For this month’s review of a social enterprise eatery Gareth Jones visits the hippest – and one of the most ethical – venues in Glasgow
Previously proud of being a town within a city, and childhood home of yours truly, Shawlands was once a bustling high street with shops, pubs and restaurants aplenty. Economic downturn led to empty units though and the area’s propsects looked grim.
Fortunately, in recent years a wave of trendy cafes and bars have breathed new life into the Southside of Glasgow And, it could be argued it was The Glad Café that started the area’s brunch movement.
Since filling the site of a former Laser Quest six and half years ago, the social enterprise has played host to community arts and fine food and drink.
Created by Rachel Smillie (pictured right with colleague Amanda Bernard) and her family, the idea was borne out of a lack of places for musicians and artists to appear in the corner of the city where the family lived.
“We came up with the idea in 2009 when we were visiting one of my daughters, who was living in Dalston in London,” said Rachel.
“She said she wanted to take us to this place called Café OTO, which she knew we would love.
“It was done up in a very eclectic way, on a low budget but nice. It was attracting all sorts of people, of all ages and all backgrounds. There was live music on every night.
“The idea of having a place like this, especially with music, was one I really grasped. Previously in Glasgow we had to go north or to the West End if we wanted live music, so that was where the idea of having a place in the Southside came from.”
The café has gone on to play host to countless musical events, cinema nights, regular art displays and has also spawned a thrift shop and foundation – which provides free and affordable music workshops to all ages and abilities.
“The area changing in recent years has been great,” Rachel added. “On a few occasions we have even had people coming to us and saying they wouldn’t have opened here had it not been for the Glad Café.
“I think we were of the time as well. Southside Studios (an alternative arts lab) had not long opened and creative types were beginning to move here when they may have previously lived in the West End.”
Despite becoming a mainstay on Pollokshaws Road, the menu at the Glad has undergone regular changes. Hen of the Woods, which also provides catering for the award winning Hug and Pint in the West End, recently took over the full operation of the kitchen having previously served as daytime residents.
The now fully vegetarian menu offers an array of exciting options, with brunch the main theme of the daytime menu.
I opt for the Big Vegan Fry Up (pictured, above) – complete with lentil and shitake haggis, homemade potato scone and extremely crunchy homemade fries.
I would generally prefer a brunch with a little meat, but the Glad’s fry up offers an array of exciting flavours and textures so I was not left craving a rasher of bacon.
The menu changes on a weekly basis, and so expect more experimentation as the new chefs settle in to their residence.
The night time menu takes on a pan-Asian theme, with dishes such as Sichuan tofu and jackfruit curry – and I’ll be returning shortly to sample it.
