A different kind of trade fair

Yesterday, with a different hat on, I travelled down to another trade fair in Glasgow.  This was nothing to do with Starfish Studio, but all about a very exciting project that I'm involved with - setting up a Community Cafe in Johnshaven.

In our village we have Johnshaven Stores (the best convenience store in the world), Starfish Studio, Odysee hairdressers and two pubs, one of which serves excellent food.  What we need above all else is a cafe. 

For the locals it will provide a much needed meeting, eating and socialising place other than a pub.  All profits made will go back into helping community groups in the village so everyone benefits.

I am constantly being asked by visitors where they can get a coffee - the shop does hot & cold takeaway drinks and the Anchor Hotel serves coffee, but there is a big difference between those options and a cosy cafe serving yummy homemade cakes and frothy hot chocolate.

So, yesterday, on behalf of the Community Cafe Group committee, I visited the ScotHot exhibition at the SECC.  The sun shone beautifully, and I enjoyed my lunch sitting down by the River Clyde before going in to the show.



The new BBC Scotland building and Glasgow Science Centre



SECC

The 'Wonky' bridge



The Finnieston Crane and, in the foreground, work in progress on a velodrome for the Commonwealth Games in 2014

 Once inside it didn't take long to realise I was well out of my comfort zone!  I know nothing about catering and have never worked in a cafe or pulled a pint!  The first couple of stalls I visted used jargon that meant nothing to me, so from then on I approached each stall differently - explaining my ignorance before they had a chance to launch into their sale patter!

The whole atmosphere was very different to the craft and gift trade fairs I'm used to - bustling and noisy with lots and lots of young people, mostly male.  Eventually I realised that there was a competitive element to the show and that many of these youngsters were representing and supporting various catering colleges.

A competition in full swing


 

There was a huge amount to look at and I came away with mountains of brochures for the committee to work through.  There are massive companies who'll design and supply everything from the entire kitchen, servery area, tables and chairs right down to crockery & cutlery.  There were also other stalls focusing on one product - I particularly liked a waffle maker with all kinds of delicious serving suggestions (nom nom!).

Free tasting samples were on offer everywhere and I enjoyed small portions of yummy thick milkshake, ice cream, mars bar crispy, pizza slice, waffle, hot chocolate etc etc. 

There were competitions for creations in chocolate, icing and sugar and the entries were on display for all to see.  Take a look at these amazing, edible works of art!

A sugar lobster

I'm going back down to Glasgow again on Saturday - this time with my younger daughter for company and firmly back in my comfort zone.  We're going to the Hobbycrafts & Creative Stitches exhibition at the SECC, staying overnight in a hotel and having a girly time - can't wait!