It's big, baby
A while back, I published my most popular post ever – it was called Introducing… Scone Watch and it was basically a cunning plan which involved visiting nice cafes, eating scones and writing about them.
I haven’t done nearly as much scone eating since then as I had hoped but –breaking news – I have found an excellent scone which richly deserves a mention.
This magnificent beast of a scone can be found at the National Museum of Scotland. The museum has two cafes which serve these – the Brasserie at ground level or the Balcony. Do yourself a favour and go to the Balcony – all light and air and lovely Victorian ironwork railings.
Normal museum opening hours apply but don’t go too early as the scones are baked on the premises and once I had to have a plain one as – gasp – the sultana scones were still in the oven. (I had gone pretty much when the museum opened at 10am, presumably one of those emergency scone scenarios.)
Now, they are rather expensive however, these scones are fabulous – crumbly and light inside, just the right amount of crunch to the outsides, plenty of sultanas. They are also HUGE. More a meal than a scone, in fact.
This was a very good thing as I visited with the Youngest, who at two, is already a keen scone eater and she can be just as assertive as her mother if something gets between her and a scone.
But is it scone or scone??
Scones spotted in the Highlands
“A Big Gooey Slice of Tea and Cake Heaven” This is what their business card says. Luckily they are better at baking than business cards. Far better. I speak of Hettie’s Tearooms in Pitlochry.
Kerr-Mudgeons are not much into giving compliments. But for scrumptious scones (crusty outsides, moist insides and the necessary jam, butter and cream) it would be difficult to beat Hetties. Thus after several strenuous ascents and adventures in the wilderness (A9 from Perth), we chanced on this little oasis, this sacred grove devoted to the humble scone.
I apologise in advance to members of Curmudgeons International for what looks like actual enthusiasm on my part, maybe even a betrayal. I wish to reassure them that I remain negative on issues such as the selflessness of Donald Trump in his efforts to protect our countryside from wind-farms; the possibility of anything interesting being said, thought, written, imagined or dreamt about the future of Rangers Football Club and the likelihood of summer breaking out this decade. On all these issues I am refreshingly doubtful, but I make an exception for Hetties.
I’m delighted to hear this, because it used to be (in the old museum, before it was revamped) that the scones there were both expensive and terrible, and I have been worried about whether or not this had improved. I’m hugely relieved to hear that it has and will be investigating myself one of these days. Thank you for the information!
I’ve just found my way here from Betamother’s blog. Scone watch – yeay! What a great service. I have two tip-top recommendations for your consideration, both a bit of a schlep from Embru, and both, coincidentally NTS properties:
Pollok House in Glasgow. They are the best I’ve had in Glasgow. Apparently they use a Glasgow Bake School recipe. So I’m told.
Brodick Castle on Arran. A very fine cheese scone to go with the very fine soup they also serve. Yum.
Keep up the good work.
Was this the mother of all scones? What was it doing at a museum? A museum where you can eat the exhibits? My kind of museum!