I have a week off work, so that can only mean one thing: dining out! For me it’s mandatory. You’re not on holiday if you’re cooking for yourself as you would normally! I have heard great things about The Steayban (pronounced Stay-ban) from a couple of people, particularly my Gran. And she isn’t easily pleased with restaurants these days, let me tell you! I owed my mum a lunch date, so we headed up to Glassford which is in between Hamilton and Strathaven in South Lanarkshire. You can find The Steayban on my Herby Food Map!

The Steayban is a small, cosy and trendy-Scottish styled inn. It’s cute and cosy. When you walk in, you’re faced with a little bar and some leather sofas and then the entrance to the restaurant. Tartan carpets, leather seats, comfortable cushions on the booths and roses on the tables. It has a lovely look and atmosphere and the staff are absolutely lovely too – welcoming, funny and they know the menu inside out!

While we waited we were given some bread, butter and a garlic spicy dip. Their bread of the day (or bread of the week?) was their own homemade onion and rosemary focaccia. It was a lovely texture with thin slices of onion through it and the dip was really tasty! My problem with bread (especially onion & rosemary flavoured bread) is that I can’t stop eating it.

Starters

This is the ‘Baked Gypsy Eggs with Chorizo,bacon and Smoked Paprika’ – a dish I can honestly say I wouldn’t have ordered myself. Oh my, it was delicious. What a revelation.

I took this picture to show you what was underneath the eggs. The bacon and chorizo are baked with vegetables (tomato, peas and onion, I think!) in a lovely, meaty, savoury sauce beneath the eggs which bake on top of the mixture. It was served with toast with what looked like a paprika mayonnaise style coating. It is crazy genius! Absolutely full of flavour.

Main Courses

We both opted for the Venison and Juniper Berry Pudding which was served with creamy spring onion mashed potato and a medley of roasted vegetables in a red wine jus. It was like Christmas in my mouth.

At first glance, I thought I was faced with a venison & dumpling blended pudding with vegetables. Nuh uh…

It was like a meaty version of a chocolate fondant pudding! When I said it was Christmas in my mouth, I meant it literally as well as metaphorically. The metaphor being the joy of opening presents. Meaty presents. And literally because of the comforting roasted vegetables, nicely stodgy rosemary flavoured dumpling and then the red wine jus gave the festive feel. Ah, it was just beautiful. The venison so tender and was cooked in a juicy stew with carrots, onion and celery. The roast vegetable medley was very sweet as it consisted of carrot, beetroot and parsnip – they were nice and soft but with just a little bite. I can’t fault it at all.

Dessert

I was totally stuffed after my two courses, but we were informed that our desserts were free because of the menu we had ordered from. We were offered a break in between the main course and the dessert which I gratefully accepted! I ordered the special which was caramel creamed rice served with mango.

I’m including this in my blog, not as a negative (my blog has no space for bad reviews!) but to show two things: how nicely presented a simple, homely pudding was presented, but also (and mainly) to compliment the staff. The rice wasn’t properly cooked. The way it was dealt with was lovely. It was whisked away, no problem, and I ordered an alternative. During my alternative dessert, the waitress came back to me and said that she and the chef tried my dessert and agreed it wasn’t right and apologised. I thought that was lovely – often you see people return food and it’s contentiously accepted with a “Oh it’s fine!” and that’s it. It was nice to be reassured that I was right, and not just a fussy customer!

My alternative…oh lordy…

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the ‘Iced Bailey’s Parfait’! It was amazing. I love my Bailey’s anyway, but this was just amaaaaaazing. The frozen Bailey’s mousse was served with whipped cream and a sesame seed brittle. At the side was the chocolate popcorn sauce which was like a rich Nutella, and then a couple of pieces of toffee popcorn decorated the side of the plate. It looked, and tasted beautiful! The parfait was a really light with a strong, creamy Bailey’s taste – but not alcoholic in the overpowering sense. The brittle was crisp but chewy and tasted like toffee popcorn. The flavours just matched perfectly.

