands | Yes |
| Corrieri's Cafe | Stirling | Yes |
| The Marina | Troon | No |
| The Venice | Troon | No |
| Tortolano's | Uddingston | No |
| Seaview Café | Wemyss Bay | No |
Café D'Jaconelli, Maryhill
We had a couple of errands in the West End including visiting a dear old friend in Scotstoun and thought that on the way back we would swing by Jaconelli's famous ice cream parlour.
Jaconelli's is really special. It has an old interior which dates back at least 60 years but unlike some others in Scotland it has been beautifully maintained. As a result it has been used as a location in films and tv programmes.
Jaconelli's is proud of its history and they have a summary of it on the back of the menu including information on famous customers and which films and tv the café has featured in.
When we arrived we were warmly greeted and we sat down in a lovely semi-circular booth. There is an old juke box and an aquarium both of which look like they have been there forever.
It was cold out and beginning to rain so we decided on the Mac & Cheese served with chips and salad. Being in Glasgow the waitress did check that we did in fact want the salad. This was accompanied by a warming hot chocolate. The radio was on playing vintage music which created a great atmosphere and we could tell from the other customers coming and going that this is a well-loved neighbourhood café.
We realised that time was getting on when the waitress said goodbye to us. The café is open until 6pm on weekdays and it was the back of 5. We really did not want to miss out on an ice. Martin asked if it was too late for ice cream but the proprietor jovially told us it was never too late for ice cream.
I had noticed that they had what appeared to be home-made raspberry sauce so I plumped for a raspberry ice and Martin had a plain ice.
Delicious. The ice cream is the white Fior di Latte type which is favoured by many Glasgwegians. It was extremely smooth and just the right amount of sweetness for me. Of course my raspberry sauce was very sweet but lovely.
We took home a tub and a bottle of raspberry sauce and the proprietor took time to tell us about his business.
Jaconelli's was founded in 1924 and have been using the same ice cream recipe since then. They still have the original room where it was made manually. Now production has moved down the road but they are using vintage machines from the 1940s which they believe gives them the best results.
Jaconelli's only sell their ice cream from their shop and chippy down the road so if you want to try it out you need to get yourself over there but believe me it is worth the journey.
Jaconelli's is really special. It has an old interior which dates back at least 60 years but unlike some others in Scotland it has been beautifully maintained. As a result it has been used as a location in films and tv programmes.
Jaconelli's is proud of its history and they have a summary of it on the back of the menu including information on famous customers and which films and tv the café has featured in.
When we arrived we were warmly greeted and we sat down in a lovely semi-circular booth. There is an old juke box and an aquarium both of which look like they have been there forever.
It was cold out and beginning to rain so we decided on the Mac & Cheese served with chips and salad. Being in Glasgow the waitress did check that we did in fact want the salad. This was accompanied by a warming hot chocolate. The radio was on playing vintage music which created a great atmosphere and we could tell from the other customers coming and going that this is a well-loved neighbourhood café.
We realised that time was getting on when the waitress said goodbye to us. The café is open until 6pm on weekdays and it was the back of 5. We really did not want to miss out on an ice. Martin asked if it was too late for ice cream but the proprietor jovially told us it was never too late for ice cream.
I had noticed that they had what appeared to be home-made raspberry sauce so I plumped for a raspberry ice and Martin had a plain ice.
Delicious. The ice cream is the white Fior di Latte type which is favoured by many Glasgwegians. It was extremely smooth and just the right amount of sweetness for me. Of course my raspberry sauce was very sweet but lovely.
We took home a tub and a bottle of raspberry sauce and the proprietor took time to tell us about his business.
Jaconelli's was founded in 1924 and have been using the same ice cream recipe since then. They still have the original room where it was made manually. Now production has moved down the road but they are using vintage machines from the 1940s which they believe gives them the best results.
Jaconelli's only sell their ice cream from their shop and chippy down the road so if you want to try it out you need to get yourself over there but believe me it is worth the journey.
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Varani's Forum Café, 2nd visit
We have just bought a new car and decided that a wee trip to South Ayrshire was in order. We had planned to go last Friday after we picked up the car but discovered that the Queen's Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games was in the area. We thought we might get caught up in roadblocks so had a trip to North Ayrshire instead (Largs and Nardini's).
