Home baking that rises to the occasion

Jul 4 2008 by Jenny Wood, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

IT’S not often I feel that I come across a culinary gem tucked away in Perth and Kinross, but this week I feel I have come up trumps – with icing on top!

Right now, the best of baking in the area has to be that served up by the lovely Macmillan volunteers at Quarrymill coffee shop.

Presented with the challenge of a quick, light lunch with my aunt and her chum, I remembered about the spot at Quarrymill.

I’ve passed it on the way to the races on several occasions and have always been struck at how busy it looked; a sure sign something special must be on offer and a place worth a closer look.

My dear aunt has a discerning palate. She’s one to sniff out scones not up to scratch, meringues falling short of the mark and sponges which don’t rise to expectations, so there is always the slight fear that a quick bite out with her can turn into a wound for the poor waitresses.

But by jove, we were all impressed with the offerings at Quarrymill.

It started well. There in the nick of time we managed to get the last table indoors.

Aunt selected an egg and cress sandwich, her chum opted for cream of cauliflower soup with chunks of crusty bread and I took on a chicken and cranberry sandwich.

My sandwich was bursting with fruity cranberry sauce and delicious juicy chunks of chicken. A quick peek at aunt’s sandwich revealed the classic creamy egg and cress combination was clearly hitting the spot and her chum’s soup was going down a storm.

We saw plates of cakes resembling the best in show in a WRI competition going past and felt a sweet treat to round off lunch was definitely order of the day.

I selected a cup of coffee served alongside a slab of coffee cake, aunt’s chum was also tempted by the coffee cake, and the dear lady herself chose lemon drizzle cake and a mug of hot chocolate.

It all went ominously silent at that point.

But only because we were all too busy appreciating the baking bonanza laid before us.

The coffee cake was light-as-a-feather with fudgy espresso icing and aunt’s choice seemed winner of the day.

Luscious, light lemon sponge interspersed with layers of tangy lemon filling and a good generous topping of citrus butter cream.

Each cake was served up with a good dollop of cream - the real stuff rather than the inflatable gunk often passed off as an excuse of a dairy product – and a spattering of soft fruit.

Lunch was delicious and easily digested knowing the money we paid for the meal would be going to the worthy cause for Macmillan nurses.

Last year the coffee shop raised over £27,000 for the cancer care and support charity.

We should have then gone for a stroll in the stunning woodland grounds to work off the calories, but I promised I would return soon with my retrievers Winston and Ted and take a seat outside for a coffee, cake and then dog walk.

The only downside I can see about the coffee shop, open from May until September, is the volunteers who run the watering hole at the scenic spot put their feet up for a well-earned rest on Sundays and close the cafe for the day.

Venue: Quarrymill, Isla Road, Perth.

Food: Bumper baking and hearty, wholesome home-cooked snacks.

Decor: Log-cabin chic a la 1970s timeshare ski-lodge

Service: All the volunteers were warm, friendly and very efficient.

Price: A snip at £14.10 for two courses with drinks for the three of us.