My mum ordered the strawberry Cranachan cheesecake which was served with ‘boozy raspberries’ (I think that’s a great name!). For those that aren’t sure what Cranachan is, it’s a traditional Scottish dessert which usually involves whipped cream, whisky, honey, raspberries and oatmeal. It’s not always served as a cheesecake – there are many different variations (stacked tarts, Eaton mess style, the options are endless). The cheesecake version was gorgeous – stacked up and garnished with the raspberry coulis and dark chocolate shavings. It was a mixture of rich chocolate, tart raspberries and light cheesecake. Yum.

We polished off our desserts alongside a cup of tea. I was impressed that even the tea is well presented – a cute little side order of Scottish tablet and meringue!

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This leads me to round off my review of the Steayban. I LOVED IT. They know how to really cook. Their food is absolutely bursting with flavour, has character and they make traditional Scottish food. Not only is the food traditional, but it comes across in a modern way. I totally understand why I hear people talking about them, and it’s for the exact same reason that I am dying to go back and try more from their menu. I cannot fault anything. The atmosphere, the decor, the glorious food, the staff…they’ve got the whole package absolutely spot on!

The Staeyban,
Glassford,
Lanarkshire
ML10 6TQ

(01357) 523400

contact@steayban.co.uk

http://www.steaybanrestaurant.co.uk

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It’s Saturday afternoon, and for this post I can only apologise for either:

A. you feeling like what you had for breakfast was less than you deserve;

B. your plans for brunch today are no longer exciting.

My friend and I took ourselves to Liverpool for a couple of days to explore – we’d both heard good things so we decided to give it a shot. Hungry for breakfast, I used my trusty Yelp app and I found that Moose Cafe was a 3 minute walk from our hotel and had glowing 5 star reviews…sold.  When we arrived they had a half hour wait, but I was decided: I was eating there that day.

We were quickly seen to and were sat upstairs on the mezzanine area overlooking the cafe. The cafe has hilarious art work which shows various moose (I had to Google the plural of moose…I’m gutted that meese isn’t it) dressed up. The astronaut was my favourite.

Lone Star Moose

My friend ordered the meat feast breakfast which comprised of minute steak, gourmet chipolata sausages, free range over easy eggs, griddled tomato and some toast. The dish was also served with their homemade Moose potato hash which accompanies most (if not all) of their dishes. The potato hash is fried on the griddle with garlic, onion and dijon mustard.

Burrito State of Mind

I love burritos. I really, really do. When I saw that I could have a brunch burrito I was head over heels in love with the idea and I just knew that it wouldn’t disappoint me. The soft flour tortilla was absolutely jam-packed with refried beans, scrambled eggs, melted cheddar cheese, chorizo, jalapenos, avocado, chopped romaine lettuce and tomato. The beast was served with the Moose potato hash, tomato, pickle, sour cream & salsa. I didn’t even manage to touch the potato hash, and my determination to defeat the burrito nearly ended my life. It was absolutely amazing, and by far the best burrito I’ve ever eaten – and I never thought I’d say that about a burrito that didn’t contain chilli con carne!

If you’re in Liverpool, go here and eat everything. I’d go back to Liverpool for many reasons as it’s a wonderful city, but this place is top of the list!

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6 Dale Street
Liverpool
L2 4TQ

0151 2274880

http://www.moosecoffee.co

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“Brunch without booze is just a sad, late breakfast”
– Hutcheson’s

I am a fan of a wee brunch. Usually it involves a certain Glasgow Food Geek. This was no different in that respect, but it was different in the sense that it was pretty special. Which, realistically, you’d expect from Hutcheson’s! I reviewed them for a dinner I had there and also a fabulous round of cocktails (see the post here), so I had high hopes for my Bubbles ‘n’ Brunch, and I wasn’t disappointed!

As it customary: I started with a latte. I’d had a late night the night before so this was absolutely crucial.