We decided we would visit the National Trust for Scotland's property the Batchelors' Club in Tarbolton, the Electric Brae and Souter Johnnie's Cottage.
The Batchelors' Club was a great find. The tour guide, Cheryl Constant, gave us a comprehensive talk on Robert Burns and his connection to the building and so we were there for much longer than expected. We therefore decided to head to Ayr to get a very late lunch and an ice cream: a 99 for Martin and a Double Nougat for me, but as it was Mr Whippy style it should not get a mention really.
We then visited the Electric Brae which is a phenomenon caused by an optical illusion. Basically you go to this local beauty spot where thankfully the local council has thoughtfully provided a lay-by. (In years gone by cars and coaches would just stop in the middle of the road and hold up traffic behind). You then put your vehicle in neutral and have a sensation that it is running uphill. Martin was well and truly impressed and the scenery around is pretty breathtaking into the bargain. Ailsa Craig was floating above a summer mist in a pastel blue sea. It looked like a watercolour.
Afterwards we were destined to drive past Kilmarnock and as the temperature had cooled it seemed like a good opportunity to take home a large tub of Varani's wonderful vanilla ice cream.
Ever since our last visit in August last year we have both declared it our favourite discovery so far and had been hankering after some more and had been looking out for an opportunity to take some home. Friday's visit to Largs could have provided the chance but it was far too hot. This time the weather conditions were perfect.
We pooled our resources and found we had enough cash to buy a huge tub to take home and two little ones to eat there and then. Varani's is in a funny location on a main route into Kilmarnock from the A77. There are retail parks and a supermarket nearby but in my mind it has to compete with other establishments like Nardini's with its wonderful sea views or Colpi's in Clydebank which has a really nice café.
Varani's doesn't have a great location and doesn't have a seating area but despite this still manages a steady stream of customers both on foot and by car. This is a testimony to its wonderful ice cream. The one thing in its favour is the extensive parking spaces on the street outside.
We ate our small tubs of ice cream out on the street (we did not wish to risk getting ice cream dripped over the new car's interior) while admiring Bluebell (yes we've given it a name). Absolutely delicious and judging by some of the reviews on Tripadvisor they have customers who travel even further than us.
Varani's is the closest I have come to the ice cream I enjoyed as a child. It is very unusual because it has a very caramelly colour as well as a caramelly taste. I love it and we have still to find another one which can knock it off its pedestal.
LOVE IT!
We decided we would visit the National Trust for Scotland's property the Batchelors' Club in Tarbolton, the Electric Brae and Souter Johnnie's Cottage.
The Batchelors' Club was a great find. The tour guide, Cheryl Constant, gave us a comprehensive talk on Robert Burns and his connection to the building and so we were there for much longer than expected. We therefore decided to head to Ayr to get a very late lunch and an ice cream: a 99 for Martin and a Double Nougat for me, but as it was Mr Whippy style it should not get a mention really.
We then visited the Electric Brae which is a phenomenon caused by an optical illusion. Basically you go to this local beauty spot where thankfully the local council has thoughtfully provided a lay-by. (In years gone by cars and coaches would just stop in the middle of the road and hold up traffic behind). You then put your vehicle in neutral and have a sensation that it is running uphill. Martin was well and truly impressed and the scenery around is pretty breathtaking into the bargain. Ailsa Craig was floating above a summer mist in a pastel blue sea. It looked like a watercolour.
Afterwards we were destined to drive past Kilmarnock and as the temperature had cooled it seemed like a good opportunity to take home a large tub of Varani's wonderful vanilla ice cream.
Ever since our last visit in August last year we have both declared it our favourite discovery so far and had been hankering after some more and had been looking out for an opportunity to take some home. Friday's visit to Largs could have provided the chance but it was far too hot. This time the weather conditions were perfect.
We pooled our resources and found we had enough cash to buy a huge tub to take home and two little ones to eat there and then. Varani's is in a funny location on a main route into Kilmarnock from the A77. There are retail parks and a supermarket nearby but in my mind it has to compete with other establishments like Nardini's with its wonderful sea views or Colpi's in Clydebank which has a really nice café.
