By Amy Glasgow @theglasgowdiet
Seeing as it’s officially December and everything is feeling a bit more festive, I thought for my top five this month, we’d keep Christmas in mind! I’m sharing some of my favourite west end spots to shop for Christmas – both for feeding the family on the day itself, and for finding hidden gems for the foodies in your life.
DONALD BUTCHER
I’ve been a fan of this family-run butcher for a long time, often frequenting their first shop over in Uddingston, so you can imagine how pleased I was when they opened a second shop on Hyndland Road! It’s the perfect place to stock up for Christmas – whether you need Christmas brunch favourites (including their own recipe, house-made black pudding and haggis), a steak pie for Boxing Day or New Year, sausages for pigs in blankets, or even a joint of meat for the main event.
I’ve already pre-ordered my fillet steak for Christmas Day, which I’ll be turning into a beef wellington, but they also offer on the bone joints of lamb, pork and beef. Sadly they have already sold out of turkey for this year, but there are plenty other options to choose from. I highly recommend getting yourself some sausagemeat from them and making your own stuffing, I did last year and it’s far better than any shop-bought pork stuffing I have ever tried, all down to their quality produce and fantastic service. donaldbutcher.co.uk
ROOTS, FRUITS & FLOWERS
I don’t think I have bought fruit and vegetables from a supermarket in about a year, after I made the decision during lockdown to try and support more local shops and producers, and I have not regretted it. I genuinly think the choice is better at local shops like Roots & Fruits, and there are plenty of more unusual and seasonal veggies you might not get in your local supermarket as well. It’s great for picking up everything you need to complete your Christmas dinner, whether you like roast carrots and parsnips, cauliflower cheese, or a bit of braised red cabbage.
Next door in the main shop, there are some great little foodie finds for gift ideas, from chocolates to bathroom accessories and more. They also have a great selection of flowers, plants and wreaths for adding a festive feel to your Christmas table. rootsfruitsandflowers.com
COTTONRAKE BAKERY
Having a Christmas party and can’t be bothered with the faff of making your own desserts or sweet treats? Enter Cottonrake! Located on Great Western Road, they do some of the best cakes and bakes in town, and they even have a special menu of Christmassy treats available to pre-order, including mince pies, yule logs and Christmas puddings.
My favourite sweet treat from Cottonrake though has to be their white chocolate tart. Sweet shortcrust pastry filled with a white chocolate ganache and a raspberry jam centre, finished with fresh cream, fresh raspberries and white chocolate. I mean… if that doesn’t sound like a dessert worthy of Christmas, I don’t know what does! cottonrake.com
GOOD SPIRITS CO.
Located on Clarence Drive, Good Spirits is always my go-to shop when I’m looking for booze that’s a little bit special. They have an incredible selection of wines and beers, as well as spirits from across Scotland, whether you’re a gin, rum, whisky or vodka fan.
I’ve always found the staff at the shop to be incredibly helpful too, so if I go in looking for beer for my husband, I just tell them what beers I think he likes and they do the rest, picking out a selection they think might be right for him. It’s a great place to pick up wine for the festive season too, with so many stunning options in one place, whether you prefer red, white, rose or a nice bottle of fizz! thegoodspiritsco.com
SUGARSNAP CHOCOLATES
I can’t remember where I first tried Sugarsnap chocolates, all I know is I’ve loved them ever since. Hand-crafted in Glasgow, the chocolates are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious, and full of unusual flavours too.
Think blueberry and violet, cherry and vanilla marshmallow, or orange and chilli. Available both as boxes of mixed bon bons or as beautiful bars, these make a really lovely gift for anyone with a sweet tooth, plus, it’s always great to support another Glasgow-based business, isn’t it? sugarsnapchocolate.com
So, if there is one thing you do this Christmas, and if you are not one of those organised folk who has already finished their Christmas shopping, please try shopping locally. We’re lucky in the west end to have some fantastic food and drink businesses, so make sure you pay them a visit and pick up the perfect gift for the foodie in your life. Remember, lots of local restaurants do gift vouchers too and for me, restaurant vouchers is one of my favourite gifts to receive. You know, just in case anyone wants to send me something this Christmas…
Where are your favourite food and drink shops? Head over to our Instagram page and tell us your thoughts @westendermagazine.
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