WebMarApr18

Supermarket food shopping isn’t always
top of our ‘to do’ list. As much as my
regular visits to genuinely good
supermarkets allow me to buy everything
I need for the week, there are other little
markets that I find genuinely inspiring. A walk
around the West End ‘super markets’ delivers
a variety of alternatives to our weekly visit
to the bigger outlets. So were our West End
street a virtual supermarket, how would it
look? Trolley bag in tow, let’s shop!
First Aisle – Fruit and Veg
Roots & Fruits
Always the first aisle we hit let’s head to
the fruit and veg section, or Roots, Fruits
and Flowers in our case. With two handy
stores, on Great Western Road and Argyle
Street, there is bound to be one near
enough for your grocery shop. Following
the huge success of the Kelvinbridge outlet,
the Finnieston store opened in 2011. The
company pride themselves on sourcing
local, ‘environmentally conscious’ produce.
Their fresh fruit and vegetables are delivered
several times a week, so you know what you
see hasn’t been sitting for weeks on end.
To cap it off, Roots and Fruits’ flowers are
something special and not just for marking
major life events. The florists note that they
are inspired by country gardens – such that
their gorgeous flower arrangements look wild
and natural but are the epitome of class too.
Andersons
The Queen Market Drive outlet has been
serving the community with gorgeous fruit,
veg and flowers since 1918. 100 years on and
in the midst of refurbishment, it’s still the best
wee greengrocers in Kelvinside.
Next Up – Fish and Meat
Wilson’s Catch of the Day
A real find for quality produce is Wilson’s
Catch of the Day. Established in 2015 in
Finnieston, the produce here is as fresh as
it comes, barring braving the waves in a
dinghy. The brain child of chef, fishmonger
www.westendermagazine.com | 29
Supermarket shopping. It’s part of our regular chores,
with variety and accessibility to products from every
part of the globe. But just sometimes it’s nice to
consider the little guys, the alternative super markets
right here on our West End streets.
and proprietor Stuart Wilson, the team head
out daily to coastal fish markets to select
the freshest seafood available: lobster, crab,
oysters, monkfish, salmon; even swordfish.
The list is incredible. And yet, fish isn’t the
only thing on the menu. Wilson’s also do a
great free range selection of poultry from
traceable farms and game from ethical
estates. With knowledgeable staff on hand to
advise on sauces and menu ideas, when they
talk about one stop shops, they are talking
about this SUPER market!
Andrew Reid Butchers
20 years in the Kelvinbridge shop, a West End
institution with the best Italian sausages and
steak burger around.
The Delicious Deli Counter
Gray’s Deli
How do you possibly choose one deli in
the West End – THE delicatessen capital
of central Scotland? You simply can’t.
To begin with, which kind of deli are we
talking about? The Italian choice is vast,
so it might be worth looking at a store that
promotes Scottish produce. Gray’s Deli in
Broomhill is a true campaigner for Scottish
fayre. As well as a great selection of Baikhous
artisan bread made in Renfrewshire, superb
Glasgow based Ed’s Bees honeys, Crowdie
cheese and of course sumptuous smoked
salmon, this gorgeous little shop stocks
the best produce in the world (well, it is
Scottish!).
George Mewes Cheese
In terms of cheese, look no further than
George Mewes on Byres Road. This
cheesemonger stocks world class British
and continental artisan cheeses. After 25
years as a chef, Mewes found his great
passion for cheese and stocks some major
award winners. The staff are more than
happy to guide you in which accompanying
jams, truffles and honeys might match your
originally selected mouth-watering cheese
board.