Scone Spy is impressed by The Speckled Hen in Tealing, near Dundee

MANY’S the time I have driven the road between Dundee and Aberdeen and passed The Speckled Hen, not realising it’s there.

It is on the outskirts of Dundee, but to say some may consider it a hidden gem is no exaggeration.

In fact, I was starting to think one of my lovely readers was having me on.

“Have you tried the Speckled Hen at Tealing? Top toasties and super scones.”

Tell you what, I’m beginning to think I’ll never find where it is, never mind try their scones.

Better signposting would help. Or maybe I’m just a giant daftie.

In reality, I’m only searching for a few minutes.

The thing is, I’m meeting a friend. And Madam doesn’t like being kept waiting.

Funny thing, we’ve been friends for decades and nearly every time I meet her I’m running late. And she’s always super-punctual.

What can I say? I’m weighed down by all the scones. Wobbling from one place to another takes time.

Anyway, the cafe itself is part of a farm shop which sells local produce – always a good sign, I think.

My tipster has said it can be bustling at the weekends, but there are plenty of tables on this quiet Monday.

There are some mums with babies and buggies and a few more mature types.

There’s a decent menu, with soup, mac and cheese and, of course, toasties.

As my tipster has recommended them I’m particularly interested in checking them out.

It’s not everywhere you’ll find a black pudding toastie with onion marmalade.

I decide to give it a whirl.

You know what? It works. Maybe I like it because it’s not that far from the black pudding pieces of my childhood.

Don’t worry – I’ve left room for a scone, though.

It’s a winner. A big, hulking thing, with jam and cream.

Not just any old cream, either. I watch as the waitress behind the counter gets out a bag of powder and pours some into my cream.

“She’s adding flour to my cream!” I hiss, not happy.

Miss Punctuality rolls her eyes at me and puts me right by telling me it’s icing sugar.

She’s right and it’s a neat trick. It moves the cream up a notch on the more-ometer.

I don’t know how I’ve managed to miss this nice wee place.

I have a moment’s annoyance at the times I’ve stopped at a fast food joint on the road between Dundee and Aberdeen.

All good things come to an end, though. At the counter, I get into an in-depth discussion about the best way of making tablet with our waitress.

Ordinary milk or condensed?

Never mind May or Corbyn and Thursday’s election, in our minds, this becomes the burning issue of the day.

Condensed milk, of course. Every day of the week.

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