Our first course was some freshly made croissants with Hutcheson’s famous maple butter and a selection of preserves. I didn’t taste the preserves because the croissant was so gorgeously buttery that it didn’t need anything added. I added a little maple butter though. I’m a butteraholic.

Then the liquids started to flow. Mostly saliva, but in addition to our drooling faces, our freshly squeezed orange juice and Vaporetto Prosecco was served. We sipped away as we decided on our menu choice. They have 8 options to choose from – and they’re all very tempting brunch dishes. They don’t offer anything particularly wild so it’s really easy to order here!

What a spread! I absolutely love my Eggs Royale, but I managed a bit of food envy when I saw the avocado on toast and the pancakes!

  

Eggs Royale  

Smoked salmon, poached egg, toasted muffin & hollandaise sauce. Practically prefect in every way.

Tart Fine Aux Pommes

I was literally fit for bursting so (even after a 10-15 minute breather) I was absolutely unable to manage a dessert. I really pushed the boat out to try a piece of this beautiful apple tart with cinnamon ice cream. It was absolutely beautiful and I really wish I could’ve eaten more!

Hutcheson’s is definitely one my top places to go in Glasgow. The building is absolutely stunning – the ceiling in the upstairs restaurant never fails to take my breath away, and every part of it is just stunning. The bubbles & brunch package is £40 per pair, which is pretty expensive so for me it would only be a brunch option for a special occasion, because it sure was special. Whether you try Hutcheson’s for a few rounds of cocktails, a meal or a snack, I guarantee you’ll be impressed.

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Hutcheson’s Bar & Brasserie

158 Ingram Street

Glasgow G1 1EJ

0141 5524050

http://www.hutchesonsglasgow.com

@HutchesonsGla

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Once again I was beckoned to brunch!

I’ve never properly tried out McPhabb’s, aside of a few nibbles a few years ago. I’d heard great things about their breakfast and brunch options, so when Pam suggested we meet there I was keen to sample the goods on their new menu!

I was pretty delicate from the night before and felt wired after one coffee. I decided to go for some refreshing vitamin-filled juice and some comfort food! They do actually offer  a hangover breakfast option, which under normal circumstances I’d have taken up, but a Bloody Mary followed by bottomless coffee cups would have destroyed me that day!

I am so pleased with my choice. It was gorgeous.

Eggs en Cocotte with Mushroom, Spinach & Gruyere, served with truffled soldiers.

My poor motor skills and partially disabled brain function ensured that I dribbled a fair bit of the cream sauce on myself – it could have been slightly thicker! That said though, it was just so rich and delicious. The truffled soldiers were absolutely perfect for soaking, dipping and dunking.

Pam had the amazing idea of ordering some rosemary fries on the side. I’m not a big fan of rosemary, but these are really lightly flavoured and are really crispy chips. I really liked them! They were also delicious when dunked in my creamy goo.

JUST LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT IT.

Unfortunately I couldn’t really enjoy it as much as I normally would have because it was so rich and chocolatey, with sweet caramel sauce. A really indulgent dessert. The strawberries were all I could manage apart from tasting it, but next time I go, I will give it the full force of my sweet tooth! What a work of art!

I definitely want to come back to McPhabb’s as soon as they’ve finished their refurb and continue sampling the menu. Any place where the staff take pity on my hangover, feed me and I can park right outside the door in Glasgow is a place I want to frequent!

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McPhabb’s Bar & Restaurant
23 Sandyford Place
Charing Cross
Glasgow
G3 7NG

0141 221 8176

http://www.mcphabbsglasgow.com

@McPhabbs

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Over the Easter holidays I wanted to ‘do brunch’ more often. Brunch for some reason has become really fashionable to me and I just enjoy the experience of eating a late breakfast, especially if I don’t have to cook it myself.

Singl-end is a bake house which can be found just off Charing Cross (on the city centre side) and images of their food has been all over Instagram. I have been taunted with images of their amazing food for weeks. You know that way you know it’s amazing purely from the photo? That’s how I felt about Singl-end, but I was slightly worried I’d set myself up for disappointment.  I was absolutely desperate to arrive and get my gums around their spicy baked eggs. But also, the cakes. Exhibit A:

Everything just looks so perfect and colourful and delicious. I stood for a fair amount of time just enjoying the scenery. I have to comment on the range in terms of ‘free from’ ingredients.  Gluten and dairy free as well as vegan options are aplenty!

