In the world of scones, there’s nothing quite like revisiting an old haunt to see if the homebaked treats are as good as you remember.
It’s been four long years… filled with a pandemic and all the complications it brought… since I last took a trip to Craigend Nursery, a lovely garden centre with a coffee shop, on the outskirts of Cumbernauld.
And with it and me having both weathered the storm, it’s great to be reunited with this hidden gem again.
The drive there – down a winding country road that makes your tummy flip when you go over a bump – is lovely.
And when you arrive it just gets better.
The coffee shop, tucked away at the back behind all the greenery, is like a huge conservatory, with big windows showcasing the stunning views all around.
It’s late morning and starting to fill up fast, but I manage to pull up in a cosy pew by the window.
It’s a gorgeously mild winters’ day but the sun is streaming in and it feels warm and inviting.
There’s a pretty full menu, from breakfasts and burgers to chicken curry and macaroni cheese. But having spotted one being delivered to the next table, my eye is on the full English.
The plate is packed with bacon, sausage, potato scone, haggis, beans, black pudding, egg – and there’s even toast on the side.
With a steaming hot coffee on the side, this is my idea of food heaven.
I just about manage to finish breakfast when I spot the cake cabinet… and realise I really am in food heaven. There’s every sweet treat you could imagine, massive meringues, superb strawberry tarts, sponges, crispy cakes, Empire biscuits, mint Aero slice…
But having spotted a box of freshly baked scones, of course I opt for one of these.
A plain one with jam and butter.
It’s as big as a doorstop. Firm on the outside with a fluffy centre, it ticks all the boxes on Scone Spy’s list.
It’s great when things are as good as you remember – but sometimes they’re even better second time around.
Scone score
Hand-baked, huge and delicious. 9/10
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