It's a dismal excuse for a June day: rainy AND windy although the temperature is mild. This calls for a bit of a cheer-up and what better could we ask for than some locally made ice cream.
Café Gelato in Burnside between Cambuslang and Rutherglen is our closest ice cream café where we can eat in. This is a relatively new establishment which sells home-made ice-cream alongside paninis and baked potatoes to locals.
We went at lunchtime, so the café was busy with people on their lunch-breaks or having a little break. We had the panini and soup combo. The paninis were freshly made and today's vegetable soup was delicious but a little over-seasoned.
To finish off I had a MacCallum and Martin had a vanilla ice accompanied by a café latte.
Both ice creams were topped off with wafers and small Italian Flags. The vanilla ice cream had a nice creamy texture and flavour.
It looks like this will become another regular haunt for us.
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Monday, 11 June 2012
Dino's Café, Cambuslang
The weather has been a bit cool and grey lately so when a little bit of blue sky poked through the clouds we decided it was time for an ice cream. As we had none in stock we decided to get a takeaway tub from our local ice cream establishment: Dino's Café in Cambuslang.
Unfortunately the guy who runs the place has a reputation for being miserable. Because I am hoping a little friend with a nut and egg allergy will visit soon, I asked him if his ice cream contained eggs and the answer is No. True to form the guy was very curt, but they overfill the containers and his ice-cream is wonderful, so I will forgive him. He has a constant stream of customers who seem to overlook his dour demeanour too.
The ice cream was a beautiful light cream colour with a smooth consistency and a sweet and creamy flavour.
This is a great place to have on our doorstep and so like all his other customers we will be back.
Unfortunately the guy who runs the place has a reputation for being miserable. Because I am hoping a little friend with a nut and egg allergy will visit soon, I asked him if his ice cream contained eggs and the answer is No. True to form the guy was very curt, but they overfill the containers and his ice-cream is wonderful, so I will forgive him. He has a constant stream of customers who seem to overlook his dour demeanour too.
The ice cream was a beautiful light cream colour with a smooth consistency and a sweet and creamy flavour.
This is a great place to have on our doorstep and so like all his other customers we will be back.
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Ice Cream Manufacturers (without an ice cream parlour)
Scottish Ice Cream Manufacturers with Italian Heritage:
| Establishment | Location |
|---|---|
| Porelli's | Paisley |
| Crolla's | Polmadie, Glasgow |
| Ferris Ice Creamery | Kilmarnock |
| Divito's | Cowdenbeath |
| Luvian's | St Andrews |
| A & L Franchitti | Bathgate |
| A Doriano | Leven, Fife |
| A Rossi | Glasgow |
| Di Mascio Brothers | Airdrie |
| Pelosi Ice Cream Ltd | Rutherglen |
| Miele's | Hopeman |
| Rizza's | Huntley |
Monday, 14 May 2012
Joe Delucci's at Silverburn Shopping Centre
We visited Silverburn Shopping Centre today and I was nearly tempted to try some ice cream at the Joe Delucci's stand even though I knew it was not on my list.
I remembered the recent news story about a man being arrested for taking a photograph of his daughter at the stand and decided against it.
However when I got home I discovered that it is a national chain based in Warwickshire so does not fulfil my criteria anyway.
I remembered the recent news story about a man being arrested for taking a photograph of his daughter at the stand and decided against it.
However when I got home I discovered that it is a national chain based in Warwickshire so does not fulfil my criteria anyway.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Mancini's (Royal Café), Ayr
It is my birthday today, so what better way to celebrate than to combine a trip to the seaside with a visit to an award-winning ice cream maker. That meant it was the turn of Mancini's in Ayr.
We set off in time for lunch on what turned out to be an unseasonally cold, wet and blustery day. This is the West of Scotland so a brief reality check confirmed that this is optimum ice-cream weather. Luckily when we arrived we were able to park right outside, something that never fails to surprise us having lived in London for so long.
On entering we found our way to the only available table where I was surprised that the man on the neighbouring table said Hallo as if he knew us.
We opted for the 3 course meal when we discovered we could have ice-cream for our dessert course!
After a while I realised the man who had said Hallo was the owner, Philip Mancini who had joined his elderly mother who had popped in for lunch. She was greeted warmly by local customers who recognised her and commented that she must have come to ensure that the quality was being maintained!
The first two courses: minestrone and pizza were incredibly tasty prompting us to discuss how they had managed to inject so much flavour into our pizza's.
It is no surprise that we both chose a plain vanilla ice for dessert which proved to be very tasty: creamy with a lovely aftertaste.
