Newton Dee Café
Balmakewan House
Cup Café
Tucked away in the wooded area of Bieldside is Newton Dee Camphill Community. Their light and airy café specialises in ingredients which have been grown in their own house, farm and gardens or sourced from local suppliers where possible. Their menu offers a selection of organic and vegan soups and light snacks.
Situated only a stone’s throw from the A90, Balmakewan House is the perfect pit stop for a journey south. The newly renovated tea room located in the stunning coach house offers freshly baked cakes, pastries and an enticing lunch menu.
Cup, Aberdeen’s newest cafe has opened on Little Belmont Street.
Bieldside Aberdeen T: 01224 868262 www.newtondee.org
We had the French Onion and Potato Soup and the Spicy Tomato and Red Lentil Soup, both were extremely tasty and with their homemade bread cooked in their own bakery, very filling. Their daily specials range from homemade broccoli and ‘philly’ samosas, Indian spiced falafels with homemade flatbread, raita and tomato chutney to multiseed pizza with carrot and pumpkin seed salad. Most dishes are vegan and diary free. With a fabulous selection of teas and coffees available we managed to squeeze in one to finish before a visit to their shop. This is a must as they stock a fantastic selection of local produce and specialise in dietary products many of which are imported from abroad and cannot be found elsewhere in Aberdeen. > WORDS BY LORRAINE KEILLER
Nr Laurencekirk Aberdeenshire T: 01674840488 www.balmakewan.co.uk
We deliberated over the menu before forgetting all about our waistlines and opted for the special of the day – a handmade beef burger topped with Jarlsberg cheese on a rustic roll, served with homemade, hand-cut chips. Everything on the menu at Balmakewan is made freshly to order with many of the cakes and dishes using local produce and items available to buy in the farm shop and deli – the perfect chance to try before you buy! We couldn’t leave without trying the fabulous cakes and can confirm the Chocolate cupcake and fresh lemon and raspberry log are alone worth a drive to Balmakewan. The picturesque setting is located in the lowlands at the bottom of Glenesk where the river North Esk runs just to the south of the farm. The river walk is the perfect way to work up an appetite for Balmakewan’s Roast dinner served on a Sunday. > WORDS BY RAE PATIENCE
9 Little Belmont Street Aberdeen T: 01224 637730 www.cupcafe.co.uk
This quaint tea salon is the brain child of Angela Kozak. As you enter this cosy establishment you are taken aback with delight at the modern decor with a vintage twist. Serving a fabulous selection of artisan teas supplied by Tea Forte as either loose tea in biodegradable sachets, or in their signature pyramid infuser, making the choice of flavour difficult. After deliberating we chose a Green Mango Peach pyramid infuser and a Latte. To accompany, as it would be rude not to, we ordered lemon and ginger cake and salted caramel, their most popular apparently. The tea arrived on a small tray with a
traditional style tea cup and saucer; so charming and the cakes which accompanied were served on matching tea plates. We shared the cakes and enjoyed both equally. This little haven serves breakfasts, light lunches and afternoon teas also, so we’ll be back to try that another day. It’s worth taking a trip to the toilets before you leave and look out for the Mad Hatter! 45 > WORDS BY GILL BUYERS