Hospitality Critic

 A cold day but a lovely drive through Argyll countryside, and onto a small but very well looked after village - Drymen. This village is arguably well known for the oldest Inn called The Clachan. Its has served great food consistently for decades and today was no different. A great ham salad with with lots of trimmings and fresh fruit and a basket of fries, what's not to like. Dessert wasn't to bad either . A trio of lemony delights, a posset, a sorbet and a tart. Not badly priced and happy to report its still worth a visit . Staff were attentive and relaxed. Long may you continue to serve this great little Scottish community .

This weekend I will be visiting the much hyped Monachyle mhor Hotel and Restuarant in Callander. My review will be honest, unpaid and I am visiting unannounced. Watch this space !!

Update- 

Unable to review Hotel and Restuarant this weekend as planned - Next time !!

The Hotel and its surroundings, however, were breathtaking. Lots of quirky outside activities, outbuildings, huts, cottages etc. Almost like a commune or a retreat of sorts. Very holistic feel about the area. I would imagine great for getting away from everything.

There is a 6 or 7 mile windy road to the Hotel which is simply stunning but most of it is a single track road. 

Hopefully i will get back again soon to try the Hotel and Restuarant when it's not a big Rugby weekend !!! 

Now I know I'm almost geriatric, and some days i feel it, but today's rant is about outdoor markets and festivals.
I used to trail around these with my mum, and I absolutely loved them. You got to meet some fantastic characters, and this was their only income stream, so they worked hard at making their own 6ft table ultra special. They were ALWAYS, and I mean "ALWAYS", homemade produce, ALWAYS cheaper than the shops and more often than not better quality than you would get elsewhere.
Europeans have perfected the outdoor markets by applying the very ethos above, and obviously helped with far better weather than us brits. Dare I say, they may have higher standards than we do when it comes to good, local, handmade or farm reared produce ? I know we have excellent produce in this country !
I am a tad concerned, after visiting many an outdoor market locally, that the produce being offered is by no means Handmade by the seller, certainly not better quality and twice as expensive as a shop premises. Why are we being fooled like this I ask ? Because we don't complain enough? Because we don't know good produce from mediocre ? Because we just don't care ? Or because we have more money than sense ?
That said, there are some excellent producers at some of these markets but I just refuse to pay the price now being asked. In this social and economic crisis, something has to change for me to continue to support most of these hard working stall holders. Sadly quite a few nowadays are ruining the image of Outdoor Markets. Time for change maybe ??

The Hospitality Critic " AKA Melanie Andrews MBE"  is making waves in Iceland and all over the world this year. With over 40 years experience in The Hospitality industry ,she pulls no punches (Quotes  The Stateman ) .

Quote:

This Industry professional travels extensively all over the world and is embarking on a Canadian/American Tour in early 2019 . She has a well documentated love affair with Ireland ( Although not her home country) and proposes all sectors of the Hospitality Industry could learn much from this small but most hospitable island. 

We are hoping to shadow her movements on her next tour and we wait with baited breadth for her honest and professional opinions on all things "Hospitality"

See her short but to the point reviews on Facebook at The Hospitality Critic.