Varani's doesn't have a great location and doesn't have a seating area but despite this still manages a steady stream of customers both on foot and by car. This is a testimony to its wonderful ice cream. The one thing in its favour is the extensive parking spaces on the street outside.
We ate our small tubs of ice cream out on the street (we did not wish to risk getting ice cream dripped over the new car's interior) while admiring Bluebell (yes we've given it a name). Absolutely delicious and judging by some of the reviews on Tripadvisor they have customers who travel even further than us.
Varani's is the closest I have come to the ice cream I enjoyed as a child. It is very unusual because it has a very caramelly colour as well as a caramelly taste. I love it and we have still to find another one which can knock it off its pedestal.
LOVE IT!
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Crolla's, Byres Road, Glasgow
Last Saturday was a special day for me. We started with breakfast at Browns on George Square mainly because they had a special offer and we had never been before.
We then set off for a visit to the Weavers Cottage at the village of Kilbarchan. The Weavers Cottage is a National Trust for Scotland building which demonstrates the weaving cottage industry before the industrial revolution. It makes for a very interesting visit but unfortunately lacks the obligatory tearoom.
We decided to return to Glasgow for our refreshments and found ourselves on Byres Road which is now home to 3 ice cream establishments. The University Café. the new Nardini's and an even more recent Crolla's.
We have been to both the University Café and Nardini's before AND we could not get into Nardini's because it was packed so we decided to try out Crolla's.
Crolla's is a well-known ice cream manufacturer in Glasgow. They have a factory in Polmadie and supply many cafés and restaurants and although they have had ice cream parlours in the past, more recently they had concentrated more on the manufacturing and supply. They opened the Byres Road establishment in 2012.
The weather was a bit mixed on Saturday but the afternoon was lovely and warm and so as a result there was a steady trade of take away orders from a mainly young (studenty) clientelle.
We were still full up from breakfast and Martin decided to stick with a vanilla ice but as it was a special day for me I decided to have one of their speciality Cold Stone Creations. I was not sure what I was going to get and did not watch it being created as I was too busy trying to protect my seat.
My Scotland Special contained Vanilla Ice, Tablet Ice Cream and Tunnocks Teacake all smashed together and then drizzled with raspberry sauce. Delicious.
Martin enjoyed his Vanilla Ice as well.
We then waddled up Byres Road before heading off to Fanny Trollope's for our dinner date.
All in all a lovely foodie day but next time I think we will drop breakfast so we can enjoy more ice cream!
We then set off for a visit to the Weavers Cottage at the village of Kilbarchan. The Weavers Cottage is a National Trust for Scotland building which demonstrates the weaving cottage industry before the industrial revolution. It makes for a very interesting visit but unfortunately lacks the obligatory tearoom.
We decided to return to Glasgow for our refreshments and found ourselves on Byres Road which is now home to 3 ice cream establishments. The University Café. the new Nardini's and an even more recent Crolla's.
We have been to both the University Café and Nardini's before AND we could not get into Nardini's because it was packed so we decided to try out Crolla's.
Crolla's is a well-known ice cream manufacturer in Glasgow. They have a factory in Polmadie and supply many cafés and restaurants and although they have had ice cream parlours in the past, more recently they had concentrated more on the manufacturing and supply. They opened the Byres Road establishment in 2012.
The weather was a bit mixed on Saturday but the afternoon was lovely and warm and so as a result there was a steady trade of take away orders from a mainly young (studenty) clientelle.
We were still full up from breakfast and Martin decided to stick with a vanilla ice but as it was a special day for me I decided to have one of their speciality Cold Stone Creations. I was not sure what I was going to get and did not watch it being created as I was too busy trying to protect my seat.
My Scotland Special contained Vanilla Ice, Tablet Ice Cream and Tunnocks Teacake all smashed together and then drizzled with raspberry sauce. Delicious.
Martin enjoyed his Vanilla Ice as well.
We then waddled up Byres Road before heading off to Fanny Trollope's for our dinner date.
All in all a lovely foodie day but next time I think we will drop breakfast so we can enjoy more ice cream!
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