I started with some light refreshments. By light, I mean a powerful smoothie which probably has boosted my immune system and prevented Scurvy for life. It was pretty filling too, which I kinda regretted given my choice of main…

Spicy Baked Eggs

This stunning dish is available meat free and also gluten free . The eggs oven baked in a casserole of homemade pork and fennel sausage, cannellini beans, tomato and chilli and is served with your choice of bread – I opted for the focaccia.  This was absolutely stunning to look at and mouthwateringly delicious to eat. Pam made a fairly sensible suggestion that it would serve two people but I shooshed her. I ain’t sharing this with nobody. The sausages were lovely but a little too much fennel for my liking – not too much that I didn’t like them, but the flavour was too pronounced for me. The focaccia was like no other focaccia I’ve ever eaten as it was so doughy – I absolutely loved it. The whole dish was very wholesome and filling – I was sorted for the rest of the day!

Singl-end absolutely is worthy of the hype – I can’t wait to go back!

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Singl-end

265 Renfrew St

Glasgow

G3 6TT

0141 353 1277

http://www.singl-end.co.uk

@TheSinglend

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My love of brunch has now earned me some ridicule from my friends – so in true form I am enjoying the jokes and continuing to eat more post 8am, pre 12 noon (ish) goodness!

I had been Insta-stalking Cafe Strange Brew for what seemed like forever before I finally took myself through the filter and into the cafe to taste their works of art! I recently ventured back (after more insta-stalking) and I’ve decided to add to this post!

The Stornoway Stack

This was a feast of a dish – toast topped with a substantial portion of Stornoway black pudding, two beautifully poached eggs and grilled mushroom. It was served with homemade chilli ketchup which was absolutely delicious. This isn’t my ideal dish – even though I love all the ingredients – I just would find it too heavy to eat the whole lot!  The taste I had was plenty for me and the flavours were just beautiful.

Turkish Eggs

Now this is my kind of dish. I was all set to order a different dish (Salmon Eggs Encotte) and then I bumped into a friend who told me that she had food envy over this dish. I decided to learn from her ‘mistake’ and go for it and I am SO glad I did. The beautifully fresh (just LOOK at that yolk!) soft poached eggs in a bed of warm garlic-infused yoghurt, topped with fresh coriander, chilli oil and served with soft ‘n’ warm pittas. It was a taste sensation which is actually pretty light too.

That Guy

Sourdough, smashed avocado, poached eggs and chilli hollandaise. Topped with Stornaway black pudding

Daily Special

Chilli & crab scrambled eggs with dill and slow roast tomatoes.

  It’s a thumbs up from me.

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Strange Brew

1082 Pollockshaws Road

Glasgow

G41 3XA

‪@CafeStrangebrew ‬

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I’m going to start off by fully confessing that I ate nowhere near as much as I planned to. The mind was willing but the body just wasn’t able.

So what is the Bottomless Brunch? Well, you have a two hour slot to eat as much as you can for the price of £15. Your dishes are tapas sized, and you start with 3. After that you can order to your hearts content!

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Served on a waffle with spring onion, maple syrup and sriracha. I personally found it too much to eat the waffle, even though it tasted nice so after a few bites I ditched it. The chicken was absolutely gorgeous and crunchy. And I know I’m obsessed with sriracha at the moment, but it’s WONDERFUL with maple syrup! 

Soft Shell Crab Benedict

This was a bonus dish awarded to us by posting about the brunch on social media using the hashtag #McphabbsBrunch. 

This is probably the most amazing idea, and amazing tasting soft shell crab dishes I’ve had. 100% the best Benedict dish, EVER.

I’m totally loving the bonus idea, but I want to see that as a regular option. It’s just too good!

