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1 Nov 2018–31 Jan 2019 THE LIST 73

LAURIE MACMILLAN chef-patron of CAFE STRANGE BREW

Christmas isn’t complete without a cocktail, what’s your ultimate go-to festive tipple? You just can’t beat an Old Fashioned! Swap out the honey for maple and add a cinnamon stick for a wintery vibe. What does Christmas at Cafe Strange Brew look like? I’m quite simplistic with Christmas decorations; I like Scandi designs. Last year we got a local company to dress our windows with hand-cut paper garlands which were fabulous. Who is your favourite chef or what is your favourite cookbook for festive cooking inspiration? I am a big Nigella fan. She speaks in layman’s terms so you feel coni dent enough to take on the most ambitious of her recipes. I like her humour too.

How can you spice up the usual Christmas side dishes to give them an exciting twist? Brussels sprouts! Love them or loathe them, I am the latter! But try roasting them off with some garlic, chilli and almond and drizzling with some harissa yoghurt and they become a taste sensation with a Middle Eastern nod.

How would you convince someone to eat out for their Christmas meal? By photographing the kitchen aftermath from the previous year!

Are you an eat your advent calendar all at once or strictly one per day sort of person? I’m a sporadic advent calendar eater. I never eat into the future, but maybe forget a few days, so retrospectively eat. I’m hankering after an Edinburgh Gin one this year, but may have to wait until the end of the day to open those doors. Do you have any recipes or food traditions that have been passed down in your family? We don’t really have any recipes handed down and I guess even though my mum was always baking and every dinner was always home-cooked, we never really paid attention growing up. But Christmas has to be traditional for us. Even though none of us particularly like turkey, you just can’t not, can you?

What is your Christmas showstopper? Prawn cocktail! We have this debate every year. My mum would love to ditch it, but the siblings and I are like, no way! So each year we try to take it to the next level. More expensive seafood, langoustine perhaps, and some hot smoked salmon, or crab claws, add some avocado salsa, spice up the sauce, maybe a wee boiled egg. Delicious!

Cafe Strange Brew, 1082 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 3XA, facebook.com/cafestrangebrew