There was quite a buzz in the café for a cold and blustery lunchtime and this establishment has shot to the top of my list of places worthy of return visits especially as the prices are so incredibly keen.
We set off in time for lunch on what turned out to be an unseasonally cold, wet and blustery day. This is the West of Scotland so a brief reality check confirmed that this is optimum ice-cream weather. Luckily when we arrived we were able to park right outside, something that never fails to surprise us having lived in London for so long.
On entering we found our way to the only available table where I was surprised that the man on the neighbouring table said Hallo as if he knew us.
We opted for the 3 course meal when we discovered we could have ice-cream for our dessert course!
After a while I realised the man who had said Hallo was the owner, Philip Mancini who had joined his elderly mother who had popped in for lunch. She was greeted warmly by local customers who recognised her and commented that she must have come to ensure that the quality was being maintained!
The first two courses: minestrone and pizza were incredibly tasty prompting us to discuss how they had managed to inject so much flavour into our pizza's.
It is no surprise that we both chose a plain vanilla ice for dessert which proved to be very tasty: creamy with a lovely aftertaste.
There was quite a buzz in the café for a cold and blustery lunchtime and this establishment has shot to the top of my list of places worthy of return visits especially as the prices are so incredibly keen.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Places Still to Visit
Ice Cream Establishments Still To Visit:
| Establishment | Location |
|---|---|
| Renaldo's | Ayr |
| Royal Café (Mancini's) | Ayr |
| Wizgonies | Balloch |
| Visocchi | Broughty Ferry/Dundee/Kirriemuir |
| Café Gelato | Burnside |
| Colpi's | Clydebank/Milngalvie |
| Giacopazzi's | Eyemouth |
| Valentini's | Giffnock |
| Pieri's Delicatessen | Greenock |
| The Esplanade Café | Greenock |
| Dino's | Helensburgh |
| Bordone's | Kilmarnock |
| Mayfair Café | Kilmarnock |
| Varani's Forum Café | Kilmarnock |
| Ghiloni's | Kirkintilloch |
| Sugar & Spice (Geraldo's) | Largs |
| Jaconelli's | Maryhill |
| Princes Café | Mauchline |
| Caffé Soavé | Muirhead |
| Elena DiRollo | Musselburgh |
| Luca's | Musselburgh |
| Janetta's | St Andrews |
| Luvian's | St Andrews |
| West End Café | Saltcoats |
| Brooklyn Café | Shawlands |
| Corrieri's Cafe | Stirling |
| The Marina | Troon |
| The Venice | Troon |
| Tortolano's | Uddingston |
| Seaview Café | Wemyss Bay |
Monday, 7 May 2012
University Café, Byers Road
Today on a dull wet Bank Holiday Monday, we went to Byres Road in Glasgow's West End. (Martin had an errand to run before Thursday!)
As it was perfect weather for an ice cream we decided to visit the University Café.
The decor inside is well worth a look. It looks like the interior has not changed since it was established in 1918. The walls are covered by some rather old awards and some amusing signs, one of which offers Pineapple and Ice which looks as though it has been there for at least 50 years. There are also a few modern prints of art works which feature the Café. In the window is a reminder that the Café was featured in the last Jamie Oliver television series.
There are also some really quaint hang-ons from the past
We ordered a latté and a vanilla ice each (mine with the ubiquitous raspberry sauce). The white ice cream was delicious and creamy and the raspberry sauce managed to be sickly sweet and tangy at the same time: just the way I like it. The latte was necessary to warm us up after we had eaten the ice cream.
While we sat there, there was a steady stream of people: students, teenagers, families and workmen stopping by for take away ices, proving that in Glasgow it is always ice cream weather!
As it was perfect weather for an ice cream we decided to visit the University Café.
The decor inside is well worth a look. It looks like the interior has not changed since it was established in 1918. The walls are covered by some rather old awards and some amusing signs, one of which offers Pineapple and Ice which looks as though it has been there for at least 50 years. There are also a few modern prints of art works which feature the Café. In the window is a reminder that the Café was featured in the last Jamie Oliver television series.
There are also some really quaint hang-ons from the past
- The toilet is in the close next door and the key to it has to be borrowed from the counter.
- If you order certain hot items they are cooked in their fish and chip shop next door (the Uni Take Away) which then have to be delivered via the street.
We ordered a latté and a vanilla ice each (mine with the ubiquitous raspberry sauce). The white ice cream was delicious and creamy and the raspberry sauce managed to be sickly sweet and tangy at the same time: just the way I like it. The latte was necessary to warm us up after we had eaten the ice cream.
While we sat there, there was a steady stream of people: students, teenagers, families and workmen stopping by for take away ices, proving that in Glasgow it is always ice cream weather!
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