Potato, Thyme & Caramelised Onion Fritata

I chose to add smoked salmon with horseradish sauce (rather than truffled flat cap mushrooms). It wasn’t a bad dish, but I just didn’t like it. It wasn’t for me at all. 

Huevos Rancheros

This is where my blog post potential took a nose dive off a cliff.  I ordered several of these instead of exploring the rest of the menu because it was so, SO good! The flour tortilla was topped with black beans, chipotle corn salsa, avocado and fried egg with a drizzle of sriracha. It was so fresh and delicious that I couldn’t stop. 

It’s only now that I look back and wish I had had space to try the Korean BBQ beans, banana bread French toast and breakfast fries….

Ah well, next time! 

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McPhabb’s Bar & Restaurant

23 Sandyford Place

Charing Cross

Glasgow

G3 7NG

0141 221 8176

http://www.mcphabbsglasgow.com

@McPhabbs

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If someone invites me out for breakfast, a cold shiver runs down my spine. Images of 8am and choking down fresh orange juice enter my mind. 

However… 

If someone invites me out for brunch, a lovely warm blanket of happiness covers me, with imagery of a long lie and then having that first cuppa.

I thought I’d pop together a post about my recommendations for brunch – conveniently arranged into types of dishes!

Granola

Hickety Pickety, Lanark

This isn’t my usual order, but if I wanted granola, I’d be going straight to Hickety Pickety. They have layering flavours and textures down to a fine art!

My blog review can be found here!

A hearty big breakfast

Nobles Cafe, Edinburgh

A good fried breakfast is often hard to find. I loved this one as it had all the goodness of a greasy fry up, but also beautifully roasted tomato, poached egg and hagggis for a nice twist on the flavours. 

Breakfast Sandwich

Hickety Pickety, Lanark

This is the best BLT in existance. I defy someone to recommend a better one! This is my second recommendation for Hickety Pickety, which happens to be the most exciting new place I’ve discovered. 

My blog review can be found here!

Crossing the Rubicon, Glasgow

This is absolutely amazing – an Indian take on a roll ‘n’ sausage ‘n’ egg. Whatever they do to those scrambled eggs, I LOVE IT.

My blog review can be found here!

Baked Eggs

Cafe Strange Brew, Glasgow 

I’ll have to return and update this post because this place know how to do eggs! I really struggled to order here, and these Turkish eggs were a very good choice! 

My blog review can be found here!

Singl-end Bake House, Glasgow 

I love and adore this place and these eggs. I order them literally every time I go. The addiction worsened when I realised how gorgeous they taste with cheese added – I recommend feta! 

My blog review can be found here!

Avocado on toast

Roastit Bubbly Jocks, Glasgow 

This was wonderful. Smashed avocado with a mango salsa, two perfect poachers and sriracha. I nearly ordered a second – it was that good! 
I have left out Eggs Benedict/Royale because nowhere has served me one that I just LOVED. Please let me know if you have a recommendation! Let me know @HouseOfHerby on all the usual social media channels!

N.B. I’d like to have mentioned McPhabb’s soft shell crab benedict (I have no idea what it’s actual name is) but it isn’t a part of their menu *hysterical sobbing* 

I have been drooling over Instagram posts of this place for so long, and this weekend I was delighted to actually go and try for myself.

All brunches start with a warm drink!

My friend ordered the eggs Benedict and absolutely loved it.

I opted for a simple dish based on my insta-stalking – toasted sourdough with poached eggs. I chose the avocado and tomato extra, and was slightly cheeky and asked for some feta cheese as well. It was SO good. Their avocado is drizzled in lemon and smoked salt (I think) and it tastes divine.

Look at the colour on those yolks! Even with everything bashed up it still looks so beautiful!

This is a short and sweet post to confirm to you all: the food is as good as it looks!

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Wilson Street Pantry

6 Wilson Street

Glasgow

G1 1SS

0141 5520606

@Wilson_Street

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I have been Instagram stalking Lagom Kitchen for a few months – in fact, probably since they first opened – because all their food just looks so pretty, but you can tell it’s also delicious!

