THERE’S no doubt about it, I love a shopping spree.
Bagging a bargain is the best adrenaline you can get. And it’s not only good for the wardrobe, but for the soul, too. Perhaps not too good for the bank balance but, hey, we all deserve a treat.
I like to think of shopping as my cardio. Who needs to yawn through yoga or sweat in a spin class when you can save on a gym membership and spend it on shoes?
Dashing from store to store, feeling like you’re wrestling an octopus when trying things on in a changing room not big enough to swing a cat, it all adds to the sweat factor.
Which leads me to cake – with a side of coffee of course. Well, I need to recharge my batteries!
The mother-in-law loves shopping so has accompanied me on the trip, only on the proviso that she can stop for some caffeine…and a “wee something, something” as she calls it, which basically translates to chocolate or cake, or a chocolate-covered cake!
But where to go?
In between windows laden with stunning shoes and heavenly handbags, something catches my eye, a shop window full of . . . cake.
Strawberry tarts, chocolate brownies, cupcakes, macaroons, gateau – you name it and there’s a pretty little row of it waiting patiently to be eaten.
In a nutshell, Patisserie Valerie is simply a very fancy place for eating cake.
The red leather chairs, crystal chandeliers and vintage mirrors create a ’50s vibe. Toulouse Lautrec posters line the walls and the staff wear pinstripe waistcoats, all very Ooh la la!
We’re at the Glasgow Fort café, but this chain has several branches across the city, and in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Established in 1926 by Belgian-born Madam Valerie, the fine patisserie was an instant success, and prides itself on handmaking its cakes.
It’s one of those places where it feels a waste to have a simple scone, but you can never go wrong with an old classic.
It arrives hot – toasted in fact – with a little pot of blackberry conserve, French, of course.
It’s not the chunkiest scone I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot of scones in this job!), but scrumptious all the same.
Nice and fluffy on the inside and soaks up the butter. A steal at just £2.35. Opt for a cream tea and get two scones with clotted cream and a pot of tea for £6.45.
I skip the coffee and opt for a strawberry ice-cream milkshake instead. I enjoyed it so much that my only complaint is it wasn’t big enough.
Actually, another wee gripe would be the lack of any music. Some old French classics would have helped to set the scene.
Now that our tummies are full, it’s time to hit those shops again – and make sure we grab a box of those delicious cakes on the way out to take home.
After another few hours of searching through the rails, we’re going to need to refuel!
Warm Welcome 8/10
Location, location 9/10
Scone score 8/10
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