Dear Green Place!

How do you like yours?  

How do you define speciality?   

Did you know coffee is derived from fruit?   

Such is my addiction, if there was a drought I would crunch the cherries!  

Growing on a bush-like plant I invite you to bite a blood red ripe cherry and savour the flavour in order to appreciate its organic and natural origin, then tell me it's not one of my five a day!     

My Dear Green City of Glasgow has over 90 parks and is one of the friendliest cities in the world!  

I see myself as a self-appointed ambassador of Glasgow and promote, brag and talk about it to anyone who will listen.  There really is no place like home and, like Dorothy, when I’m somewhere else, although I see the beauty in other cities and countries, my heart truly belongs to Glasgow!  

Rising like a phoenix from the slums and gang squalor of the late 19th and early 20th century, she is now a diamond in the crown of Great Britain and Europe and I am very comfortable being part of such an open minded and forward-thinking city.  Restaurants are often full to capacity and new hotels are opening to fill the needs of hungry, tired tourist and industries looking to set up roots in our Glaswegian, Scottish, British, European and now, worldwide trading post!  

Another Glasgow Girl who works and thrives in the heart of Glasgow is Lisa Lawson , who when talking about her passion for Der Green Coffee Roasters states:  

"For me it’s all driven by passion - I’m naturally ambitious. I do something I really love and ‘roaster’ is an especially good job title to have in Glasgow."  

I have often been told I’m a 'Pure Roaster' but Lisa actually is an essential lover and producer of coffee who has transformed the way I drink and think about coffee.   

I used to wallop an instant cup of 'dirtied water', washed with a whiff of caffeine but I now relish the thought and the ritual and delight I have in making a speciality coffee.  Now, one freshly, made cup of Dear Green Roast is enough to fulfil my needs.     

Dear Green Coffee is a 2-minute walk away from the Glasgow Green and is based in a small unit on East Campbell Street, in the Calton area, next to the Barras.  Lisa honed her trade in Australia and found it hard to get a job ‘roasting’ when she came back to Glasgow.  I have found some Glasgow Roasters to be nepotistic, in that, they would rather hire family and friends, lacking the required knowledge and skills, than be open to some new, fresh talent.   

Faced with this Lisa bought a second-hand roaster and the rest is now… 

Not history but current, thriving and available for all to savour from various outlets and on their website.  

Dear Green Coffee!

Dear Green Coffee Roasters take pride in sourcing the very best speciality grade coffee for roasting and go through the process in an ethical manner with a social conscience.  Through the chain of 'custody' they maintain integrity from collection to concept by providing the best combination of climate, preservation, roasting, and packing of the bean towards its final destination; the brewer to be prepared and enjoyed by you and me;  

The Coffee Lovers in this Dear Green City of Glasgow

People do make Glasgow but the other day I was introduced, by the lovely Bryony to Senga and Betty, two gorgeous machines who make coffee for Dear Green  Lovers!

I would have loved to have et Lisa but with a thriving business she is a very busy woman.  I can say though I was yards away from her and nearly got a whiff of her passion! 

Thank you Bryony for showing me around Dear Green Coffee Roasters! 

See you next time! 

I'll just have to worship from afar and watch this video on repeat!

   

Val D'Oro!

The Singing Chippie!

That Mary is turning into a pretentious Git and wanted to go to The Rogano, again, tonight. She’s now saying nowhere else matches her ‘taste’ and they don’t even do a snifter of Foccacia. I soon took her down about a hundred pegs and asked who the F#@$ she thought she was?
Anyway I had already booked; well sort of. Not sure if they take booking at the Val D’Oro but I hadn’t had time to call ahead so we took the chance and turned up. The last time we had been there was about 15 years ago with my Dad and I had to make sure he had a fish supper before he went on a bender. They still have fabulous old pictures on the walls from times gone by when it would have been a date or some other important occasion to go and sit in to have fish and chips.

I remember a guy took me on a date there. He was testing me out to see if I complained. Me, complain about somebody taking me for food. For me it’s always been about the company, chat and simple food which make the evening special. That and maybe finishing off the night with…well, that’s for another forum!
Run by the Corvi family since 1938 it is a Glasgow Institution; bit like Barlinnie in that the interior has not changed since the 1950’c making Glasgow’s finest and worst feel right at home with equal status. The small Formica tables are a leveller for any Glasgow Bum.
There is also in house entertainment in the form of owner, come opera singer Luigi who’s known for belting out a wee Aria between a fish tea and a supper. I asked The Mary if she thought they did Gluten free and she replied;
“Aye right pal! I think if you asked them that you’d be the only thing getting battered ‘roon here!”

The Mary thinks I'm a 'frustrated auld hag' and need to get a man but the truth is; I;m very happy how I am with may pal and, The Loves of My Life!

Fish, chips, Glasgow and The Mary!
See you the next time!
Mx

St Patrick and Awe The Saints!

For the Love of Food!

and St Patrick...

One of the most spectacular churches I’ve been in is St Patrick’s in NYC but there are two closer to home which are equally important.  St Alphonsus on the London Road is spectacular and they have live streaming so you can see it all from the couch.

So, I said to The Mary we were going to St. Luke’s in The Calton and she replied with:

“Who’s deid?”

She then proceeded to tell me a story about ‘wee Maisie fae Bain Square’ who was found dead in front of the fire with severely burnt legs. 

“Severe” I stated:

“Aye, well you don’t get much more severe than deid.  Are you stupit or something?”

It’s going to be a heavy night the night with her reminiscing about her old stomping ground about all the wakes we’ve been to together.  We’ve always enjoyed a good purvey but now it takes me all my time to stay awake after 9pm!

I remember going to a ‘Reception of the Body’ at St Alphonsus in the 1980s.  We’d gone to Baird’s bar for a drink first and got a bit carried away.  Arriving a bit late and seeing the coffin was very upsetting; we were both crying and clinging onto each other.  It was only when the procession was leaving we realised we didn’t know anyone and had gone on the wrong night.  We took such a fit of the giggles the tears were streaming down our faces, people were asking if we were ok giving, us sympathetic looks!   

St Luke’s do a great purvey and it’s worth attending mass regularly to find out when the funerals are and where the ‘doo’ is afterwards.  I’ve never ever been turned away and you can find out enough, during the service, to be able to hold a decent conversation with family and friends.  I sometimes think half the people a ‘dig dinner’ have never even met the deceased.

At St Luke’s and the Winged Ox they know how difficult these times are and have an events team who are respectful, professional and compassionate, making the process seamless and as easy as it can be under the circumstances.  They can accommodate small funerals from 40 covers or larger groups of 250.  Although, depending on how much information is given about the deceased in the eulogy, if you think 40 then book for 50 because me, The Mary and some of our pals might turn up; to pay our respects of course, to whoever has passed. 

Originally St Luke’s Parish Church, this listed building has beautiful, original features including some gorgeous stained glass which contrast with the contemporary items, such as the Tennent’s, Neon light in the bar.  The place is cosy and also dog friendly so The Mary thought I’d be right at home saying, I might 'win the dug of the week’ contest and get my photo on the website.

Kerr who served us was very informative, handsome and charming.  I had the Signature Skillet which was delicious and my pal had the fish and chips.  The Mary had been complaining, again, about having a sore mouth but put away the fish dish so quickly I thought she was feeding one of the dogs under the table.  I never even saw her chew anything.

I’d only been in the place once before and that was a magical evening with The Fabulous Frances Thorburn, at a charity evening, to raise ‘Doe for Moe’. 

Click this link to find out more about that!

This award winning venue is well worthy of a visit so get there and savour the flavours of music and food for the soul!

The Winged Ox bar & kitchen at St Luke’s is open 7 days a week and serves an eclectic range of food for the soul.

Awards!

The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards: Scottish Bar of the Year 2017 (Formerly Dram Awards)

The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards: Dog Friendly Pub of the Year 2017 (Formerly Dram Awards)

Glasgow Awards: Best Live Music Venue 2017

See you the next time.

Me and The Mary

Mx