As always, I follow through on my Instagram stalking and try the places out. I was NOT disappointed!

Such a bright and calm vibe in the cafe. Just lovely. Aaaand I got parked really easily outside – which I was delighted with – the south side is an absolute nightmare for parking usually!

Toasted Sourdough, Avocado, Beetroot Houmous, Pickles & Fried Egg

I mean seriously, how pretty is that fried egg?! A PRETTY FRIED EGG. I can’t cope with how gorgeous everything looks here. I love it! This beautiful dish was a pickle lover’s dream! The delicious plate was topped with seeds, chilli and chives as well as beautiful little flowers – I want to say they’re pansies but I can’t be sure! Does anyone know?

Corn Fritters, Poached Eggs, Avocado, Crispy Bacon & Tomato Salsa

This was totally incredible. Probably one of the most delicious combinations I’ve tasted in ages. The crispy fritters and their accompaniments were drizzled with coriander leaves, chopped chives and a chilli oil. This is the best brunch dish I’ve had this year!

I didn’t try any of the home baking items because I wanted to keep the taste of my corn fritters in my mouth forever. My friend did though, and she loved her cake! I just sat with my mug of tea.

Shout out to their beautiful, large tea mugs! I am HERE for that! So sick of cafes with their dainty tea cups which you need to replenish every three gulps!

If you love a brunch, I urge you to come here. I am sorely tempted by several items on their menu…but feel pretty certain I’ll never try them because I will keep ordering the corn fritters. We sat in Lagom for 4 hours chatting, so I might just go earlier next time and have a breakfast then sit and blether until it’s time for an early dinner so I can have both!

I’m a genius.

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Lagom Kitchen, 76 Victoria Road, Glasgow, G42 7AA

0141 237 2424

@lagom.kitchen

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Baked eggs are just heavenly, aren’t they? My obsession with them started when I first tried them at Singl-end in Glasgow – their baked eggs absolutely blew me away. For the two or so years since that first visit, I’ve never ordered anything else when I visit, despite vowing to try several other things!

Here is the original:

As the instigator of my friends’ monthly Brunch Club, I decided to take a bash at making my own.

The original version entails an oven baked casserole of homemade pork and fennel sausage, cannellini beans, tomato and chilli with the eggs popped on top, served with your choice of bread.

I’ve tried a few different varieties of this dish across other brunch spots in Glasgow, but this is definitely my favourite. I devised my own version and it was pretty damn tasty if I say so myself!

For two people:

• 2 large eggs
• 400g tinned chopped tomatoes with herbs
• 4 sausages – I used Aldi’s Chilli & Red Pepper ones
• 1 red onion
• Thumb of red chilli
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• Chilli infused olive oil
• 1 tsp Celery salt

• 1 tsp Paprika

• 1 tsp Turmeric

• 1 tbsp Sugar

• 1 chicken stock cube
• Feta cheese
• Fresh coriander

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C
2. Fry the red onion and red chillies in the chilli oil until softened.
3. Meanwhile remove the skins from the sausages, cut into quarters and roll into little meatballs.
4. In a separate pan, fry the sausages to give them a good colour.
5. Add chopped tomatoes to the onions, and rinse the tin (to about ¼ full) with water and add to the pan with your stock cube.
6. Add your sugar to taste (enough to kill the tartness of the tomatoes), paprika, celery salt and turmeric to the mixture. I don’t use measurements – 1tsp is an approximation, so just make this to your own taste.
7. Bring to the boil then add sausages and reduce to a simmer for 10-15 minutes.
8. Pour the mixture into an oven dish and create two small wells for the eggs. Crack in your eggs and bake for 10 minutes to cook the eggs.

Serve with toasted bread, chopped herbs and cheese of choice!

I opted for coriander and feta this time, but grilled halloumi or goats cheese would both be amazing too!

Have you made your own baked eggs? Let me know what you did – I’d love more ideas!