Category Archives: Retail

Food Analysis, Markets, Scotland

Scottish Food Analysis: Macaroon Bars and Coconut Macaroons

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I am a big fan of French macarons. The stunning colours, delicate flavourings and chewy textures… the only thing I don’t like is the price. Seriously. Considering the price just one of those tiny little delights retails for, I almost expect them to be diamond-encrusted.

Of course I appreciate they are a fiddle to make. I’ve had my fair share of cracked tops, sandy textures and uneven splodges to contend with, and after watching a recent episode of one of my favourite tv programmes “The Great British Bake Off”, I can see I am not alone.

Coconut macaroons are a very different beast, and something that are strangely Scottish. I say strangely, because coconut palms don’t line the shores here, but perhaps they come from the same tropical stable as pineapple tarts.

macaroon bar

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Ayrshire, Bakeries, Beverage Specialists, Butchers, Cafés, Delis, Fishmongers, Markets, Shops, Takeaways, Tours

An On-Foot Food Tour of Ayr

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When I moved to Ayrshire, one of the things I was most looking forward to was finding new places to buy and eat delicious food.

My first port of call was Ayr, and I’ve put together a walking tour for any foodies who might be visiting the town and want to know where to go.

For this tour I’ve only focused on places around the centre of town, south of the river. There are other places outside this area that I want to look into in the future, as well as many interesting places to eat in, which I hope to get to sometime.

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Bakeries, England, Food Analysis, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Food Exploration: Baked Goods

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Over 5 years ago I used to work in London, and would very occasionally walk down to the Golden Gate Cake Shop in Macclesfield Street to purchase a sweet Chinese bun. From all the varieties available, my preference was for one filled with thick, slightly grainy, butter-yellow custard.

Hong Kong is home to a plethora of similar bakery shops, and they are the ideal place to pick up a snack or light breakfast.

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Bakeries, Cafés, Food Analysis, Hong Kong, Shops

Hong Kong Food Exploration: Sweet Treats

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You may have thought that after our Hong Kong dessert house excesses it would have been inadvisable for us to eat any more sugary delights.

Not so, my health-conscious chums. Wallets and waistline were damned as we devoured some Western-style treats, and they were so tasty that I wanted to share our shame with you.

H was staring at a Tsim Sha Tsui map when he noticed somewhere called Awfully Chocolate. We needed no more encouragement than that to stop by the next time we were in the vicinity.

awfully chocolate

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