Mince Pie Spy: Our cafe critic checks out Costa Coffee, Uddingston

Christmas is a time for shopping ’til we drop, eating like there is no tomorrow and giving gifts to our loved ones.

But it’s also that time of year when we think about our friends and family – and how much we haven’t seen them as the chaos of life whips up a busy diary around us.

Particularly in the last few years with restrictions, masks and social distancing, it has been difficult to see all those we hold dear.

So today I’m meeting an old friend for a Christmas catch up over coffee and a traditional mince pie.

Our host is Costa Coffee in Uddingston, a lovely little cosy spot tucked away on the outskirts of the village.

It’s the perfect place for those times when minutes melt into hours while you blether away, putting the world to rights.

My pal is already here and has pulled up a pew near the window with two high-backed chairs so we can watch the world go by as we chat.

So I offer to get the first round in.

The savoury cabinet is filled with everything from pasta pots to pigs in blanket paninis.

We plump for a sausage bap and a macaroni cheese and devour them. Lunch is always amazing when you’ve been too busy for breakfast.

Then it’s on to the cake cabinet – and what a Christmas treat that turns out to be.

From carrot cake and cookies, to brownies and biscuits, it’s a really tough choice.

Eventually we settle on a lemon muffin and, of course, a mince pie.

The mince pies, with a little star cut out on top and dusted with icing sugar, look fancy and festive but are on a two for one offer, making them even more irresistible.

And the best bit about these ones is that, while they pack a punch in the taste department with a rich filling and buttery pastry, they’re small enough not to be too filling. In fact, you could easily eat two without feeling like a Christmas pudding!

Our Scone Spy's latest reviews: